In the spirit: The best Christmas gifts for him
Easily pleased or seriously picky, we've got the gifts to impress every man
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
On paper, buying a Christmas gift for your dad, brother, husband or uncle is fairly straightforward. Whether he’s a fitness fan, style maven or spirits connoisseur, simply identify his hobby of choice and a world of brilliant gifts opens up to you. Unless, of course, he’s already bought everything he could want or need himself.
In this case, a little bit of imagination is necessary – and that’s where Luxury London steps in. We’ve scoured the men’s market and, from elegant style buys to top-notch activewear and fine whiskies, hunted down the luxury gifts guaranteed to surprise and impress this festive season. Here are the best gifts for men for Christmas 2023…
The best style gifts for him
Rag & Bone bomber jacket
Jackets make brilliant gifts because, while pretty much every man needs one, should they boast quality design and construction, the price tag can often be wince-inducing enough to put many off taking the plunge. Ringing in at under £1,000, Rag & Bone’s heritage-inspired herringbone bomber jacket blends the urban silhouette of a pilot’s jacket with the old-world vibe of tweed and shearling in a design that will look great for many winters to come.
Rag & Bone herringbone bomber jacket, £750, harveynichols.com
Paul Smith jumper
Everyone loves a great jumper and, whether you happen to be heading to the slopes or not this year, we can all agree that the best knitwear has a touch of apres-ski to it. This vintage, abstractly-patterned design by British fashion behemoth Paul Smith is simultaneously simple and standout. We can’t think of anything finer to wear to a casual Christmas party (or curl up next to the fire in).
Lambswool sweater, £550, paulsmith.com
Desmond & Dempsey Soleia robe
Many men don’t consider themselves ‘pyjama people’ but we’re of the opinion that that’s simply because they haven’t met the right pyjamas yet. London-based sleepwear brand Desmond & Dempsey is responsible for many a convert. Ease him in with this 1950s-inspired quilted robe in the brand’s best-selling (and utterly irresistible) Soleia print.
Quilted Soleia robe, £310, desmondanddempsey.com
The best accessories for men
Crockett & Jones Santa slippers
Okay, he may only be able to wear these playful Crockett & Jones velvet slippers embroidered with Christmas trees and model trains for about four weeks of the year but, trust us, he'll treasure every moment. Designed specifically with black tie festive parties and Christmas Day dressing in mind, this seasonal spin on the heritage English shoemaker's perennially popular slippers are guaranteed to put a smile on his face – and break the ice the second he strolls across the dance floor. We can't think of a more appropriate gift for the well-dressed man-about-town.
Santa velvet slippers, £360, crockettandjones.com
Cartier Tank belt
The greatest men's gifts are those that they’d never think to buy for themselves but absolutely love the moment they tear off the wrapping paper – and a Cartier belt absolutely falls into that category. Choose something in a classic shade, with quality leather construction and subtle branding so he can wear it every day. This Tank de Cartier style is perfect.
Tank de Cartier leather belt, £465, harrods.com
Loewe Amazona canvas holdall
For brilliant gifts in the vein of elevated essentials you can't do much better than Loewe. Its leather goods collection is bursting with great options but look past the cardholders and passport covers (his aunt will have those covered) and opt for something a little more special. The timeless Amazona holdall, embroidered with the instantly recognisable Loewe logo, has been in the house's collection for more than 40 years – and just gets better with age.
Loewe Amazona jacquard holdall, £2,700, mrporter.com
Off-White OOO trainers
Know a sneakerhead who's always looking to add something new and exciting to his collection? For AW23, Off-White is making an off-duty statement with its Out Of Office trainers. Inspired by tennis shoes of the Eighties and Nineties, they're emblazoned with the motif 'For Walking' in classic Off-Whtie quotation style. And, while they're perfect for pairing with jeans at the weekend, we recommend he be bold and work them into his weekday wardrobe too.
