My Dad, Norman S. Blackman
Fathers are fabulous and we love them. But once a year we show our love with something more tangible, like a gift, on Father’s Day. No matter how commercial this holiday may be, woe betide the child who doesn’t bring an offering to Dad…
This year, The Advice Sisters had the opportunity to see some sensational Father’s Day gift idea, courtesy of the Accessories Council at an event held at the super cool Gibson Guitar Studios in Manhattan. Hosted by Pamela Peckerman and the Acessories Council’s own Frank Zambrelli, there were literally a dozen or more items that men of every age would love to own, with prices to suit just about every budget. What I’ve done is select the six I think will suit my readers the most.
Here they are, and not in any order (drum roll please):
Almost every guy carries a business card and/or credit cards of some type, but when I look around me, mostly I see men pulling these out of pockets, or out of ratty wallets. Why not treat Dad to a really nice card case? $59.50 brings you the J. Fold Stone Collection Folding Card Carrier. This card case exudes class. it’s made f full grain vegetable- tanned Italian leather and it’s slim, but it has four card slots plus plus and extra for bills. The leather feels really soft, and will look and feel even better with wear, instead of simply being “worn out.” The card case is also impressively packaged in a re-useable wooden box that looks like a little file drawer. He can use it to store cards, trinkets, loose change —whatever! Available www.jfold.com www.amazon.com & at better specialty stores.
Cufflinks are a classic gift, and for the Dad who loves them, there is no such thing as having too many pairs. But the Customizable Sterling Silver Cufflinks by Samantha Levine take personalization to a whole new level. For just $125-160 you can get Dad a hand-crafted original pair of cufflinks that truly represent him. Samantha will make his cufflinks to order with a design or logo that is his alone. The samples that editors saw at the event were beautifully crafted, and looked like they really should cost a whole lot more! If you want dad to be able to choose his own design, you can get him a gift certificate good for one pair of custom cufflinks. Check out all the details on http://auburn-jewelry.com/
Another classic gift is some sort of cologne, but if you give dad Vince Camuto Homme Eau de Toilette ($57.70) you’ll be giving him an easy, user-friendly way to up his style quotient, no matter what his age. At the event, we joked a bit that Vince Camuto seems to have his name on everything, but if that is the case, we’re all for it, because his name is synonymous with sophistication without being too too over the top for the average guy. This particular fagrance arrives in a nice clear glass bottle, and the scent is clean, fresh and masculine, but also modern. Notes include pressed citron, juniper berry, iced gin, French lavender, warm musk, cools spruce and atlas cedar. I see this mostly as a daytime fragrance, and good for all seasons. It is available on Macys.com and at local Macy’s stores
Is your Dad a road warrior? For the travelin’ man, we love the Jack + Mulligan Dylan Dopp Kit ($70.00).
The Dylan Dopp Kit is a generously sized bag that holds all of his personal items easily. It is made from rugged (but colorful, color-blocked, water-repellent 18 oz canvas). The inside has a waterproof nylon lining in case anything spills. You can get it in blue, brown or khaki with red, beige or grey accents, all with chocolate brown leather trim and antique brass hardware (and a good zipper). Dopp kits are functional items, but when you are traveling, a high quality one that also looks good, is a really nice touch. These are available online at jackandmulligan.com, and select retailers in New York, Connecticut, and Philadelphia.
Also for the traveler, there’s a little thing that is so important, it might just save his life. These Soxxy
Nighthawk Travel Compression Socks are $35.00 which might seem like a lot of money for a pair of socks, but as they were explained to us, they are compression socks. They help increase circulation, reduce jet lag, swelling, muscle soreness and help decrease blood clots and the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Nope, they’re not just ordinary socks…tell that to Dad. On top of that, they’re soft, stylish, cute! Available on www.soxxy.com
This is the gift we’re suggesting you give to Dad, but then “borrow” (ok, steal it) for yourself. Let’s face it, Fedoras are so hot right now and they look good on almost everyone. So get Dad one of these amazing David & Young Men’s Fedoras ($24. 40) and let him make a fashion statement that you two can really share. Choose prints and styles from camo and anchors to preppy plaids and bold stripes in a Spring/Summer lightweight fabric of linen/cotton blends, and raffia paper! You can get these chic chapeaus on www.shopdavidandyoung.com, as well as at DSW, Bon-Ton and Wilson’s Leather.
