My picks for today are all about HIM. In general you’ll see over the holidays I write a few guy-focused posts – one skews slightly older (Dad), one skews slightly younger (guy friends / brothers). This one is probably your most general option – the ideas here could be embraced by teens, young adults, new parents, empty nesters and retirees alike, although in general I went for a sort of middle-of-the-road age range of about 25 – 45. And with that…here’s a whole whack of awesome gifts for guys.
Cardigans – $202 – $262 @ Killigrew
Just in time for the winter, Canadian brand Killigrew has released a gorgeous collection of men’s cardigans. Each of the three styles pictured above actually comes in three different colour variations, meaning you’ve got quite a range to outfit your man of choice. Made from plush Peruvian 100% alpaca wool, these timeless cardis are sure to become a wardrobe staple for everything from weekend brunches to casual Fridays.
Bottega Veneta Pour Homme – $80 – $110 @ Holt Renfrew
For the first time ever, couture fashion house Bottega Veneta has released cologne for men after the success of their women’s scents over the past couple of years. I kind of dig this scent for the holidays in particular because it has a really outdoorsy fragrance with strong notes of Siberian Pine and Canadian Fir, along with masculine leather and uplifting bergamot. I don’t know how else to describe it other than to say it smells like that exact moment in time between fall and winter when the air gets chilled but you’re bundled up – festive, powerful, warm, and sophisticated.
Comic Genius: Portraits of Funny People by Matt Hoyle – $48 (list)
Make him laugh with this rather expansive collection of portraits of some of today’s and yesterday’s most recognizable faces in comedy. From SNL alums like Kristen Wiig to living legends like Carol Burnett to comedy stalwarts like cover model Steve Martin, this cool coffee table tome also includes little snippets of submissions from many of the stars it features, many of which are designed to get a guffaw. Case in point? Bob Newhart’s entry: “I don’t like country music…but I don’t mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means ‘put down.’” An unexpected selection for the guy that loves to attend your city’s comedy festival, is a stand-up star himself, or laments the days of comedy’s original greats having passed us by.
Breaking Bad: The Complete Series – $179.99 @ Amazon.ca
Despite the fact he has never seen an episode, my dad is fixated on getting this uniquely packaged box (or should I say ‘barrel’) set, following the rise of one of TV’s greatest anti-heroes, Walter White. Breaking Bad went off the air just a few short months ago, but diehard fans of the series and those waiting to see how it was all going to end before diving in will be clamouring for this 16-disc set, which includes all 62 spellbinding episodes plus 55 hours of special features and bonus items, like a Los Pollos Hermanos apron. While some people balk at the idea of buying these fully loaded box sets, the discounted price of this one is pretty close in price to just buying the individual Blu-Rays on their own – and isn’t this one just so much cooler to display?
English Laundry x John Lennon Tees – $39.99 each @ Hudson’s Bay
I spotted these tees on a recent shopping trip and thought they were so universally perfect. UK brand English Laundry has teamed up with John Lennon’s estate to produce a line of limited-edition tees that feature artwork from the legendary musician. Older guys that grew up with The Beatles will dig this psychedelic throwback while younger men can don it as a stylish status symbol. The shirts were originally quite a bit more expensive but at the time of writing this post, came down in price – meaning they’re likely to get snapped up quite quickly. Get shopping!
BiGR Major League Baseball Headphones – $99 – $149 (also at Amazon.com)
It bothers me when people separate sports fans from music fans from movie fans and so on. Why can’t you be fans of multiple things? That’s the question posed by BiGR as well, with their line-up of MLB headphones created in partnership with the pro baseball league. Available in two core old school-inspired styles with every team represented (some of which have a third or unique option), this is a great choice if say, your husband or brother is a big baseball fan, but could also use headphones for a practical purpose like commuting to work or traveling. The unique and beautiful natural wood earcups actually cancel noise. Despite their rustic look, they’re also made for Apple goodies like the iPad or iPhone, with a built-in call answer button and mic. Ditto on the durable plastic variation, which highlight full-colour team logos and are outfitted with BiGR’s signature flatwire cable that won’t get tangled up. Both headphones styles come packaged in a beautiful bamboo box that’ll instantly put a smile on his face.