Off-White OOO sneakers, £460, farfetch.com
Home comforts
The Conran Shop chess set
Board games may be a tired choice for a Christmas gift but not all board games are The Conran Shop board games. The luxury British homeware brand, founded by legendary designer Terence Cornan, crafts an array of elevated trinket trays, home accessories and barware inspired by its team's encyclopedia knowledge of materials, art, architecture and interiors. This chess set is fashioned in Greece from oak and leather rendered in a hugely chic olive hue.
The Conran Shop leather and oak chess set, £275, matchesfashion.com
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1996 whisky
Of course, shaking up complicated cocktails is all well and good, but cosy winter evenings often call for nothing more complicated than a great dram. This 27-year-old single malt from Highland distillery Glenmorangie is the first to be aged in specially designed casks, making it a piece of whisky-making history. Seasoned with bourbon for four years prior to heading to Glenmorangie, the result is a sophisticated palate of floral notes, sweetness, ginger and Glenmoragnie's signature creamy finish.
Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996, £619, clos19.com
Lorenzi Milano bar set
What is Christmas without a few cocktails? And, while we’d all love to have an extensive home bar, if you know an aspiring mixologist who’s pushed for space this chic set from Lorenzi Milano offers the ideal solution. Inside this chic coffee leather and bamboo case crafted in Milan, you’ll find a complete set of bamboo and stainless steel bar tools, including a jigger, corkscrew, muddler, cocktail spoon, measure, sugar pestle, strainer, champagne opener and stopper, ice tongs, bar knife, lemon knife and fork, and bottle opener. No self-respecting home mixologist should be without it.
Lorenzi Milano bar set, £3,190, mrporter.com
The best sports gifts for men
Orro bike
Buying a bike can be quite a personal purchase, especially for those who consider themselves the star of the peloton, but we defy any cycling enthusiast not to be won over by Orro. Designed and made at the brand’s HQ at the foot of the famed Ditchling Beacon in the South Downs, fans include former Olympian Greg Whyte, who praises the serious R&D that goes into these bikes. Available to pre-order now in time for Christmas, the 2021 Terra G gravel bike is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminium and features a hybrid design built to cope with countryside adventures and city commutes.
2021 Terra G 105/FSA bike, £1,549, orrobikes.com
Daylesford vegan hamper
If he’s more weights and whey protein than chocolate and cheese, pop this plant-powered vegan hamper created by high-end organic grocer Daylesford under the tree. Featuring a batch of freshly made sauces, gut-friendly ferments, protein-packed pulses and other holistic pantry essentials, think of it as Fortnum & Mason for the Eat, Sleep, Gym, Repeat crowd.
The Plant Power vegan hamper, £230, daylesford.com
David Gandy Wellwear
You know David Gandy. He of the borderline explicit underwear and cologne ads. Well, he’s channelled his decades of experience in the fashion industry into a brand new active and loungewear brand that couldn’t be more ideal for gym-goers in need of something practical and stylish to wear over their kit in the winter. Or for those work-from-home days when buttons just feel like too much effort. There’s a whole range of shorts, sweatshirts and tops available but it’s the easy jacket and joggers that have caught our eye.
Heritage jogger, £90, davidgandywellwear.com; Easy jacket, £160, davidgandywellwear.com
Showstopping luxury gifts
Patek Philippe Nautilus
As presents they’ll treasure for years to come, few gifts can compete with a fine mechanical watch. If you’re looking to really push the boat out and show off your horology nous, opt for a Patek Philippe – one of the most respected names in Swiss watchmaking. This classic timepiece from the Nautilus collection packs its Calibre 26-330 S C self-winding movement into an ultra-slim water-resistant white gold case measuring just 8.2mm deep.
Patek Philippe Nautilus, £56,190, mappinandwebb.com
Flexform
While we wouldn't recommend buying furniture for anyone unless you are both cohabiting and you know their exact interior design preferences, gift a man a gorgeous armchair from which to survey his kingdom and he won't forget it in a hurry. Blending chic mid-century style with an actually comfortable design, Flexform's Alison armchair is an improvement to any room.
Flexform Alison armchair, £5,616, harrods.com
