Fashion

Holiday Shopping for the men in your life

By  | 
Pictured: Gift for men, from a surprising source, Weight Watchers.

Now begins one of the most challenging tasks on my Christmas shopping list….the gift for the men in my life (the BF, my Dad and my brother). Every year I sigh, I really DID try:). Buying for men presents a singular challenge. There is an essential difference between what I want to give, and what they want to receive. Every year, it presents a conundrum. Here’s how this typically works. Secretly, I want to upgrade their wardrobe 🙂 And of course, they want none of it.  Weight Watchers put out a surprisingly accurate gift guide for men last year, and they got it spot on with a selection of tech gadgets, “toys and amusements.”

At the holidays, I try to lovingly and sneakily (the two are not mutually exclusive) gift the clothing and fashion accessory upgrades. What dear reader might some of these fabulous items be? Well, I’ve got a little list.

What I like to Give
Here’s a few of my brilliant ideas on gifts for him, that I am passing along as they many also be useful for your own shopping purchases:

  • Fabulous cashmere scarf (Macy’s, Amazon, Loehmann’s, Nordstorm’s & others all have great choices.)
  • Cashmere or Merino Wool Sweater.  Check out the deals at Costco for the cashmere sweaters by Italian designer Enzo Mantovani.
  • A good watch or timepiece.  You can find these at Nordstrom’s Rack, TJ Maxx and Macy’s. Sometimes men can be a bit absent minded, so I find gifting a watch can be helpful to them and me!
  • Ted Baker shirts and ties.  They brighten up any wardrobe.
  • Good blazer or sports jacket.  Check Loehmann’s, TJ Maxx, Brooks Brothers or Nordstrom Rack for good quality items. Online, check out Gilt Groupe for items from leading designers.

What they like to receive 

  • A big ass TV to watch sports games, from football, to soccer, baseball to cricket whatever is on is just better on the big screen.  The bigger, the better when it comes to a man’s TV.
  • Portable electronic gadgets: a Kindle, iPhone or iPad and their relevant accessories. These are the top toys for boys.
  • Tickets for sporting events or concerts.
  • Restaurant gift certificates.  Restaurants.com and Groupon are particularly good sources for deals. Restaurants serving BBQ, wings, steaks, ribs and burgers are particular favorites.
  • Bottle of wine, scotch or whiskey. A good bottle or wine, or some spirits always seem to be popular and easy to find.

What do you think readers? Did  I miss anything here on the list? Did you shop yet for the guys on your list?  For more gift ideas for all the men in your life, check out Gifts.com.  This site has a lot of great gift ideas, sortable by age and price range. I found it very helpful! Check out the results of a recent market research study below listing what men like to get as Christmas gifts.

Pictured: The Most Popular Gifts for Men via Killer Infographics
Share
Related Items

Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.