Our husbands, boyfriends, and fathers. Our brothers, cousins, and uncles. Our grandfathers, straight friends, and gay best friends... you get the idea. These are the men in our lives who dote on us. My dad, ever since I became a wife and mom, has been a powerhouse of great marriage advice and a person I can always recount my problems to. My group of close friends happen to be just a bunch of laid back guys that I know won't ever talk negatively of me to my face or behind my back. And my adoring husband's motto of "Happy Wife, Happy Life" has made him such a great teammate in life's challenges that we call Marriage and Parenthood.
So while searching for a nice gift to give to my husband for being such a strong leader of our little family, I came across ten things that could be given on a special occassion or just as a token of appreciation to the men in our lives.
Let's start with my husband's favorites. Shown above are the items he has chosen as a gift to himself from me. He and I have learned in the five years we've been together that we should consult with one another before buying an expensive gift for the other. It may take out the element of romanticism and surprise, but likewise eliminates the chances of him not liking the present or even worse, pretending to like it and then having it shoved upstairs in the attic to share space with some cobwebs and fiberglass insulation. But if you are fantastic at picking and choosing gifts for your loved ones and friends, you should really teach the rest of us. Or you can just expect them to like it, like most people I know. And there is nothing wrong with that.
On with the husband's choice of gifts... The Burberry Brit Jersey Polo in white (above, left) is a shirt that features the signature Burberry check trim along the collar, sleeves, and button placket. Available at the Sak's Fifth Avenue website for $150.00, the shirt is a sexy addition to my metrosexual's growing array of business and business casual wear that he considers his new "thing." Also availabe at saksfifthavenue.com is Versace's Eau Fraiche Eau de Toilette. Literally translated as "fresh water", the cologne is priced at $75.00 for a 3.4-ounce bottle. My husband describes the fragrance as "the men's version of Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue Perfume." Its sweet, citrus scent is a cool welcome to the hot summer months that are inevitably to come. Bonus: Enter code MARSFA at checkout when you spend $150.00 or more at Sak's Fifth Avenue's website and score free shipping on all your items!
For the ultra-fashionable, designer-aware prepster, Marc by Marc Jacobs' Wrinkled Pinstripe Sport Jacket is available at Barneys New York with a sale price of $209.00 from the $428.00 original price tag. A hint of stripe vertically crosses the cotton, two-button sports coat and is completed by the pristine look of a welt chest pocket. (Time to bring out that pocket handkerchief!) Four buttons line up at the cuffs, and the wrinkled material gives it a dressed-down look without coming across like a desperate yacht party-crasher. Paired with a simple crew-neck graphic tee, this fully lined jacket can also be worn out to a dinner date with a lucky gal or guy, or to a bar for a couple of beers with the boys. Just make sure the haters don't "accidentally" spill their whole bottle of Guinness on the designer duds! And if they do, brush his shoulders off; this piece of work is machine-washable.
Another gem available at the Sak's website, the Paul Smith Lines Cuff Links add a pop of color to the just-a-normal-day-at-work business outfit. The nickel-plated metal serves as a sturdy background to the colorful lines that will give any button-down shirt a bright personality. Priced at $95.00, I approve of this item as a birthday or anniversary gift to that special man, whoever he may be. From personal experience, my husband started constantly wearing button-down cuff-link shirts to work whenever I got him a pair of cuff links because he wanted to show off how fly his wrists looked.
How about a little something for that low-key, laid-back fly guy? Enter Volcom's 'X-Factor' Short Sleeve Shirt, available at nordstrom.com for a wallet-loving $25.90. The button down shirt can be worn a little dressy with dark-washed jeans, or live up to Volcom's skater lifestyle with some torn, acid-washed jeans. Let's just cross our fingers that the recipient of this gift will look as good as the model on Nordstrom's website.
Another great priced item from Sak's Fifth is D&G's Combo Aviator Sunglasses, for $150.00. Available in Blue or in Brown, the lightweight shades are also relatively light on the pocket book, considering they are designer eyewear. What a sexy way to protect that great man's beautiful eyes from UV damage! Note: This would be one of those gifts in which you may want the gift recipient's opinion. Not everyone favors the Top Gun look (and I don't know who wouldn't!) plus sunglasses fit and look differently on each person's face.
For the past two summers, I've seen an influx of men and women sporting "boat shoes," like the Sperry Top-Sider Men's Authentic Original Boat Shoe (above, top). Available at the Sperry website for $75.00 a pair, the shoes come in eight different colors and have been a favorite of those who love hanging out by the ocean. I already showed the hubby the women's pair that I want to get! These shoes make a great gift as they are timeless and always in mod. Like the salt water version of little black dress, but for feet. The Converse 'Jack Purcell LTT' Sneaker (above, bottom, if that makes sense) is available at the Nordstrom website on sale for $34.90. That's 45% off the original price of $64.95! The canvas material is perfect for those hot feet in the summer months, while keeping that man looking fresh with the plaid pattern.
Now for a product that my husband firmly endorses: the Tom Ford For Men Eau de Toilette. Priced at $90.00 for a 3.4-ounce bottle, this fragrance is in my husband's top three of favorite colognes. And trust me, he knows his colognes. Should you happen to stop by our humble abode, you'll notice in the corner of our bedroom lies a mini-Macy's Fragrance Department. I'd say there is about 35 bottles of cologne in his collection... I didn't even know there were that many men's fragrances. I asked my husband how he would describe the scent of this eau de toilette. His exact response: "It's masculine with nice woody notes mixed with patchouli and spice." At the Sak's Fifth site, it even claims that the product is in "high demand" so shoppers can only order a few at one time. Trust me, it's worth the $90.00... coming from the wife of a man who's pick up lines back in the day went something like, "Is that Chance by Chanel (or another designer perfume) you're wearing?" And then walk off while the girl stands there in awe and decides she has to meet that guy. Yeah, that guy. Oh the stories we have for our son.And finally for some duds attached to a good cause, because charity is one of my best accessories. Opening Ceremony's Read My Lips Tee (below) is now available at barneys.com for $50.00. This purchase will make you feel good about spending money, as a portion of the proceeds will benefit ACT UP (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power), an organization that addresses the fight against AIDS. Buy one now and receive a complimentary ground shipping on all of your barneys.com orders.
For more information on the Gay and Lesbian agenda and other charities and causes I support, please check out the "Causes & Charities" section at the top of the page.
Would any of the guys in your life appreciate the items above? Which would you get and for who?
- Arlene J.
1 comment:
I would!!
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