Shop Our Editor in Chief’s Favorite Gifts for Father’s Day

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What do you buy for the guy who doesn’t have everything but insists he needs nothing? I’m referring to dads, of course. And speaking as a dad, I confess to telling my wife and daughters that they shouldn’t buy me anything for Father’s Day. But when the day comes and they do buy me a gift, I feign excitement so I don’t convey my disappointment. Really? You think I’d like this shirt? Last year, they bought me a basketball hoop for our driveway—great idea, except it required assembly, a project that took five months and involved the help of my contractor buddy.

Don’t buy your dad a lame shirt or something that requires a tradesman to assemble.

My own father is seventy-six, and I can tell you I come by this honestly: He, too, insists he needs nothing and hides his disappointment at getting a subscription to Sports Illustrated (his gift from me in 1993). This year, I’m making an effort. I’ve spent weeks thinking about it, researching gifts, and running them past my exasperated mother, who, I’m sorry to admit, did not get this attention for her Mother’s Day present (flowers!).

I am buying my old man only one gift, but here are a number of others I wholly endorse. I don’t know your father—I’m sure he’s great and sometimes an asshole, like mine—but I’m confident he’ll actually like one of these gifts. If he doesn’t, blame me.

And if it arrives after Father’s Day, don’t sweat it—he’ll understand that things of value are worth the wait. Good luck!

A Framed Slim Aarons Print

This is what I’m buying my dad. He’s intoboats and waterskiing, and you simply can’t go wrong with a print from the legendary Slim Aarons. It conveys good taste and a sense that the owner knows at least a little bit about photography. There are lots to choose from on One Kings Lane. Get it framed. He’ll love it.

If Slim’s work isn’t tickling you, I’d suggest something by another legend, Gordon Parks, which you can find on Art.com. One more recommendation: an iconic photo that first appeared in Esquire, “A Great Day in Harlem.” I guarantee every dad will appreciate this one.

Original Wayfarer Sunglasses

It’s hard to buy sunglasses for someone else, but every man (and woman) is more attractive in Wayfarers. Trust me, even if you have doubts, everyone else thinks you look cool as hell in them. Plus, dads love the movie Risky Business, no matter their generation. Tom Cruise running a brothel out of his house while his parents are out of town is essential viewing for men who have helped create life. As a result, fathers see Wayfarers and connect them to Tom Cruise in Risky Business. There have been studies about it, I’m sure. You can try buying Dad one of the newer models, but I strongly recommend sticking with the original in black. Dads like originals.

Invisible Generals

The genre for this book might as well be “Dad Nonfiction.” The author’s great-uncle and great-great uncle were America’s first two Black generals. His great-uncle was the leader of the famous Tuskegee Airmen; he faced shocking racism and still rose to the top of the U.S. military. Their stories are extraordinary, upsetting, and inspiring. It’s a good, quick read (only about 180 pages) that your dad will enjoy.

Meisterstück Fountain Pen

I can’t imagine any dad needs a pen, especially one that costs almost a grand, but this is what makes the Montblanc Meisterstück such a profound pleasure. As Nick Sullivan, Esquire’s creative director, wrote about it recently: “A fountain pen is like a tie these days. It’s not a necessity but an expression of taste—and a chance to snatch a little extra joy from the grip of everyday existence.” Snatch Dad a little extra joy. Even better: The Meisterstück—which, by the way, Montblanc refers to as a “writing instrument”—is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, a milestone that comes with a short film by Wes Anderson.

Loafers

Men love uniforms (see: the military, sports, tuxedos). So—bear with me here—what if you created a footwear uniform with your dad? You could even include your siblings and mom. Buy him a pair of the original American loafers: the Bass Weejuns (which Esquire had a hand in creating). Then buy a pair for yourself—and everyone else in your family.

If you want to go a step up from Weejuns without breaking the bank, check out Grenson, a British shoemaker that offers one of the best values in the business. Plus, dads are big on stories—you can tell yours all about how Esquire helped invent the Weejuns or about this British shoe brand you discovered.

Gaviota 5 Sneakers

Maybe loafers aren’t your dad’s thing. Maybe his feet are too old to tolerate them. If either is the case, buy him a pair of Hokas. Parents love Hokas. Looooove them. But they’re also embraced by the running community, because they’re legit.

Watch

As with the loafers, the real impact of this gift is buying yourself one, too. Again, if you’ve got siblings and a mom, consider including them as well. It provides a fun, sentimental story: We all have the same thing on our wrists. In fact, lean into the sentimentality in the card: A timepiece for a timeless guy. If you can afford a Rolex, an Omega, or a Cartier, then go out and buy a few, get them engraved, and delight everyone. (You might need more than a week to procure them, however.) If you don’t have the means to go luxury, or if you lack the desire (no judgment!), try a watch that’s both inexpensive and stylish. I recommend this Swatch, though there’s nothing wrong with a G-Shock, a Timex (especially one of the collaborations with Todd Snyder), or a Seiko.

Expensive Liquor + Cheap Booze

The best lifestyle is one in which you embrace the highs and lows. This is true in life, in fashion, and in the things you consume. If your dad is a drinker, buy him a nice bottle of Scotch, like the Balvenie 12 Year. Then get him a six-pack of cheap beer. I’m a sucker for Old Style, because I grew up in Chicago, but Bud Light, Rolling Rock, or PBR will do just fine. You could also flip it: Buy him a bottle of Dewar’s (I actually love Dewar’s) and some really nice beer—one of those IPAs that make you feel like shit (I actually don’t love IPAs). Just avoid this practice with wine. Cheap wine is bad.

If your dad is not a drinker but enjoys a non-alcoholic beer, try Visitor, a small NA brewer in Chicago. Highly recommend. Pair it with some sparkling water. Buy him a couple cases of glass bottles of the very best sparkling water: Mineragua.

Leather Briefcase

I’m obsessed with briefcases. They’re stylish, classic, and useful. I have a few, and every time I’m out and about I get a compliment. In the age of canvas totes, leather backpacks, and messenger bags, they’re surprising. They’re also old school. Perfect for a dad, whether he’s still working or retired.

Some options: Brooks Brothers makes this nice and relatively affordable briefcase; Shinola and Coach each have good ones that are a couple hundred bucks more. If you really want to go for it, the British company Bennett Winch makes a number of beautiful briefcases, especially this one.

An Esquire Subscription

Buy Dad America’s original men’s magazine. Look, I’m obviously a partisan, but it’s a helluva good deal. For just $35, he gets six print issues a year, all the Esquire.com he wants, and access to our archive, Esquire Classic, going all the way back to 1933. He’ll love that.

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