Sure, in a perfect world you might surprise your man this holiday season with a pair of 50-yard-line seats for the Super Bowl in Miami. Or maybe you might spring for a week at Pebble Beach — you lounging in the spa, him firing away at pins on the seaside links. Of course, the world ain’t perfect, and you’ll likely end up scrambling for gifts at the last minute, frantically clicking away on the Internet. But it doesn’t need to be that way. Follow these suggestions, and you’ll rest easy and he’ll love you for it.
For dad"Mad Men" taught us that every man looks that much more dapper when sporting a white pocket square. This spring, add a shot of color and pattern to his look with these punchy pocket squares from Land’s End. You can't afford not to buy them.
- Patterned Pocket Squares, Land’s End, $8 each
For the boyfriend
We all know that girlfriends love to make over their boyfriends. Here’s how to do it better this winter for less. Buy him a wool tie — the tie trend of the season. You can spend a $150 on one, or you can head to the GAP for this awesome, slim-cut wool tie for just under $5. Or, pair it with a plaid dress shirt. Cooler and a lot more fun (and younger-looking) than your typical white office shirt.
Even when he’s looking cool, he’s gotta keep warm. He’ll love this down vest by Land’s End. Buy one in a neutral color, and be sure it’s a size smaller than he’d normally wear (they run large, and you want it to fit snug).
- Plaid shirt, Gap, $39
- Mini houndstooth tie, J.Crew, $59
- Down Vest, Land’s End, $24.50
For your bromanceLets say you're in a bromance — and, hey, we're okay with that! — you need to treat your bro right. Get him these hand-blown lager and pilsner glasses from Spieglau. They drink as good as they look. But make sure he shares the beer with you!
- Spieglau Beer Glasses, $25 per set, www.culinaryoutfitters.com
For your husbandEvery man needs a digital camera these days. The problem is, there are hundreds on the market. Which one do you buy? These days, the guys at GQ are loving this Samsung. It’s got an LCD screen on the back and front, so when you’re taking those hand-held self shots of you and the wife, you know exactly how the shot is going to look. Plus the back is a touch screen like an iPhone. It's all you need in a camera.
- Samsung DualView TL225 Digital Camera, $350, www.samsung.com
Every guy loves cars. Period. And there is no cooler book out this season than this one: Amazing black-and-white photos of the coolest vintage cars ever. For men — and boys — of all ages.
- Cars Coffee Table Book ("Cars: Freedom, Style, Sex, Power, Motion, Colour, Everything, by Stephen Bayley") $43.87, www.barnesandnoble.com
Teenage sonRemember records? If you’re teenage son is a DJ/music fanatic, he knows all about them. Trust us. This is the on-the-go record player of the 21st century. He can spin his favorite vinyl, transfer them to his computer, then load a custom playlist to his iPod. Warning: this product may initiate an impromptu dance party.
- Ion USB Portable Turntable,$140, www.urbanoutfitters.com and Urban Outfitters stores
Box sets
Men like to watch TV. A lot of it. But let’s be honest — even they will admit that most of college bowl games this holiday season are pretty lame. So, what’s your man to do? Easy, get him any one of these box sets, and he’ll be happy on the couch for hours and hours. And you, finally, will be able to relax. All can be purchased via amazon.com:
- "The Mel Brooks Collection," $139.99 (blu-ray) — The funniest man of all time. No joke.
- "Rocky: The Undisputed Collection," $99.99 (blu-ray) — What guy doesn’t love Rocky? Well, at least the first three!
- "Futurama: The Complete Collection," $169.98 — Coolest packaging on the market. Reason enough to buy this collection of the entire series as well as four full-length features, courtesy of Matt Groening, the creator of "The Simpsons."
- "Breaking Bad: The Complete First Season," $39.95. If you’re not already addicted to this series, here’s your chance to get hooked. The most underrated show on TV.
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