Gifts For Men - Odi et Amo Style

Welcome to the Cottage and Vine gift giving series.  Today, I have a  special guest here to talk about gifts for men.  Averill writes the blog, Odi et Amo.  When I first discovered Averill's blog, she featured a series called, "Shop Like a Design Blogger" which I thoroughly enjoyed and still refer to for ideas.  Averill is also expecting a baby boy, congratulations Averill, and is currently hosting a series called, "Advice for New Moms".  This series has me wanting to start all over with having babies ;)

Thanks so much for joining us today Averill!

***

  
  Let's face it, shopping for the men in your life can be tough. Most of the ones I shop for often profess to need nothing -- or, if they make a gift request, it's usually something exceedingly boring like, say, socks. Sure, you can take their word for it, but I prefer to try and, well, knock their socks off by coming up with creative, useful and luxurious gifts that express exactly how much they mean to me. This season, here's a roundup of 9 great gifts that just might end up on my giving list:

1. Jonathon Adler Match Strike ($42; Jonathan Adler). I love a gift with a sense of humor. This match strike not only holds matches stylishly, but provides a handy strike as well. Even better, you won't be embarrassed to have this one sitting on your mantle.

2. Wine Essential Wine Aerator ($27.73; Amazon.com). If your recipient is a wine aficionado, I'd highly suggest the wine aerator, which turns inexpensive, young wines into something palatable and pricier, better wines into something spectacular. Plus, it's fun to use.

3. Chumby One ($119.95; Chumby Store). I'm a bit of a gadget gal myself, so I love this alarm/Internet radio in one (Pandora is a personal favorite of mine). Plus, you can even check the weather or the stock market before you get out of bed. Another plus is that it can run off a back-up battery, which is a great way to ensure that an unexpected power outage won't end up ruining your morning.

4. Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Canceling Headphones ($299.95; Amazon.com). Pricey, but so, so worth it (especially if you work in an open office environment!). Dave often wears his on the plane, without any music plugged in as they do an excellent job of muffling sound even without music going. If he listens to a lot of music, this is an absolute must.

5. UGG Australia Men's Ascot Slipper ($99.95; Nordstrom). I'm a big fan of slippers, especially ones you can wear outside to get the mail or paper in the morning. While I'm not a fan of UGGs generally, I'll admit that they make the absolute best slippers/house shoes. Nothing like a little fleece lining to warm up your toes on a cold morning.

6. Apple TV ($99; Apple). A great gadget at a great price. Stream your videos, photos, iTunes, movies and more from your computer directly to your TV. I'm thinking about getting one myself just so I can cancel my expensive premium cable channels.

7. Ledbury Work Shirt ($125-$135; Ledbury.com). I'll admit that I love seeing Dave in a great, well cut dress shirt. And Ledbury makes some beautiful ones with the English-style tailoring I so prefer. For a less expensive option, I can't recommend Banana Republic dress shirts highly enough. Dave has several BR dress shirts and they fit and wear beautifully -- and they're under $80. (Tip: BR runs way long; I often buy Dave a tall or long in shirts, but that's totally unnecessary with BR).

8. Cashmere Crewneck Sweater ($188; J.Crew) -- . Everyone, I repeat everyone, loves cashmere. And J.Crew has the best quality for the best prices. This season, they also have a great range of colors, which is great because (let's face it), does he really need another navy, black or gray sweater? I think not. If you're like me and live in a warmer climate, try the cotton cashmere crewneck (on sale from $59.50), which is a lighter weight more appropriate for mild winters or layering.

9. Boss by Hugo Boss eau de toilette ($65 for 3.4 oz.; Sephora). Hands down my all-time favorite mens' cologne. It's masculine, but with the faintest hint of vanilla. Delicious. Happy hunting and Happy Holidays!

*** 

Thanks again Averill!  I do love to see Mr. in a nice dress shirt.

  These are all fabulous gifts for the men in our lives.  

I have certainly gotten some great ideas. 

Be sure to visit Averill on her blog, Odi et Amo.

Other posts in the gift giving series:

Gifts for the Fashionista - Isabella & Max Rooms
Gifts for Kids - Home to Three Duncan Boys 
Gifts for Mom - Loft & Cottage
Gifts for the Decorista - Emily A. Clark