subject: Men's Fashion Gift Guide: Accessories [print this page] On paper, accessories may sound like the most sartorially sensible gift option you have at hand. You get to impress the recipient with your good taste and knowledge of men's style, without imposing your own sense of fashion upon him at the same time. But the range of men's accessories is a very wide one, which means that there's still space for error - and for you to lose face once the wrapping paper comes off.
Guys Get Generic
Buying accessories for women is often a very straightforward affair. Whether you get an inexpensive but functional purse or a purely decorative premium brand key fob, chances are good that your gift will be stored until it has a use. Giving the gift of an accessory to a man, however, can become a whole other topic altogether.
Men's accessories are different from women in that there's a marked focus on investment pieces, on quality over quantity. Look in any men's boutique and you'll notice that the items for men tend to be well-made - and at price par with the upper end of the ladies' market. It might sound like a good deal, but it actually makes for a restricted selection. Before anything, quality is the top priority for this sector of men's fashion.
Style and how much of it an item has can depend a lot on how well the item fits the man wearing it. If a hat is too big, it won't look good on even the most model-worthy guy on the block. Shoes that are the wrong size will be awkward - and painful - for any fashion-conscious man that attempts them. It's a rule of fashion that, while often cited for clothes and actual garments, can apply to accessories like shoes, hats and gloves as well.
Every gift giver knows that the best gifts are the ones with the most universal appeal, the things that anyone could receive and then like at that same instant. For accessories, that best gift would be something generic, something that doesn't require you to know the recipient's foot size or head circumference. By eliminating one of the two factors of an accessory, you increase the chances that your gift will be used and appreciated.
The Generic Gift
Now that you know items with a fit are a no-no, personal style items like hats - fedoras, especially - are off limits on your shopping list. It's about time you considered the rest of the range of accessories for men before you bring out your credit card.
Bags, for example, are extremely versatile gifts, and can be given regardless of the time of year. On top of that, they're flexible and easy to scale up or down; whether you've got $10 for a small toiletry pouch or plan to spend $500 for the boss' leather duffel, there's at least a couple of options out there for you. Besides, it's highly unlikely that the recipient has absolutely no use for a bag, which means your gift will get used sooner or later.
Travel accessories are also widely appreciated, especially if it's for a coworker or family member who does a lot of flying or driving around. Items like leather-bound notebooks, plated card cases and premium baggage tags rarely cost more than $100 a pop, yet they're invaluable for any traveler. And, like the rest of the recommendations in this article, you won't have to worry about sizing or head widths for these gifts; you just buy them and go!
'Accessories' describes a very wide range of items in the vocabulary of men's fashion, and it's one that few fully explore. Some accessories like bracelets and necklaces can be very personal, while others like belts and shoes can be extremely dependent on one's personal sense of style. By going with a generic gift like the proverbial Father's Day Necktie, you avoid both of these potential social minefields - and save yourself a bit of cash to boot.
