Buying for a man who cares about clothes is an exercise in paying attention. The watch he pauses over. The brown he keeps choosing. The sneakers he wipes down before putting them back in the box. He has preferences, and that makes shopping for him more interesting.
The best gifts for men under $100 feel like something he would have picked on a particularly good shopping day. A knit polo for dinner. A little silver Casio with more personality than its price suggests. Boot socks in a color that deserves to show.
For the man who dresses for dinner: Jack Archer Legacy Resort Sweater Polo
Jack Archer’s
Legacy Resort Sweater Polo
$69
Some men have a restaurant shirt. This could be his next one. Jack Archer’s Legacy Resort Sweater Polo has the collar and buttoned neckline to make dark jeans feel ready for a reservation, with a knitted body that keeps the whole thing easy. It is the sort of top I would want to see beneath a brown leather jacket.
Mocha Heather is my choice for the man who gravitates toward warm colors. It looks particularly good in the company of indigo denim and brown shoes, with no need to coordinate every shade. Leave the neckline a little open and keep the belt simple; the polo is already giving the outfit its character.
At $69, this is a gift with an actual evening attached to it. Book dinner, wrap the polo and let him decide which jeans are coming.
For the man who notices small details: Casio A168W-1
Amazon
Casio Collection Unisex Adults Watch
$29.92
A little silver Casio can be the most interesting thing in an outfit full of expensive clothes. That is why I like the A168 as a gift: it has its own look, and it does not need to impersonate a luxury watch to earn its place on a wrist.
The rectangular digital face gives a plain sweater and jeans a sharper finishing detail. I would also wear the idea into dressier territory—dark trousers, a good shirt, this watch at the cuff. That small interruption is more appealing to me than choosing a watch solely because it matches the formality of everything else.
For the man with a bulging wallet: Troubadour Card Sleeve
Troubadour
Card Sleeve
$59
A great pair of trousers deserves a better ending than a bulging wallet in the back pocket. Troubadour’s black Card Sleeve is a gift for the man who notices those finishing details: a clean belt, a tidy bag, a wallet he is happy to put on the table.
What I like here is the small, closed shape. The pull tab and magnetic fastening make it feel more like a little leather object than an exposed stack of cards. Black is the version I would choose for someone whose accessories are restrained and whose wardrobe moves easily between denim and tailoring.
For the man whose keys need an upgrade: Orbitkey Key Organizer Matte Leather
Orbitkey
Key Organizer Matte Leather
$43.50
The key ring is often where an otherwise excellent outfit gives up. A great coat, good shoes, then a fistful of metal dragged out of a pocket. Orbitkey’s matte-leather organizer is a small gift for the man who would enjoy putting that last detail in order.
I like that it folds the everyday keys into one compact shape while leaving a place for the car fob. Choose leather that sits comfortably with his bag or belt; it does not have to be an exact match to look considered. This is the kind of accessory that makes sense for someone who takes pleasure in the objects he handles every day.
For the man who takes his sneakers seriously: Jason Markk Shoe Care Kit
Jason Markk
Shoe Care Kit
$35
A sneaker enthusiast does not need another person guessing which sneaker he wants. He may, however, appreciate someone noticing how much he likes the pairs he already has. Jason Markk’s shoe-care kit is the gift I would choose for the man whose favorite white sneakers rarely stay dirty for long.
The cleaner, brush, repel spray and quick wipes turn maintenance into a more complete little setup. There is something satisfying about giving the tools for a ritual someone already enjoys, especially when the shoes themselves cost considerably more than this $35 kit.
This works best as a gift for a confirmed shoe person. He will understand why it is in the box. And unlike a surprise pair of sneakers, it does not require you to know his size or enter a debate about the right colorway.
For the man who lives in boots: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Socks
Darn Tough
Hiker Micro Crew
$26
Good socks deserve to be seen. A glimpse of Darn Tough’s Spruce Hiker Micro Crew above a brown boot is the sort of detail that gives jeans and an overshirt a little more life. The green is what would make me choose these over another pair of anonymous black socks.
This is the gift for the man who enjoys substantial boots, washed denim and a sweater with some texture. The cushioned, midweight style fits that wardrobe visually as well as practically. I would skip the novelty packaging and give him two pairs in colors he can work into his winter clothes.
The sweater for his best jeans
NAADAM
The Original Cashmere Sweater
$98
Black cashmere is my pick for the guy who turns up to dinner in jeans every time. It makes faded denim look deliberate and has a quieter effect than a big cable knit. If you’ve seen him wear a black crewneck to pieces, start here.
The quarter-zip for the hoodie loyalist
Jack Archer
Sandwash Quarter-Zip
$79
Buy the True Black quarter-zip for the guy who’d wear a hoodie on a plane, at breakfast and straight into the office if he could. Keep the comfort of that uniform and give him a cleaner neckline. This is the casual Jack Archer pick. The knit polo is still the one I’d give with a dinner reservation.
The pink shirt for a blue-shirt guy
Nordstrom
Sailboat Emblem Cotton Button-Down Oxford Shirt
$49.50
Pink White is the choice here. The stripe works with the navy and gray he already owns, and it looks better with washed jeans than another plain work shirt would. I’d give it to someone who likes an Oxford with the sleeves rolled up.
