December 10, 2017

Gift Guide for the Guys

FIFTEEN days ‘til Christmas! Finished decorating? Check! Have your holiday playlist jam seshes commenced? Of course! Kicked off the 2017 carb-filled baked good consumption championship? Duh! Okay here’s the biggie… finished all your holiday shopping? No? Me either. I’m a huge fan of gift-giving and love finding just the right present for everyone (truth be told, I kind of pride myself on my knack for gifting), but I’m also a procrastinator-extraordinaire, so last-minute shopping is kind of my thing ;).

With just over two weeks to go, now is the time to snag major deals and take advantage of any and all free shipping offers you can find (and PAY ATTENTION to final shipping dates – these are set in stone snow). Still not sure what to get your brother, your new S.O., your father-in-law or any guys on your list for that matter? Fear no more! I’ve pulled together (by category and price point!) my gift guide for the guys to help you figure out just what toys to get the boys on your list. Here we go!

It’s Sweater Weather!

Keep the guys on your list from catching a winter chill by wrapping them up in a cozy new sweater! Ugly or dashing, a holiday sweater is a great gift for any guy not spending the holidays by the beach. My sister-in-law used to give Mike and my brother-in-law holiday sweaters and I thought it was such a great tradition (and annual wardrobe addition!). Here are some options for this season:

$75 & Up

A classic Fisherman Sweater is a great winter staple for anyone (guys and gals!) to keep in their closets – I’m loving this one from Brooks Brothers – one of my go-to retailers for reliable, well-made traditional duds
- Hint: Here’s a less expensive option from J. Crew Factory (ladies, here’s a tip: borrow this one from the boys & buy a smaller size if you’d like one for yourself – I’m wearing this exact one in the photo below)!

You can’t go wrong with cashmere or a cozy Italian Merino & this shawl-collar sweater is great for everyone from your dad to your S.O. (I know because I gifted a similar one to Mike and my dad a few years back & they both loved it)! This one from Banana Republic is so handsome AND 40% off (no code needed)!
- Not a fan of the shawl-collar? Here’s a more traditional alternative!

Looking for an option with a little extra detail? This sweater from Club Monaco has a double collar and is super handsome in the navy/green combo. I bought the exact one for Mike last year and he wore it constantly (note: runs true-to-size and is incredibly soft!).

Are you a fan of guys in stripes? Me too! I’m loving this blue stripe linen sweater from Club Monaco (oh yeah… and it’s 50% off)!

$50-$75

Half- and Quarter-zip sweaters are a great staple in any guy’s closet and this classic version from Ralph Lauren is a great go-to and they have major staying power in your closet. Best part? RL is offering free shipping on all orders (no minimum!) AND 30% off with the code “JOY”. These are also super cozy ones to borrow from your guy all the time from time to time 😉

Looking for more of a classic holiday sweater style? How great is this snowflake sweater from Gap?! Plus, it’s already marked down to $45 (orig. $69.50) and if you’re a Gap card member, you’ll get ANOTHER 50% OFF, plus 4% back on Ebates! Christmas miracle I tell ya!

I probably sound like a broken record, but I just have a thing for classic fisherman sweaters! Love this charcoal grey one from Nordstrom!

$50 & Under

Again, you can’t go wrong with a classic holiday print sweater – they’ll only pull it out once a year, but they’ll likely have it forever (see above for Mike’s favorite holiday sweater he found under the tree last year 🙂 ) – love this one & this one from J. Crew Factory and this one from Nordstrom.

Need a classic no-fail sweater? Here’s a great marled grey one from Zara that’s UNDER THIRTY DOLLARS!

Desperate for a cute ugly sweater? LOVE this skiing Yeti

Let’s get personal…

Adding a monogram or personal touch to any gift is a great way to make a good gift a great, memorable gesture. Here are a few of my favorite items to help make your gift go the extra mile:

$50 & Up

I bought this watch box for Mike a few years ago for Valentine’s Day (pictured below) and he absolutely loves it. Mark & Graham is always my first stop when shopping for beautifully personalized gifts.
- *UPDATE* It looks like this watch box is backordered until January (as of the time of posting). For a similar alternative that’s guaranteed to arrive by 12/24, check out this gorgeous wooden option from Wayfair!

Out of your price range? Here’s a great alternative for UNDER $20!!! Got another $20 to spare? Take this to a local leather maker or engraver and have them monogram it there!

Help your guy lounge luxuriously in his own cozy monogrammed bath robe like this one from Pottery Barn. It’s sure to help him find his inner zen.

$50 & Under

For someone with a minimal sense of direction at best, I really love maps. A few years ago a friend gave these map cufflinks to his groomsmen with the locations where they met & became friends and I thought it was a great idea for both the wedding party, and the holiday party!

When you look at your S.O.’s dresser, do you see a mess of loose change, keys and knickknacks? A monogrammed leather catchall like this one from Etsy is a great way to add a touch of style and organization to his landing spot!

Did someone say ‘Sports’?

Mike is a HUGE sports buff (especially with anything relating to Pittsburgh sports teams, or golf), so I’m always on the hunt for great sports-related gifts. Here are a few faves:

$50 & Up:

Is someone on your list a die-hard fan of their favorite NFL team? Just about all the guys in my life bleed black & gold for the Pittsburgh Steelers (as do I), so this New York Times history book of a favorite NFL team is a fan favorite gift!

