These are the best gifts for style aficionados
From a pair of modern monkstraps by Edward Green to a seasonless bomber courtesy of L’Estrange, here’s what to gift the fashion fanatic in your life...
If your loved one has a pressed stack of Sunspel t-shirts in their drawers, considers the no-black-with-navy rule to be a mandate from a bygone era, and thumbs through a Tom Ford tome with the loving care of an archivist handling an ancient relic, then they’re likely a difficult person to buy for when it comes to all things sartorial.
But, with just under a month until the season’s biggest day, there’s still sufficient time to create a shortlist of timeless gifts that will further bolster their wardrobe rather than upend it – because, while new-season LV and soft Gucci tailoring may be the styles of the moment, the most simple, essential pieces are often the easiest ways to please haute couture hearts.
To ensure you put a smile on the fashionable faces of your friends and family this year, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best garments to gift and give – for budgets both big and small.
Firm Foundations: Invest in the Basics
Buying heavily patterned or overly embellished pieces can either be a big, bold success – or a brash failure. Statement items are usually bought based on personal taste, so leave those decisions up to the purchaser in question. Stripped-back wardrobe staples, however, are more of a sure thing, and those that can be used on a daily basis are likely to receive higher appreciation, given their strong utility factor.
As we’ve preached for the past decade, no wardrobe is completely finished without a white t-shirt, as it gives a firm foundation throughout the seasons – Uniform Standard’s Supima cotton offering is a premium item that can be worn by itself during hot July weeks, or used as a layering piece under two other menswear must-haves: L’Estrange’s hydrowool bomber, which brings together a slender silhouette with windproof, waterproof and breathable materials; and Sunspel’s loopback sweatshirt, which is a contemporary take on the athletic classic.
Comfort and Joy: Give the Gift of Warmth
Alongside the crackle of log fires and walks amongst scenery that only Robert Frost would write about, few Christmas notions are as romantic as that of snug, down-home knitwear, the type of pieces that bring to mind warmth and comfort and act as a soft-landing following months of arduous work.
For items of this ilk, we recommend you forego the fairisle knits (again, such patterns are a matter of taste rather than that of universality and versatility) and reach for the blank-canvas options. Most notably, the ‘Dolcevita’ cableknit sweater, by Aurélin, comes in a wear-anywhere navy hue, and its blend of cashmere and extrafine merino wool guarantees a soft feel; then, when wrapping up, finish things off with the brand’s equally luxurious maroon scarf, which provides a strong, but complementary, contrast. For a seasonal white-Christmas touch, Orlebar Brown has crafted a cream-hued chunky shawl-collar cardigan that’s finished with a navy trim.
Best Foot Forward: The Lace-Ups to Last Through the Seasons
Have your loved one start the new year with a new spring in their step by bolstering their shoe department. When it comes to this area, we recommend leaning towards the more luxurious, sturdier options, given the everyday toll they’ll take – this means relying on makers who’ve built a firm reputation on creating solid, durable footwear that transcends fashions and seasons.
For traversing rugged terrain during these cold months, Grenson’s hiking-chic leather boots feature rubberised overlays that protect areas that get heavily scuffed; ‘Colorado’ leather; and rubber soles. When swapping the boots for black-tie, consider the ‘Westminster’, Edward Green’s take on the monkstrap, which is given a contemporary, relaxed feel due to its soft, ever-so-slightly crinkled matte finish. But, if wanting something brighter and lighter, try these two-tone spring- and summer-friendly sneakers by Tod’s.
Final Touches: Elevate Their Look With Some Evergreen Accessories
They may have mastered assembling a capsule wardrobe that’s suitable for year-round wear – maybe they’re a fan of hardy workwear or a master of the minimalist aesthetic. A well-appointed accessory, however, will add further finesse to one’s wears; and, by doing so, such add-ons can do much of the heavy lifting for an outfit.
If he’s a globetrotter and tallies up the Avios points as he zips from Osaka to Ottawa, Luca Faloni’s holdall, which makes use of vegetable-tanned full-grain leather from Tuscany, is hardy enough to survive the bashfulness of the terminal, and will also gather a lovely patina over the years. On the smaller end of the leather-goods line, this credit-card holder, courtesy of Aspinal of London, will slip into any coat pocket while allowing one’s appearance to remain streamlined. And, of course, no Christmas stocking would be complete without some socks – however, eschew the stale, frail and low-cost options in favour of a pair by London Sock Co., which is knitted from fine Scottish lisle cotton and whose ribbed pattern offers a low-key hit of luxury to any look.
And for yourself? Here’s how you can win Gentleman’s Journal winter-essentials bundle, worth over £2,000…
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