The tee for his olive-and-indigo rotation
Vuori
Tuvalu Tee
$68
At $68, a tee should earn a regular spot in the laundry. Olive is the reason I’d pick this one. It works under a denim jacket and gives off-white jeans an easy partner. Save it for the guy who already cares which T-shirt he puts on.
The white sneaker with a tennis pedigree
adidas
Rod Laver Sneaker at Nordstrom
$67.50
The Rod Laver is the one I’d give a guy who likes old tennis shoes and wears his chinos a little loose. The low profile gives a generous trouser hem somewhere to land. At the listed price, the white pair is an especially good buy if you already know his adidas size.
The slipper for a long Saturday breakfast
Minnetonka
Suede Slipper at Nordstrom
$69.95
Chocolate suede is an easy call for someone who spends half his Saturday in plaid pajama pants. The moccasin shape gives it a little more character than a hotel slide. For an indoor winter gift, I’d choose this before trying to surprise him with boots.
The slides he’ll pack for every warm-weather trip
Birkenstock Essentials
Arizona Waterproof Slide Sandal
$49.95
White makes this pair look sharp with swim shorts or a striped camp shirt. Give them to the guy with a winter trip booked or a gym bag permanently by the door. If his plans involve coffee on a cold kitchen floor, the Minnetonkas make more sense.
The beanie that breaks up a black coat
Carhartt
WIP Watch Beanie
$28
Fleur de Sel is the move for a man whose outerwear is mostly black or navy. The pale cuff shows up against a dark coat and looks just as good with a faded denim jacket. This is the winter gift I’d buy when I know his style better than his size.
The baseball cap for the man who buys his own hats
Melin
A-Game Icon Hydro Performance Snapback
$79
Seventy-nine dollars is a serious cap budget. Use it on the man who wears a cap four days a week. Khaki is easy with an olive jacket or navy sweatshirt, and it leaves room for the rest of his outfit to do something interesting.
The belt for the guy who tucks in his shirt
Johnston & Murphy
Woven Leather Belt
$49.50
The brown weave has more going on than a smooth dress belt, which is exactly what I want between a white Oxford and blue jeans. It would look equally at home with ecru trousers and loafers. Gift it to someone whose belt actually gets seen.
The first piece of jewelry I’d buy him
Estella Bartlett
Men’s Leather Wrap Bracelet at Nordstrom
$35
Dark brown leather has the ease of a watch strap. A little of it at a chambray cuff is plenty. At $35, this is an easy way to shop for someone who likes the idea of jewelry and rarely wears any.
The wallet for someone who still carries cash
Will Leather Goods
Classic Leather Bifold Wallet
$95
The tan bifold is the right call for the man who still keeps a few bills tucked away and likes an accessory to show its age. If he leaves the house with a license and two cards, I’d buy the smaller Troubadour sleeve above.
The bag for all his little cables
Bellroy
Tech Kit
$59
Slate looks at home next to a good work bag, and the zip-around layout gives his adapter, earbuds and charger a place to land. I’d buy it for the man who packs beautifully and still winds up fishing for a cable at the gate.
The organizer for the man who still carries a passport
Thule
Aion 2-in-1 Travel Organizer at Nordstrom
$64.95
Nutria has the understated look of a small piece of luggage. The removable pouch gives his passport and cards a home he can take out of the bag when he needs them. Choose this for the international traveler and the Bellroy for the guy whose carry-on is mostly chargers.
For the guy who dresses for a night in
The pajama pants he’ll put on before the guests leave
Polo Ralph Lauren
Flannel Pajama Pants
$60
The red Malcolm Modern tartan is the point. With a gray sweatshirt and slippers, it looks properly festive on Christmas morning and still feels right on an ordinary January Sunday. This is my pick for someone who spends winter in flannel.
The pajama set for a warm sleeper
Nordstrom
Cooling Short Pajamas
$79
A black short set is a better use of the budget for someone who sleeps with the window cracked in December. The matching top makes it feel like a present, and the shorts give him a reason to keep it in rotation well past the holidays.
The fragrance for a late dinner
Maison Margiela
Replica Jazz Club Eau de Toilette Set
$95
Rum, tobacco and vanilla make Jazz Club the one I’d give a man who already likes a warm, sweet fragrance. It’s easy to picture with a leather jacket and a late reservation. The travel spray is the extra worth paying for if he already reaches for this kind of scent.
The shower upgrade for someone who likes a lighter scent
SALT & STONE
Bergamot & Hinoki Signature Trio Set
$37
Citrus and woods are the direction I’d take for a man whose bathroom shelf is already full of unscented basics. The body wash, deodorant and mist let him decide how much scent he wants. This is the easier gift if you’ve never seen him wear a sweet cologne.
The candle for a guy who likes a good room
MALIN+GOETZ
Dark Rum Candle
$68
Buy this for someone who cares as much about the lamp by his sofa as the jacket on his back. The rum scent makes sense for an evening at home, and a candle lets him enjoy a warm fragrance without having to wear one.
