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Your Difficult Boyfriend Definitely Wants at Least One of These Gifts
He's not hard to buy for, he's just not tried artisanal tequila
When you ask your boyfriend what gift he wants for Christmas, the lies will run thick and fast. Because, though his kind soul says "I don't really want anything", he doesn't actually mean it. We all like getting new stuff. What we don't like is unwrapping another noxious deodorant gift set for teenagers that don't know any better.
Chances are, he doesn't really know what he wants. Not really. So that means you've a lot of guesswork to do. Christmas is that time when you want to buy something he needs, but would never buy for himself. It's easy to go for a nice bottle of wine, then. But this isn't the awkward leaving do for a job he only stayed in for six months. It's Christmas, and you should know your boyfriend a little better than his old line manager who thought it was OK to text on Sunday mornings.
Do not be overwhelmed by this task, though. At Esquire, we are the tricky boyfriends. We say we don't want anything. When, in fact, we want lots of things. And, chances are, your boyfriend will want the same.
Level 10 Grooming
In the world of grooming, don't let him settle for less. Patricks is a label that packs its products with the best ingredients that go through pretty impressive manufacturing processes. The result: blue chip essentials that, though a little costlier, will remain his go-to choice.
£26; lookfantastic.com
A Suitcase He Hasn't Had for 15 Years
We'd never buy a suitcase for ourselves. But, after receiving Away's carry-on (which comes with a rock solid construction and a USB charger for the inevitable four hour delay), we'll rue the very day we called luggage shopping "boring".
£215; awaytravel.com
A Wear Everywhere Beanie
Patagonia wants you to get ultimate wear from its stuff. One: because that's better for you. Two: because it's better for the planet. So, when the US outfit makes a recycled beanie hat and calls it the 'Everyday' hat, you know they're telling the truth.
£29; endclothing.com
A Cook Book He'll Actually Use
Eat good, buy local: the thinking that fed the initial idea of the Ginger Pig as a sustainable, quality butcher's using the best of British meat. Fast forward a few years, and it's a leader in the world of right-minded meat sourcing, with founder Tim Wilson now revealing his secrets in a recipe book arranged according to season. Sticky pork chops in April, Moroccan lemon chicken in July, and quality cooking year round.
£27; waterstones.com
Wear-Everywhere Denim
If Japan is a holy land for denimheads, consider Edwin's Shuji Tsunemi its guru. This man knows a good pair of jeans. And thankfully, so do we, which is why Esquire teamed up with the vaunted label for a pair of wear-everywhere jeans that are built for most guys and most body shapes.
£190; libertylondon.com
Some of the Best Tequila on Earth
Margaritas are for life, not just for Friday summer hours. That means you buy some of the best (which, in this case, is Clase Azul Reposado tequila), and enjoy a spirit that's had local Mexican artisans hand assemble a bottle at every stage of its life cycle, from the brewing of the good stuff itself to the painted ceramic bottle.
£209.99; amazon.com
Quality Cans That'll Humiliate Air Pods
Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are largely seen as some of the best headphones around. Your friend who insists on playing techno at casual dinner parties may disagree. But for regular folk, the noise cancelling cans allow for multipoint pairing and the sort of sound quality Apple could only dream of.
£259; johnlewis.com
A Book He'll Talk About for Weeks
Though the Sacklers had their names carved into the walls of the world's greatest museums as generous charitable donors, the family dynasty is strangely missing from the bottles that made their enormous fortune: Oxycontin. This heavy-duty painkiller triggered an opioid crisis that is still ripping through the US today, and Patrick Radden Keefe's Empire of Pain masterfully unscrews the lid on one of history's most disturbing cases of late capitalist greed.
£9.99; waterstones.com
A Retro Watch
Now, big ticket watches require a lot of consultation. That's because a lot of money goes into them, and personal tastes can be a minefield. But guys are generally united on old school, retro-y watches that can be worn everyday, much like Timex's Green Q which has mined the archives for a late Seventies reissue.
£159; mrporter.com
A Really Nice Feeling, Heavyweight T-Shirt
Bigger isn't always better. But thicker? Yes 100 times over when it concerns a white T-shirt. Because after years of testing, cult label CDLP has found that these essentials should have a 330 gsm measurement (shorthand for grams per metre) to retain its shape, and thus, stay in his wardrobe for longer.
£78; cdlp.com
A Cardholder For These Cashless Times
The lack of cashflow may upset your father with his perpetual wad of notes, but it's pleasing for your pockets. Cardholders are all he needs now, and in Dunhill, there's a super classic version for when he eventually gets old enough to complain about The State Of Things too.
£120; matchesfashion.com
A Beginner-Friendly Kitchen Knife
Men like cooking. But not all men are cordon bleu grads just yet. So for the in-between period, elect for a knife that's beginner-friendly, but still cuts as smooth and fine as all those French chefs on the TV who lose their head over limp vegetables. Victorinox, the brand behind the Swiss army knife, are a good place to start.
£29; victorinox.com
Ridiculously Comfortable Underwear
We can guarantee that he hasn't invested in some of the best men's underwear. Which means you can give him the push he needs this Christmas with a pair of wool and silk blend pants from Falke. They really are that comfortable. And yes, he'll start wearing much better underwear from Christmas day onward.
£60; mrporter.com
Watch Next
The Gift Guide For The Woman In Your Life
Fragrance & Cologne Gifts He Wants This Christmas
The Best Christmas Gifts for Her (for Under £50)
The Grooming Gifts He Actually Wants
