Gift ideas for him

Gift guide · For him

Gifts for men have a reputation for being difficult, and the real reason is that almost everyone tries to guess a clothing size. That is where things go wrong: sizing is a gamble and fit varies from one brand to another. Objects, on the other hand, have no size.

What follows is what we recommend at the counter to anyone who arrives without ideas. No surprises: these are things a man uses every day and, if they are well made, does not buy for himself. Under each recommendation, you will find the pieces we have in stock.

A small gift

Leather Key rings and hats work well here, as their size is almost always one size or adjustable. And the Card holders: it is the gift customers have asked us for most in recent years, because cash has disappeared from pockets and the twelve-compartment wallet is now carried empty.

Everyday leather goods

This is the territory of Piquadro leather goods, the Bolognese house that treats the wallet like an engineering problem: aluminium, automatic opening, the MagSafe ring for the iPhone. For those who work with cards, there are document holders.

Belts usually require knowing the trouser size. Orciani's Nobuckle avoids the problem: it has no buckle, fastens with a sliding ring, and comes in one size adjustable from 42 to 56. For winter, Peuterey and Lacoste pair a scarf and beanie in one size: you can give them as gifts without asking anyone anything.

The boutique's advice. Look at the wallet he uses now. If it is worn at the edges and holds three cards and no banknotes, the right gift is a card holder, and he will thank you for weeks. It is the men's gift least likely to miss the mark at the counter.

The important gift: fragrance

A niche fragrance is the strongest gift for a man who already has everything. It is worth saying something almost no one knows: in niche perfumery, there are no men's fragrances. The maisons compose without assigning fragrances to a gender, and the same bottle changes depending on the skin.

If you are looking for a starting point, woody fragrances are the ones most often chosen by men at the counter (cedar, sandalwood, vetiver), while aromatic fragrances with lavender and sage are the easiest to wear to the office. A warning against the most common mistake: rose is not a feminine note. In Middle Eastern perfumery, it is unequivocally masculine, and some of the fragrances our customers most readily buy feature it in their pyramid.

If you want to understand how to read a product sheet before choosing, we have written how to read an olfactory pyramid.

For the home, when size is not a factor

The most difficult gift is for someone who already has everything, and it almost always ends up as an object left in a drawer. Glassware is the exception: it has no sizes, can be used the same evening, and does not require finding a place for it. We carry NUDE, lead-free crystal.

The pieces that work best of all are the heavy-bottomed whisky glasses. NUDE also makes sets designed specifically for gifting: the Square bottle with two Rocks glasses, the Malt set with a decanter, two glasses and an ice bowl, and the Vintage decanter with a cork stopper and two wine glasses, for anyone who opens an important bottle and does not finish it that same evening. For wine, there is the full range of carafes and decanters.

The same rule applies as with wallets: the gift that works is the one that replaces an object the person uses every day without thinking about it. A well-chosen whisky glass makes an impression from the very first evening.

If the gift has a size

Shoes are a gift we are reluctant to give: feet are unforgiving, and the fit can vary even between two models from the same brand. Clothing without knowing the size, for the same reasons, and the problem is worse with menswear, because the shoulders and sleeve length cannot be adjusted by changing the size.

If the gift absolutely has to be a garment, ask someone who can tell you their size and check the brand's size guide. It's not a defeat: it's the only way to spare them the hassle of making a return. Slippers are the size-dependent item that grows the most for us in December: in our Christmas data, their share of sales is double that of November.

In Italy, returns are free and must be requested within 30 days of the order date. To change the size or color, submit a return request and place a new order: this way, you can immediately see whether the right size is still available, since exchanges depend on availability. Pay attention to the calendar: the 30 days start from the order date, not from the day the package is opened. An item bought at the end of November and unwrapped at Christmas leaves only a few days to spare.

How we wrap it

When placing your order, you can add the boutique's gift set: the Vittorio Citro bag, a scented ribbon for the bow, and two logo envelope seals. If the gift is not quite right, returns in Italy are free within 30 days of the order, which is worth more for a gift than any card.

For a women's gift, the companion guide is gift ideas for her. In December, there is also the Christmas gift guide, featuring data on how our customers shopped.

Frequently asked questions

What can you give a man without knowing his size?

Leather goods and fragrances: wallets, cardholders, document holders, an adjustable belt such as the Nobuckle by Orciani, a one-size scarf and beanie, and keyrings. These are items a man uses every day and rarely buys for himself. Shoes and clothing, on the other hand, are the gifts most often returned.

What is the safest gift for him?

A cardholder, if the one he currently uses is worn out or if he now carries only three cards and no cash. It has no size and is used every day. It is the men's gift we recommend most often in store.

Can you give a man a fragrance as a gift without knowing him well?

Yes, starting with the most versatile families: a woody fragrance with sandalwood is soft and appeals to almost everyone, while vetiver, being more earthy, is more divisive. Avoid choosing based on what you like: the same fragrance can smell quite different on different skin.

Can I change the size if I get it wrong?

Yes. In Italy, returns are free within 30 days of the order date; to change the size or color, request a return and place a new order, so you can immediately see whether the right size is available. The 30 days start from the order date, not from the day the gift is opened.

Can gift wrapping be added?

Yes: when you place your order, you can add the boutique's gift set, including the Vittorio Citro bag, a scented ribbon for the bow, and two logo envelope seals.

Vittorio Citro Boutique, Roccapiemonte. We have been selling fashion since 1917.