Christmas Gift Guide for Men

Christmas and New Year's Day are getting closer by the day, and who says "holiday season" says "gifts". You still don't know what to buy a man you particularly like, and you'd like to give him something personalized and symbolic? Whether you want to spoil your husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, spouse, friend, cousin or favorite colleague, Ernest presents a selection of gift ideas for every taste and every wallet. Just follow the guide!

A first advice: set a budget

To guide your search for the perfect gift for a man who deserves the best, have a dollar amount in mind while still allowing yourself some latitude. In other words, setting a price range for your purchase will help you focus your online or in-store search and cast a wider net in your search. For example, you could aim for $50-$100, $150-$250 or $500-$750. Remember that no matter what your budget, there are ways to find an original gift!

That said, don't be too rigid: if you find THE perfect gift in every way, but it exceeds your maximum budget by just a few dozen dollars, it would be absurd to give it up. If you do, just tell yourself that you'll be a little more "reasonable" next time!

A gift according to his personality

Let's face it: giving a random gift bought at the last minute to a man you care about is a bit sad, isn't it? For Christmas, it's much better to do your research and find a gift that's just for him (in other words, it's obvious it wasn't meant for someone else)! Good news: if you're reading this article, you're on the right track!

Is the man you want to spoil this year "hip" to new technologies? Cultured? Sporty? A tinkerer? Gamer? A cook (or foodie, if you prefer)? Eco-friendly? Romantic? Adventurer? Epicurean? Intellectual? Gardening enthusiast? Collector? Animal lover? Music lover?

Consider his preferences, values and lifestyle to find a gift that best suits his personality. Not only will they notice, but they will definitely appreciate it. And on your end, you can say "mission accomplished"!

A package for an activity

In our experience, offering a package for a relaxing or thrilling activity is a great way to stand out in a gift exchange! Skydiving, a massage in a spa, driving a race car, deep-sea fishing, learning about native traditions, sleeping in a tree house, tasting microbrewery beers, going zip-lining, playing 18 holes on a superb course, trying Flyboarding... in a few clicks, you will find 1001 experiences to do in the 4 corners of Quebec!

Visit Go Forfaits, Forfaits Québec or La Forfaiterie for inspiration. You have no idea how many possibilities are available to you!

A box so that he can take care of himself

At Ernest, we believe that giving a gift of skincare this holiday season is a great way to show a man you're close to and that you care about his well-being. And it's a good thing too, because there are plenty of companies offering products designed to pamper men from head to toe! Find a skin or beard set, for example, by visiting the online boutiques of Quebec or Canadian brands (e.g. CW Beggs and Sons and Groom - prices vary depending on the set, plus or minus $75) or create your own gift basket with excellent local products by visiting your local pharmacy.

A clothing accessory

It's always a pleasure to receive a beautiful accessory when you're a man of taste! Our team is convinced that this is a winning choice for the holidays, not least because the New Year inspires change. Are you hesitating between several options and afraid of making a style mistake when shopping for a watch or bracelet? To avoid awkward gift exchange situations like "Oh, thanks for the gold watch, but I only wear cash", give him a traditional or virtual Ernest gift card from $25 to $1000.

For a more personalized experience, accompany your man on his shopping trip, either online or in-store, and go out for a coffee or hot chocolate together to extend this special moment!

A culinary experience

We're not afraid to say it: at Ernest, we love novelty, fashion... and good food! That's why we believe a gift "that can be eaten" is a sure bet every time! Whether your man to pamper is a gourmet or a foodie, there is no shortage of ways to delight his taste buds. Depending on your budget, you could :

• Have him discover a gourmet restaurant (rated 5 stars!) for a multi-course dinner;
• Enroll him in a workshop to learn how to prepare chocolates, pastries, fresh pasta, etc;
• Plan a rally of the most famous restaurants in a given region;
• Invite a chef to your home for a themed evening (sushi, tapas, etc.);
• Order a meal preparation box (e.g. Cook it or Marché Goodfood) and cook a great dinner with him/her - why not sip a glass of wine?

An alcoholic product from Quebec

Quebec abounds in producers of spirits, wines, ciders, beers and more! In our opinion, the holiday season is the ideal opportunity to introduce your man to one or more excellent local products in his favorite alcoholic beverage category. The SAQ, specialty stores (e.g. Tite Frette boutiques) and public markets, among others, will give you an embarrassment of riches to choose from, guaranteed!

Prefer non-alcoholic beverages? If so, there's no shortage of choices: introduce him to NOA non-alcoholic spirits (around $30*) or the products offered at the Apéro à zéro boutique (various prices, from $3* to $50*).

