I always forget that Father’s Day is in June for some reason and it creeps up on me every year and leaves me floundering for a last minute gift. I’m on the ball this year though and already know what I’m getting my own Dad (well I know where I’ll be buying from anyway), so I thought I would create another little inspiration post as my last gift guides went down well. Although shopping for men is not my strong point so this may end up being a terrible idea…but here goes nothing.
Budget – Under £30
I have a couple of go to items that I can rely on when inspiration fails me, the first of which is food. You literally cannot go wrong with food, especially when it is a purse friendly option! My Dad in particular has a serious sweet tooth and is also a complete cheese fiend, so cheese and chocolate is always a winner and for this Father’s Day I’m going with cheese (he is a caveman when it comes to technology so no worries about him reading this). I came across the The Fine Cheese Company fairly recently but it is now my go to for cheese gifts…there are so many options and amazing variety. Based in Bath, they are hardly on the doorstep but offer delivery for just £2.95 (another place I looked at charged £10 delivery) or free delivery over £20. I haven’t decided whether to go for a gift box like The Oh So Tempting Cheese Selection or The French Cheese Collection or to just choose some individual cheeses and package them together myself. I’m loving the look of this Chaource and the Baby Burt’s Blue. One thing I am sure of is that I will be adding one or two treats for myself and the first thing that will be going into my basket is this Truffle Graceburn. I’ve tried the regular Graceburn which is soft cheese marinated in olive and rapeseed oil and infused with garlic, thyme, bay and pepper and I can safely say it is now my favourite cheese product. However, I’m going to give the truffle version a try as who doesn’t like a bit of black truffle?!
You know what goes well with cheese…chutney! I often head to John Lewis to pick up an Edinburgh Preserves box, not just for Father’s Day but any occasion. There are always a variety of boxes to choose from but my favourite is the Edinburgh Preserves Ploughman’s Box as it contains a couple of chutneys, mustard, pate and biscuits. The gift box also looks the part and at £18 won’t break the bank.
As for sweet treats, there are plenty of high end establishments but I prefer to visit good old Thorntons as their Special Toffee has always held a special place in this household. You can’t go wrong with the original but I sometimes like to mix it up and go for the assorted box so you get a bit of everything. An oldie but a goodie!
Not a fan of cheese or toffee? How about some creamy fudge…I’m not even a massive fan of the stuff but I’ll always make an exception for the Fudge Kitchen as it is like no fudge I’ve had before (I’ve now said fudge so many times it’s starting to look weird). Anyway this place is unreal, the slabs are HUGE and there are loads of different flavours. I’d happily buy a box for myself but they also make a pretty awesome gift. Can’t decide on flavours? My absolute favourite is the Sea Salted Caramel Fudge as it is super creamy but with a good kick of sea salt that you can really taste, or if you have a real sweet tooth, try the Strawberry Cheesecake Fudge. There are also a few flavours I haven’t tried which sound amazing such as Millionaires’ Shortbread and Maple Walnut (trying not to drool on my laptop).
Moving away from foodie gifts and onto a bit of tech. We got some Tile Mate Item Finder tags at the end of last year and they have been an absolute life saver! We have only used them on keys so far but they can be attached to any number of things (including pet collars if you have a dog like mine that likes to go exploring) and when said item goes AWOL you can either use location or sound alerts to let you know where it is. I also came across these Tile Stickers which stick to items rather than hooking onto keyrings…I haven’t used these before so I don’t know how well they work but I’d like to give them a try!
Every well dressed man needs a set of cufflinks…end of. And my pick of the bunch are the 12 Bore Cufflinks from Hicks & Hides, perfect for any country gent. They come in a range of colours but personally I love the plain brass offering. Not into shooting? These silver Soprano Salmon cufflinks are also rather nice and will add a classic nod to the countryside. Not a fan of country style? I don’t know what to tell you other than have a word with yourself.
If you have the same sense of humour as me then gifts that insult the recipient or involve toilet humour are another go to for me. I bought my Dad this ‘I’m a twat’ mug a couple of years ago and he found it hilarious…it got broken not long after so I don’t know if the novelty wore off or if it was a genuine accident. I’m tempted to buy it again this year seeing as it’s only a fiver and I can see what the reaction is.
Middle Ground – Under £100
Clothes are always a safe option if I’m struggling for ideas…in particular from Crew Clothing. If I’m stuck and have the budget I will usually go for a shirt of a jumper…maybe a pair of socks if I’m feeling generous. I know June isn’t really the time of year for gifting jumpers but here in Scotland, it’s pretty much jumper weather all year round. I often go for a cable knit style as they can be dressed up or down and suit everyone so I’d choose this Regatta Cable Crew Neck Jumper or the Classic Half Zip Knitted Jumper. Neither of these options scream summer so if you’re looking for something a bit more lightweight, I’d go for this Cotton Crew Neck Jumper instead.