Mike, Dad, Eric, Paul, DG … this may or may not have made the cut this year 😉

I’m not usually a fan of gift cards or membership gifts because they aren’t very personal, but if you have a serious golfer on your list, a Golf Now VIP Membership will undoubtedly put a smile on his face. Plus, he’ll think of your amazing gift every time he uses his membership throughout the year!

(More for the golfers) My husband and his twin brother love a good brotherly competition, and when it comes to golf, the challenge gets serious. For longer than I’ve known Mike, they’ve kept a record of every round they’ve played together. If you have a similarly intense golfer in your life, a Personalized Golf Scorecard Holder is a great gift they’ll hang onto for many, many rounds.

$50 & Under:

*Shout out to my fellow Pittsburgh sports fans!* I’ve become completely obsessed with Shop Steel City’s fun (and comfy!) wardrobe options to help show your team pride. Best part? Almost all their tees are under $30!

Need to rep a different team? Old Navy has started offering fun & comfy team gear at insane prices! Check them out for your favorite team’s gear – almost all of which is under $35, by the way 😉

The Great Gift of Cozy

Let me be clear: cozy, toasty gifts will always be loved. You simply can’t go wrong in this department. With that, here are a few fab options for holiday lounging:

I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again: L.L. Bean Sweater Fleece Pullovers are one of the warmest & coziest items we own. And if you order by tomorrow (12/11), you’ll get 25% off your order with the code “Holiday”, and 4% cash back on Ebates. I promise he’ll love this thing!

Want to veer away from sweats but stay in the cozy category? A classic flannel shirt like this one from L.L. Bean is a great addition to any guy’s closet.

I bought this J. Crew Factory sweatshirt henley for Mike a few weeks ago and he’s hardly taken it off. They’re selling out fast but if your guy’s size is in stock, I’d grab this cozy shirt ASAP!

Fleece is huge this season and I am absolutely loving this cream & navy fleece pullover from J. Crew Factory – it’s so preppy, so cozy, so handsome, and I love a half-snap collar… you can’t go wrong!

Prepare yourself: once you buy your guy these $20 loungers from Old Navy, he may not take them off until New Year’s

Everyone loves loungewear that can pass as real clothes … these cozy lounge pants from Gap are great if your guys wants to lounge all day but not look like he’s wearing his pajamas all day (if he does prefer the pajama look, grab him a pair in the Lumberjack print!)

And for that pajama lounger, holiday pajamas are always a winner (per my last post, I LOVE fam jams at the holidays ;)) and these fun prints from Gap are sure to put a smile on his face.

What time can we expect Santa to arrive?

My younger brother’s birthday happens to be Christmas Eve, so a few years ago when my parents gave him a watch, I thought it was so fitting because I remembered pulling all of our cousins away from our Christmas Eve party and piling everyone into my room to look out the window to see if Santa would arrive before we went to sleep so that he could wish Eric a ‘Happy Birthday’. I’m sure our parents grew sick of us asking every 15 minutes what time they thought Santa might arrive. Regardless of your timeless holiday stories & memories (see what I did there?) a classic watch is always a no-fail gift for any man on your list, and at this time of year there are great deals to be had for beautiful timepieces!

Prefer a modern black-on-black colorway to a more classic design? This Hamilton at 40% off sure is a beaut!

Raymond Weil is a bit more expensive, but man they make beautiful watches! I bought Mike a Raymond Weil watch, similar to this one, as a wedding gift and he absolutely loves it. At 66% off, plus 2% cash back on Ebates, this one’s sure to blow him away.

I love this Timex ‘Weekender’ Chrono design – it has a beautifully modern twist on a classic military-inspired design he’s sure to love. And at $82, the price can’t be beat!
- This slip-through strap version is a handsome alternative, and is marked down to just $60, too!

Going somewhere?

If you’ve got a man-on-the-go on your list, luggage is a great gift to give, because we’re all guilty of hanging onto that one great bag that traveled all those fun places with you but maybe should’ve been tossed years ago. Here are a few great finds:

Hartmann is a classic luggage brand known for their incredibly well-made products, so this handsome overnighter at $175.00 (down from $440) is a STEAL! Oh yeah, and if you use the code “WarmUp” when you checkout, you’ll get ANOTHER 50% off! I say order one for everyone on your list.

If you have a suit & tie guy on your nice list, you know how important a garment bag is for travel. We had 9 – yes, NINE – weddings this year so Mike had a serious suit rotation and this Victorinox bag was a life saver! It had extra pockets for shoes and other knickknacks, plenty of extra space for me to hang my dresses in addition to his suits, and weighs much less than traditional hard-side garment bags. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
- PS – If you use the code ‘Friend’ at checkout, this bag comes down to $100!

It’s tough to keep all your necessities in one easily accessible place when traveling, so he’s sure to love this gorgeous leather multi tablet case from Restoration Hardware to help him stay in order while on the go!

None of these items quite checking off the right box for you? Here are some no-fail toys for the boys … literally!

Remember that bike he told you he remembers finding under the Christmas tree when he was little and how it completely made his year? A drone is the 2017 equivalent and pretty much the coolest thing you could give him this holiday season. Promise!

With so many cool shots from his new drone, he’ll be sure to love an iPhone projector to show off his new aerial work!

This may be listed for kids ages 8-12, but if he’s counting down the days ‘til The Last Jedi is released, he’ll love keeping himself busy with this Star Wars Lego set.

Phew! That should help check those guys off your shopping list! Stay tuned for my gals, hosts and stocking stuffer gift guides later this week! In the meantime, be sure to take advantage of Ebates while you online shop! Not signed up yet? Use this link or the button below to become a member!