22 Father’s Day Presents Picked By An Actual Man With Great Taste
(Spoiler alert: He’s my husband)
I hate to brag (lies), but my husband has really great taste.* It’s almost, almost, almost annoying that he instinctively gravitates to the best option, pretty much always. The right playlist? Of course. The coolest Japanese whiskey glass? Obvi. The best vintage Levi’s denim jacket? You know it. He even manages to always pick the best thing on the menu, a superpower that trumps even mine, which stings a little.
So naturally, when it came time to put together an excellent list of potential Father’s Day presents, I asked him for some input, and boy, did he overdeliver. A casual request from me yielded a three-part email from him, complete with quotes, links, and even my preferred formatting for prices. Can you believe it? I know; I’m lucky.
*Weird take, but I think having compatible taste with your partner is actually more important than we give it credit. I’m not saying it’s essential for happiness, but I do think it causes less day-to-day annoyance.
As always, if there’s an item you’re shopping for or you need help sorting through the zillions of options out there, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment and I will add it to my to-do list. (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)
Jonathan’s Father’s Day Gift Suggestions
Klein Tools Precision Screwdriver Set with Case ($30)
This set is the ultimate addition for your junk drawer. If your house is like ours, you probably have a bunch of small toys and electronics that have very small, weird fasteners that you can never find a screwdriver to fit. That stops today. Everything you need for fixing teeny tiny battery compartments? It’s in this set. Plus, Klein is a great old American brand, and makes a ton of great products, especially for electricians.
Knipex 4-Piece Pliers Set ($120)
Another heritage tool brand, this time from Germany. The Dad you’re shopping for probably already has some pliers, but trust me, these will be an upgrade. The foam tray is great for keeping them organized in a junk drawer [Ed note: I had no idea he thought about junk drawers this much] or tool chest.
Toyo Steel Tool Box ($68) in Military Green
Classic, timeless Japanese design from a company that’s been in business since 1969. This tool box is just big enough to carry the essentials, and comes in a color everyone loves. [Ed note: Just here to remind everyone that olive green is the new gray.]
Gerstner 5-Drawer Oak Chest ($370)
A tool chest so good-looking, it doesn’t need to be banished to the garage. Even better: The lid and drawers lock to keep tools safe from the kiddos.
Bennett Winch Suit Carrier and Holdall Bag ($1350) in Olive Canvas
Is this expensive? Yes. But it’s also pretty genius if you’re looking for a chic AF weekend bag for trips that require a suit. The outside of this holdall is actually a garment bag that wraps around an interior duffle bag, and there's a detachable shoe compartment that’s waterproof. Plus, it has a shoulder strap and two-way zippers. It also comes in black waterproof cotton canvas, if that’s of interest.
Strymon Iridium Guitar Amp and IR Cab Simulator Guitar Pedal ($400)
This is perfect for electric guitar player dads who can't, won’t, or don’t crank their amps in the house anymore. Instead, plug your guitar and a pair of headphones into this pedal, tweak the settings to your heart's content, and have a blast playing electric guitar while making (almost) no noise in the house. It’s not just a gimmick for practicing; this is a professional level tool that would also allow you to record great electric guitar tracks directly into the computer without ever turning on an amp.
Levi's Original Fit 501 Selvedge Jeans ($148) or Iron Heart Selvedge Straight Leg Jeans ($335)
Selvedge denim is always a good idea. Levi’s makes a classic option at a more accessible price; these 501s are a combination of cotton and hemp. As for Iron Heart, it’s more of an investment, but people go nuts for this brand. Iron Heart is based in Japan, and the brand’s products are beloved by bikers and denimheads alike. The easiest entry point is the straight leg jeans in the 13-17oz range, which is definitely heavier than your average denim, but not in an intense way.
Vintage Watch from Analog Shift (prices all over the place)
When it comes to buying vintage watches, the mantra is "you're buying the dealer, not the watch." There are plenty of fakes and lemons out there, the first thing to do is find a dealer you trust. Analog Shift stocks great watches and stands by what they sell.
