Our dear friend Paul H. has great taste. After he retired from his career as a movie exec, he decided to follow a lifelong passion and became a home/interior designer. He knows good style, whether it’s the right jacket to wear, the best sunglasses to complete an outfit, or the chicest curtains to buy.
A few months back, Paul wrote our very popular post, Great Men’s Wardrobe Essentials: Buck Mason, which is full of great Father’s Day ideas. As a follow-up, we asked him what other gifts would be great for the 50+ men in our lives who don’t need anything, but to whom we’d like to show our gratitude. Here are his thoughts.
CLOTHING:
Paul thinks clothes are great gifts, given that men don’t often buy themselves things and may need new ones. In addition to all his great ideas in his Great Men’s Wardrobe Essentials: Buck Mason post (be sure to check it out, it’s a good one!!!), he also shared the following items for summer. He’s going to a wedding in Europe where it will be hot, so it includes a great lightweight summer wedding suit as well as everyday options. All of the items below work together as a ‘capsule wardrobe’ where everything mixes and matches.
Buck Mason Capitola Linen Carry-On Jacket: Paul got this in the ‘seeded natural HBT’ color, and finds it’s great quality, not overly structured, and unlined, which makes it great for hot weather and vacation spots, including weddings. It can be worn alone or as a suit with the pants below.
Buck Mason Capitola Linen Carry-On Ford Statement Pant: These match the jacket above and can be worn solo or as part of a suit.
Buck Mason Como Cashmere Polo Sweater: Paul will be wearing this super-lightweight sweater with the suit above for a more casual look (i.e., no button-down or tie). He likes it in white.
Buck Mason Chateau Cotton Linen Carry-On Jacket: This is a super lightweight jacket (it’s almost see-through, it’s so lightweight) that is unstructured and very cool. It can be worn with the linen pants above, or with jeans, amongst other things. Another great warm-weather jacket. All of the items above are great mix-and-match items.
Sunspel Teeshirts: These tees aren’t cheap at $98, but they are Paul’s go-to given their fit and comfort. If you don’t put them in the dryer, they will last a long time. Paul recommends white or navy, but they come in FORTY color options! They are great worn under either of the jackets above as well, and with the linen pants.
James Perse Relaxed Fit Linen Short. James Perse is not cheap, but it is a terrific menswear brand that looks and feels great and will last for ages. Paul thinks these are the greatest shorts ever and are worth the splurge.
James Perse Polo Shirt: He also feels the James Perse polo shirts are the best out there for men, and they can be dressed up or down. He recommends the white, ‘lake’, or ‘deep’ color options.
Patagonia Nano Puff Vest. Paul says, “Every father should have one of these! They can be worn all year round, they roll up into a little ball that weighs nothing, and they are great to take everywhere.” Great in the summer over a tee on chilly nights.
Vuori Workout Shorts. There are lots of different Vuori workout shorts depending on one’s preference of length, lining, etc. Paul prefers the 7” lined and thinks all the colors are good, but he usually sticks with black.
Vuori Workout Socks: Paul goes to Vuori for workout socks, which he thinks are a good Father’s Day gift. Lots of options based on height and thickness preference, but he likes the VI Crew Sock in gray, black, or dark gray.
Wool Crewneck Sweater. Paul thinks Sandro products are terrific for men. They aren’t inexpensive, but they are top-quality products with a great, streamlined aesthetic that stands the test of time. This sweater is a classic.
HOME BAR ITEMS:
Most of us aren’t still acquiring items and ‘stuff’ for our homes, but home bars are very on trend and fun as people gather and explore making fun cocktails and mocktails. Paul recently took a bartending class he was gifted for Christmas. and the items needed to set up a good home bar, with or without the class itself, are great Father’s Day gifts.
Bartending Class: ABC Bartending is a nationwide, in-person bartending school. Paul’s class was over a two-week period, and they learned to make 54 basic cocktails.
Stainless Steel 6-Piece Bar Set: For someone starting a bar from scratch, a full set is a good option.
Jigger: Be sure to get one with measurements on the inside for accuracy.
Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins: Koriko is the one to go with!
Strainer: A must for any bar.
Stirrer and Stirring Glass. A great addition to a home bar.
Muddler: Many home bars may not have this one yet!
Japanese Bar Knife: For peeling citrus.
GROOMING:
Innisfree Products: Paul’s wife recently gifted him Innisfree face serum, face wash, and face cream, and now that he’s actually using the products on a regular basis, he said he sees a difference and gets what all this skincare stuff is about!
Kevin Murphy Freehold Styling Paste: Paul says, “This keeps my hair down so it doesn’t fly around”.
Christian Dior Eau Sauvage: “My dad wore this, and I’ve been wearing it my entire life since I was 18. My kids like it now, too. It’s a super classic smell that’s not overpowering, and I’ve had people comment that they like the smell.”
Thanks, Paul!
