Hellobee

I’m guessing I’m not alone in that the guys in my life are typically the most difficult to shop for. My middle brother is impossible, but I have finally hit upon the idea of gift cards to swanky restaurants or CSAs, which always seem to go over well. Luckily, Mr. Cotton Candy is easier than most because he keeps a pretty comprehensive online wish list.

I wanted to put this gift guide together for people who are looking for some non-stereotypical gifts for the men in their lives. My husband doesn’t shave or wear ties, and he doesn’t like coffee, cheese, or whiskey, so I sometimes have to dig deep to come up with something useful, original, and cool for him. Here are my favorite gifts for dudes (and other non-dude people of style) this year.

1. Vintage clock radio (via DejaYu on Etsy). I’m trying to shop small as much as possible this year, and that definitely includes Etsy as well as secondhand finds. This clock radio is the best of both worlds and would look so great on Mr. Cotton Candy’s bedside table.

2. Snazzy new sneakers (Ben Sherman via Amazon). Mr. Cotton Candy is in desperate need of new sneaks, and I scored a great deal on these on Cyber Monday. Even full price, they’re totally affordable.

3. Vinyl. I plan on digging through some vintage record stores before we exchange gifts, but if that’s not your thing, there are plenty of new and used records available online. Here are some ideas that I think Mr. CC (and lots of guys) would love. Cardinal by Pinegrove | The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie | Run the Jewels, Vol. 2 | Purple by Baroness

4. Face wash (Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser via Amazon). Everyone needs a good face wash, and this one is affordable and has good reviews and sleek packaging.

5. Grandpa cardigan (via Travelsmith). If you’re the kind of partner who loves to steal your guy’s clothes because they’re cozier, then this present is a doubly excellent idea. I bought a secondhand cardigan like this one for Mr. CC a few years ago, and although it’s officially his, we totally share it every winter.

6. Mini tablet (Samsung Galaxy 8″ Tablet via Amazon). At just under $200, this tablet is way more affordable than an iPad. Mr. Cotton Candy is all in on Androids, so this is the tablet I’d choose for him.

7. Beer glasses + gift card to liquor store (IPA glasses via Amazon). Okay, maybe this is the one “typical” guy item I have on the list, but what can I say? Mr. Cotton Candy loves his beer, mainly IPAs, hence the funny looking glasses. He even has “his” beer store, a locally owned liquor store that carries tons of craft beers, and I know he would be so pumped to get a gift card from there.

8. Nature Box gift subscription (via Nature Box). I bought Mr. Cotton Candy a three-month gift subscription to Nature Box for our anniversary and it was the biggest hit. You get a delicious, hand-picked selection of healthful and delish snacks every month. Mr. Cotton Candy loved the sriracha cashews and the chocolate mini waffles.

9. Personalized photo calendar (via Social Print Studio). I love Social Print Studio for printing my fave Instagram photos (I use it to print my favorites of Little Cotton Candy to hang in my office or in the kitchen). And, exciting news, I found out this year that they offer a photo calendar where you get 365 photo prints for only $40. Sounds like a steal to me! I’m imagining all the rad dads out there who would love to have photos of their family greeting them at work every day.

10. Pizza stone (via Amazon). We are a pizza-loving household, so getting Mr. Cotton Candy a pizza stone is kind of a no-brainer. This one is meant to work on a grill, so it’s manly, ha.

11. Expandable storage for phone (via Amazon). For the gadget-obsessed, some extra storage is always a good idea.

12. Homemade picture frame. I really want to give Mr. Cotton Candy a heartfelt gift this year, as those always seem to leave the biggest impression with him. I’ll have Little Cotton Candy help make a photo frame of some kind…maybe with painted macaroni for a totally-cliched-in-a-good-way vibe.

13. New York Times gift subscription (via New York Times). Whether it’s a digital or home delivery subscription, I love the idea of giving the gift of information, while at the same time supporting such an important historical institution.

14. Cozy flannel shirt (via The Bearded Bee on Etsy). What person doesn’t love bundling up in soft flannels in the winter? Mr. Cotton Candy and I are working on quite the collection, and I plan on raiding local thrift stores to see if I can score any good deals for him this year. The Etsy shop I linked above offers a set of five vintage flannels for only $40—a steal! Or, if you’d prefer to go new, J. Crew Factory usually has good deals and their flannels are top notch.

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So that’s it! A slightly offbeat gift guide for the not so stereotypically manly men in your life. Now I’m off to buy all the things!

What are you buying for your brothers, dads, husbands, etc. this year?