A.P.C. Ville Chinos ($365)
My wife—maybe you know her?—got me these pants, and I love them. They’re not too fitted, not too baggy, and I feel like these will survive the trends. Madewell’s Cotton-Wool Blend Trousers ($148) have a similar look, but at an easier price.
Howlin’ Shaggy Bear Striped Brushed Wool Sweater ($193)
We have a running joke that our family’s favorite color is stripes, so probably no surprise that I’m including this sweater. Love that it has that ‘90s grunge/alt nostalgia vibe
Dehen N-1 Deck Jacket ($1,295)
Another investment piece, but this one is truly an heirloom jacket. Plus, I just love almost everything I’ve found at Dehen. It’s another American heritage brand, this one started in Portland in 1920, and their pieces really hold up.
Todd Snyder Riviera Swim Trunks ($228)
Grown men can—and should—wear something other than board shorts to the pool. Todd Snyder makes great stuff all around, and my wife told me that her friends who style Chris Pine, Seth Rogan, and Jacob Elordi like this brand too, if my word isn’t enough. [Ed note: He’s talking about Wendi Ferreira and Nicole DeJulio; their Who What Wear Pod episode about styling men is excellent!]
Malbon Oxnard Shirt ($110)
Finally! There's cool stuff happening in golf apparel.
FootJoy Field Premiere Series Spikeless Golf Shoes ($199) in White/Brick
Most golf shoes are just terrible looking. This style, from the best company to ever do it, is gorgeous [Ed note: uh…], comfortable, and functional
Madewell 1991 Straight-Leg Jeans ($138)
Madewell doesn’t get enough credit for how great their jeans are, for both men and women. This style has universal appeal, but particularly in the Hanlock (black), Vintage Canvas (off-white) and Elmwood (‘70s faded) washes.
Bonus! JL’s New Watch Buying Guide by Price Point
If vintage watches feel like too much work, here are a few newer options that are great.
Under $100 / Casio G-Shock Quartz Watch DW5600 ($50)
A modest, tough, no-nonsense everyday watch that also delivers a massive hit of nostalgia. The ultimate cheap Dad watch that even snobs adore.
Under $500 / Seiko Prospex Watch SRPE93 ($349)
A nearly indestructible, super-reliable, crazy bang-for-the-buck diving watch. It’s a modern, affordable interpretation of the beloved Seiko dive watches of the ‘60s and ‘70s, and so well executed.
Under $1000 / Baltic Bicompax 002 Watch ($610)
Baltic is a modern, independent brand that takes visual inspiration from mid-century watch designs and uses high quality mechanical movements throughout the line. Personally the gold/black is my favorite, but it comes in six other colorways too.
Under $5000 / Tudor Black Bay 58 Watch ($4000)
Tudor is Rolex's sister brand. This particular version of the wildly popular Black Bay model is my favorite, with subtle vintage-inspired touches like the inverted red triangle on the bezel, the rivet bracelet, and 39mm case size. About as close as you can get to the iconic James Bond small crown Submariner in a modern watch.
Under $5000 / Longines Legend Diver Watch, 39mm ($3100)
But maybe you're not James Bond, maybe you're the villain? In both Casino Royale and Skyfall, the bad guys wear Longines, including the Legend Diver, a classic "compressor" case design. The internal bezel / dual crowns make it stand out from the crowd, and can be dressed up or down. (It’s available in 36mm and 42mm, but the one with the best proportions by far is the 39mm. It sounds silly to be so specific, but it really makes a difference.)
Under $5000 / Cartier Tank Must Watch XL ($5000)
And coming in right at our price ceiling is this classic Cartier tank. It’s pretty incredible that you can put a brand new Cartier—with a mechanical movement, but only if you get the XL—on your wrist in 2024 at this price.
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Heck, I’m interested in some these for myself. The tool box, the chinos from APC, and the watches bounce toward the gender neutral style I prefer.
“*Weird take, but I think having compatible taste with your partner is actually more important than we give it credit. I’m not saying it’s essential for happiness, but I do think it causes less day-to-day annoyance.”
This is so true and am surprised that general taste - bc it permeates into so much - doesn’t get more credit in compatibility. Nice touch in articulating. 😉