My other fail safe option from Crew is a classic shirt…they are always needed as the men in my family seem to get through them at an astounding rate! Personally I love a man in a pink shirt so if it were up to me I’d go for either the Classic Fit Micro Stripe Shirt or the Classic Fit Oxford Shirt, both in pink. However, if pink is not your (or his) thing, I’d opt for the same Micro Stripe Shirt in Ultramarine or this Classic Fit Micro Gingham Shirt in Sky blue.
Another option I’d consider to be a pretty safe bet is a scent. My favourite at the moment is Dior Sauvage…it’s a gorgeously woody fragrance and I judge anyone that doesn’t like it! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy or you’re one of those who are boycotting this due to Mr Depp, then I’d head for Chanel’s Bleu De Chanel, an intense woody aromatic fragrance…and let’s face it, you can’t go wrong with Chanel.
If you are shopping for a tech savvy Dad, how about the Mackenzie & George Apple Watch Strap? If you follow my blog and/or Instagram then you’ll know that I am a regular M&G customer and have made too many purchases to mention. Most recently I got the leather Iphone case (which I can also thoroughly recommend) and the grained leather is gorgeous and wears well. The watch strap is also made from grained leather, comes in oak and mahogany and will look seriously smart around the wrist! Seeing as I don’t have an Apple watch, this is one of the few items I won’t be purchasing for myself, however, I think this would make a great gift for anyone that does. And you can get £5 off your purchase with this code http://i.refs.cc/s59qfJZZ?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo1MzgxNTE5MDl9.
Maybe you’re shopping for a sports buff? If you’re Dad’s a rugby fan then I have the perfect gift up my sleeve in the form of the British & Irish Lions 2021 Pro Jersey. Yes, at £75 it is pretty spenny but you know it will be well received and well worn throughout the tour with a beer in hand.
Blow Out – £100+
If are lucky enough to have a bigger budget then first of all, lucky Dad…second of all, here are some fabulous gifts that any man would be delighted to receive.
For the fashionable Father, I’d recommend heading over to Fairfax & Favor for a pair of Blakeney Loafers. A classic suede loafer which comes in a variety of colours, although in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with classic tan. If he’s more of a boot man, The Trafalger is a good sturdy leather option which can be dressed up or down and are perfect for many an occasion. Fairfax & Favor are also running a Father’s Day offer so you will receive a free pair of men’s socks with all men’s footwear purchases (until June 21st 2021). As an added extra, you can get 10% off your first order with this code https://fairfaxandfavor.mention-me.com/m/ol/qb5nz-cf2c95165f.
Sticking with footwear but perhaps more on the practical side, something chaps in the country require all year round is a pair of wellies…we may be seeing the sunshine just now but don’t be fooled, it won’t be long before the rain showers appear again. Personally, I’d be bypassing Hunter as I feel their quality has gone waaaay down and heading for the Aigle Parcours 2 wellies instead (unless you’re feeling seriously generous then perhaps Le Chameau)! I can’t speak from experience seeing as I don’t wear men’s wellies but I have been recommended these by a number of reliable sources, so if you have a problem, don’t shoot the messenger! However, I have been assured that these are super comfortable, hard wearing and supportive (and so they should be for £145).
Now that the country is starting to open up again and we can finally start travelling a bit more, maybe a staycation is on the cards. Whether it’s overnight or a weekend away, the Barbour Wax Holdall could be just the ticket. Hard wearing, roomy and featuring Barbour’s signature wax exterior and tartan lining, this is the perfect gift for a Dad of any age! I gifted this to my SO a good few years ago now and it’s still going strong and looking fabulous.
Looking for a gift for a Dad who enjoys a tipple? I may not know much about beer or whisky, but I do know something about gin and I shall confidently point you in the direction of Craft Gin Club. You can choose from monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly subscriptions and when the time comes the recipient will receive a full sized bottle of craft gin, a selection of paired mixers, snacks and cocktail ingredients as well as the club magazine. I have to say the snacks are almost as good as the gin and I’m always sad when I finish them off (which never takes very long). Gift subscriptions start from £149 but you can get £20 off your first box with this code https://prz.io/LpkkJvSN.
So there’s my Father’s Day gift ideas…I hope this has provided some inspiration for those who are struggling (or who have just been procrastinating). Of course all of these ideas can be used for any other gift giving occasions…birthdays, Christmas, general treat yo’self (or someone else) moments. I’m not quite sure how to sign this one off so…Happy shopping!
Until next time x
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