Written by Menswear Style in Essentials on the 23rd October 2020

The holidays are just around the corner, but this year Christmas is still a little uncertain. Christmas is about spending time with the people we love and enjoying the end of a fruitful year, but 2020 has of course thrown a lot of our original plans under the bus. This Christmas, the man in your life deserves to have something special for Christmas and today we want to take a look at some of the ideas you can buy for him to make him feel special.

Homemade brownies 

Why not be different this year and bake a treat for your man? These brownies are yummy and they can be frozen and stored for a month after you’ve made them. Ingredients: 200g dark chocolate, 185g butter, 85g flour, 40g cocoa powder, 1 tsp salt, 3 large eggs, 275g caster sugar, 50g white chocolate, 50g milk chocolate. 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. 

2. In a bowl, place your dark chocolate and butter. Fill a pan halfway with water and bring to a simmer. Place the bowl on top of the pan ensuring that the water doesn’t come into contact with the bowl. Melt the butter and chocolate together and then leave to cool.  

3. In a bowl, whisk together your sugar and eggs until light and fluffy and the volume has doubled. This should take around 5-8 minutes. 

4. Pour the cooled butter and chocolate mixture into the bowl and fold together gently. Fold in dry ingredients.  

5. Pour the mixture into a greased baking tin and then sprinkle the chocolate on top. This will allow the chocolate to sink in slightly without falling to the bottom right away.  

6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the mixture no longer wobbles in the centre. Leave to cool for at least 30 minutes and then cut into squares. 

7. Wrap up in some cellophane with a ribbon for the perfect festive gift!

Sports tickets 

Most men love sports; and a set of tickets to a game such as an NFL game in London with the Chiefs vs Ravens is a great Christmas gift. Buying your man tickets for his favourite team is a great way to show you care, and he will love the gesture. 

Video Games 

If your man loves to play video games, there are so many amazing options out there to choose from. You could get him GTA V where he can play story and online; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla where vikings reign; or a horror game that will make him jump. There are lots of amazing games out there and Black Friday is often the best time to order a few.

A new watch 

Every stylish man needs a good watch, and if the man in your life doesn’t have one, Christmas is a great time to invest. You can either go for the classic metal strap and complex dials, or you can do something different and get a wooden watch such as the ones from JORD watches. Made from the wood of uniquely stunning trees, these watches are a stylish accessory and will fit onto his wrist perfectly. 

Wooly socks 

There is nothing better than curling up on a cold evening on the sofa wearing comfortable socks. A lot of the time we buy the women in our life fluffy socks for comfort, but men get cold feet too! There are lots of stylish and comfortable wooly socks out there that are perfect for the man in your life this winter, and will allow him to relax in style.

Tailored shirts 

If you know your man’s measurements, a thoughtful gift for him this Christmas is a tailored shirt. Every guy should have a white, black, and a neutral block colour shirt in his wardrobe; and a well fitting shirt can make anyone feel like James Bond. 

A peacoat 

A peacoat is a wonderful piece of clothing that every man can enjoy in the winter. A stylish peacoat is the ideal outer layer on a cold winter’s day, and will be an investment you can keep for years. Take a look at some stylish men’s coats and make your partner feel amazing this Christmas.

A good whiskey 

Nothing beats a good whiskey on the rocks by the fire on a cold night. There are plenty of aged whiskeys which are perfect for a gift and will be a wonderful treat this winter. Pairing a bottle of whiskey with a couple of whiskey stones is a great choice for a gift too. 

A date night 

2020 has been a year that has tested us all. Since March many of us have been stuck at home waiting out a global pandemic that shows no signs of ending. If you have been stuck at home for a long time, a good gift this Christmas could be a date night. Spending time together getting dressed up and going to dinner might seem simple, but this year especially, it can be wonderful for both of you.

An activity 

Men are often adrenaline junkies, and one way to make Christmas special this year is to organise a day out doing a fun event. This could be anything from axe throwing to go karting, and even paintballing. Meeting up with a group of friends and doing something like this can be fun and it will be a great way to spend your day. 

Good food, good company 

Sometimes the best Christmas present is nothing at all. Have you ever noticed that it can be much harder to buy gifts for a man? This is because quite often, we don't want anything. Instead of buying lots of fancy gifts this Christmas, try a different sustainable tack and instead simply make Christmas as special as it can be. Make lots of sweet treats, a hearty Christmas feast, and have some games planned for afterwards. The act of spending time with the ones we love can be better than anything we buy, and this year it is more important than ever to make the most of the ones we love.

We feature A new watch, wooly socks, tailored shirts, and a good whisky in The Man’s Holiday Gift Guide for 2020.