MICRO Pedi MAN – $39.99
It’s ironic that women spend so much time buffing and polishing their feet when men typically have much rougher, gruffer extremities. Granted, we’re the ones showing off our toes in teetering heels and strappy sandals, but that’s no reason for your favourite guy to skip sloughing off the dead skin that tends to build up on your soles and heels. The Micro Pedi MAN promises to almost instantly ‘sand’ down years of foot abuse that causes hard, cracked skin to build up. With a micro-mineral roller that spins 360 degrees, 30 times per second, it’s also pretty fuss-free, requiring next to no time as you quickly zip it over your rough patches. Round it out with an invigorating peppermint foot lotion and soon he might break out a pair of flip flops himself! Available online and at Shopper’s Drug Mart.
Fotostrap – From $85
If he’s an avid photographer – whether snapping your travels together, your family, or a personal interest – then he’s probably griped to you about the standard strap that came with his fancy SLR camera. Treat him to something more luxe and suited to his tastes with a Fotostrap. Made from canvas and leather, these stylish straps are sturdy, comfortable, and adjustable so he can find the perfect fit. Available in a range of colours, prints and materials, Fotostrap promises to work with virtually any camera on the market (granted, not your average point and click). Also cool? 10% of every purchase actually goes to an organization called Fotolanthropy, which shares stories of people who have overcome adversity through photography and film. Bonus points for getting it monogrammed.
The Wes Anderson Collection – $45 (list)
While director Wes Anderson is definitely regarded as an auteur, his style is one that you generally either love or hate. Every minute detail in every frame of film has been carefully considered, requiring the utmost of attention and patience as his quirky characters meander across the screen. But those who love it – love it. And would love this book, too. This book, a collaboration between the director and Matt Zoller Seitz, looks at the past two decades of Anderson’s career with exclusive photos, insight, and more to give you a behind-the-scenes look into such beloved films as The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore. Simply put, it’s a must-have for any Wes Anderson fan on your gift list. As a heads up, this book appears to be sold out (or at least severely delayed) on both Amazon and Indigo – but it IS in stock at bookstores nationwide, so if you really want it, cough up full price and visit your local bookseller. Indigo has a handy stock checker so you can look up whether any locations near you have the book.
Saxx Underwear – from $31.95
Replenishing your man’s underwear drawer is a pretty classic gift – but why not stock him up with some serious performance ‘pants’, as the Brits might say. Saxx Underwear is designed to bring together high performance fabrics with fun prints and colours with proprietary technology that’ll keep him comfortable all day long. The brand’s signature feature is their patented mesh panels for some extra breathing room, which carries through their full line of boxers – from standard boxer briefs like you see above through to trunks, briefs, long johns and more – rendered in both everyday and sports performance materials (including a moisture-wicking waistband for those steamy days and nights). Widely available at Canadian retailers, isn’t it time he tossed the tighty whities (or holey boxers) out for a pair that looks and feels fab?
Cool news folks. I’ve got a prize package valued at $580+ to give away to a lovely reader, including a $75 Killigrew gift certificate, a bottle of Bottega Veneta Pour Homme, a copy of Comic Genius, a pair of BiGR headphones, a MICRO Pedi MAN, and five pairs of Saxx Underwear. Want to be that lucky guy (or gal gifting one)? Here’s how to enter:
1) Give me a shout in the comments below by December 21st: What manly gift featured in this post would you most like to give or get? If you’re ‘gifting’, who’s it for?
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 22nd to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entries: Want to earn some bonus entries? Here’s how:
Killigrew – Like the brand on Facebook, leave a comment about why you’d love to try their gear, leave a link back (it can be done, Google it) to your comment below.
Bottega Veneta – Follow on Twitter, send out a Tweet about their new cologne tagging them and me (@cdngiftguide), leave a link to your Tweet below.
Comic Genius – Is published in Canada by Raincoast Books. Follow them on Twitter and send out a tweet about the book tagging them and me (@cdngiftguide), leave a link to your Tweet below.
BiGR Audio – Like them on Facebook, leave a comment about which MLB headphones you’d most love to rock, leave a link back to your comment below (it can be done, Google it).
MICRO Pedi – Follow their Canadian presence on Twitter, send out a Tweet tagging them and me (@cdngiftguide) on why you’d like the MICRO Pedi MAN, and leave a link to your Tweet below.
Saxx Underwear – Follow on Twitter, Tweet at ’em (and me @cdngiftguide) with the name of your fave style (link to their website is above) and leave a link to your Tweet below.