An accessory to practice your favorite sport

We have many sporty customers at Ernest, and we think they'll be delighted to receive a quality holiday accessory! To make an active man's eyes sparkle, give him something that will enhance his experience or performance in sports: a backpack, field hockey stick, badminton racket, golf glove, boxing bag, weights, etc. You can also give him an "accessory for an accessory" such as a fun golf club cover (from $35*), a special case to showcase a collectible or a holder for his lucky racket.

Visit your local sports and outdoor stores to find the accessory that will make him jump for joy this Christmas!

An accessory for his phone

Giving a man a phone accessory for the holidays is a great way to ensure he thinks of you often since many of them almost never part with their precious device! There are a number of accessories that can be used with a cell phone that your man might enjoy, for example: a pocket tripod for your cell phone (around $70*), a tripod for professional videos, a selfie pole, wireless headphones, a car adapter or a stylish case (the ones from Quebec company KaseMe are particularly beautiful and original!). 

A man's sport jacket

To kick off the New Year in style, we think a nice sports jacket is THE perfect holiday gift for a man! Enhance your man's look in the blink of an eye with a great jacket over a quality shirt, turtleneck or t-shirt, at work or play. Ernest offers elegant sports and chic casual jackets in various cuts, colors, patterns and prices from renowned brands such as Anthony of London, Au Noir, Horst and Jack Victor. Discover our collections today by visiting our online boutique and choosing your favourite!

A cap, scarf or a nice toque for the winter

Don't want your husband, brother or friend to catch a cold this winter? We know what you mean! We strongly recommend that you give him a gift for the holidays that will keep him warm. Make sure your man's outings or travels during the cold season are as comfortable as they are stylish with a winter accessory! Depending on his preferred style of dress (bohemian or rock, for example), opt for a scarf, a hat (cap or tuque) or gloves (from $20*). He'll look great, no matter how high the mercury!

 

Ticket to one (or more!) shows

Giving tickets to a show as a gift this holiday season is a great way to spoil a man (and our team loves all kinds of entertainment!). To make the right choice, find out which artists are favourites with the man you want to give a gift to - look at the pages he subscribes to on social networks, for example - and offer him a ticket (or a pair of tickets) to a show he can attend with you or his friends, as the case may be.

Humour, slam, song, instrumental music, theater, dance, circus, storytelling: Quebec's performance venues offer a wide range of disciplines. Ask about it, because some establishments offer advantageous discounts if you buy tickets for several shows - enough to make your Christmas gift last all year long!

A gadget for his car

Especially in winter, we need to make our journeys as pleasant as possible, which is why we think giving the gift of an automotive gadget this holiday season is a brilliant idea! Moreover, driving enthusiasts are always happy to optimize their comfort on their daily commute or road trips. From cell phone holders, heated steering wheel or seat covers, to folding trunk organizers, you're sure to find the perfect gift for your favorite motorist at a store near you! (Prix variés, à partir de 10 $*)

Stylish underwear

Too many men neglect their underwear drawer... so we think the holidays are the perfect time to do something about it! So, if the man for whom the gift is intended is (very) close to you, why not give him some stylish "bobettes" - luxurious underwear he wouldn't necessarily buy for himself under normal circumstances? At Ernest, we offer quality boxer shorts from SAXX and Anthony of London. You'll find an array of colors and patterns, from neutral to eccentric: we dare you not to find a style he'll love!

An inspiring book

Does the man you love love to read? Give him the gift of an inspiring book that will captivate him, like the essay Walking, by Henry David Thoreau ($5.95*) or The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, by Robin S. Sharma ($13.95*).

A getaway

This holiday season, you want to give a gift to make the extraordinary man in your life say a huge "Wow!!!"? We've got just the thing for you! If you know he's been dreaming of visiting a particular city (e.g. New York, Paris, London), province (e.g. British Columbia or Newfoundland) or country (e.g. Portugal, Peru or New Zealand), and your budget is generous, offer him a short getaway or a long trip by train, plane or boat - not forgetting accommodation, of course!

An addition to his wardrobe

At Ernest, our experienced stylists are full of ideas for classic and edgy looks for men of all ages and shapes. Want to revamp a loved one's wardrobe to look as stylish as these 15 public figures?

Before Christmas, visit one of our stores and you'll find dressy suits for special occasions, white or colored t-shirts, stylish pants and shirts, sportswear or casual wear, and more. With new outfits worthy of the icons of men's fashion, we bet he'll be turning heads all over the place.

Enjoy your shopping, and we look forward to seeing you soon in one of our stores!

Psitt! In the meantime, take a few minutes to browse our gift ideas section!

Need more gift ideas for a man you love who doesn't need anything? Read our article "What gift to give a man who already has everything?

We look forward to seeing you soon in one of our boutiques!

*Please note: the prices of all products presented in this article are subject to change.