Now don’t get me wrong, I love my boyfriend to bits. But after three years of being together, there is one downside to our seemingly harmonious relationship.
PRESENTS.
What on earth can you buy for a boy that isn’t bland and samey? It’s not just a horror reserved for the Christmas season, it’s a dilemma that regularly rears its ugly head on birthdays and anniversaries.
And it’s not just those of us with a boyfriend either. We are all united in the struggle to buy something for brothers, dads, uncles, cousins; even that pesky Secret Santa for your male friend can cause a conundrum.
Well, if you want to avoid giving the nearest and dearest men in your life yet another pair of boring socks, then fret no more as there is a myriad of stylish alternatives that you can turn to.
If your boyfriend, like mine, is unfortunately ‘fashionably challenged’, some fashion staples may be the best thing to slip into his Christmas stocking. Something every man needs, regardless of his age, is a crisp white shirt. For boyfriends and brothers, this Oxford shirt from River Island is a slick and stylish classic that can be worn in a multitude of occasions. If you are purchasing for the more mature gentleman, these Jeff Banks shirts are reduced by 20% at Debenhams.
Of course, a plain white shirt may seem a little dull as a gift, but this can easily be remedied by pairing it with other gifts that are a little more festive. Christmas jumpers can be a great novelty gift for both older and younger guys, with several high street stores offering just as big a variety for men as for women. It seems like there’s a jumper for pretty much everyone; for a more traditional Christmas jumper, New Look offers quite a sweet online exclusive for £20. If you don’t wish to look your boyfriend in your eye whilst you pass him the sprouts over Christmas dinner you could try this slightly risqué jumper from River Island. There’s even a jumper for the most miserable Grinch available on sale at ASOS, on offer now at £28.50.
Some fathers would rather receive something a little more conservative than a jumper with an expletive on it. Novelty ties are cheap, easy to find, and brilliant as a small tree present. Amazon offers four different varieties of ties that are only £2.95, and can be delivered in time for Christmas. eBay also offers a selection of novelty ties, some found as cheap as £2.20 that can be bid on.
There are smaller gifts for guy friends or your Secret Santas that must also be considered; wallets are always a popular choice as a present for men. Whilst Zara does offer some wallets at a steep price, ASOS offers a huge variety of wallets for only £10; there are classic plain black wallets as well as a more vibrant 50’s style wallet.
Scarves are another winter warmer that can be the perfect gift for guys. High street stores such as H&M and New Look offer a fairly cheap range, starting from about £7.99. If you are willing to splurge, then try this ASOS gift set; seemingly steep at £32, it contains a hat, scarf and gloves, which is collectively cheaper than buying each individual component.
So we can banish the nightmare of frantically looking for something for our boyfriend/brother/dad on Christmas Eve, and snap up these festive offerings!