Let’s face it, the quest to find that perfect something for husbands, brothers, fathers, fathers-in-law, nephews, or guy friends often involves searches worthy of an epic animated tale by Disney. Either the gift feels too flashy (“Does he wear french cuffs?“), or too lavish (“I don’t want to give my smelly brother cologne for five grand!“). Sometimes it just feels like you are trying too hard (“It’s a book on golf. You like golf, right?“). It’s not easy.

But we women have to take some of the blame. At the risk of generalising, we are not looking at what the men in our lives are really like. Instead, we think of what we would like them to be. We roll our eyes at their corny sense of humour, we snicker that they grumble about shaving, we don’t recognise their reticence in most matters and, in general, we project what we would like to see on to them, rather than seeing who they really are. On the other hand, in a country where being ‘too’ well groomed, or having a devotion to style, is treated with suspicion, it’s nice to give the boys gifts that make an interest in their personal appearance seem par for the course. It’s not fruity to be fantastic!

I love boys. I have so many men in my life, and I love finding the right gifts for them: sophisticated gifts for the metros, momentous gifts for the dignified, funny gifts for the brats. Because when a little thought goes into the decision, and the gift is personalised (taking who they really are into account), men always appreciate it more.

Here, in Part 1 of a two-part blog post, are some of my more successful ideas that may work for you too — just match the guy to his perfect gift.
Celluloid Dreams:

It’s lovely to create little custom box sets of movies that you think someone would enjoy. Improvise a cover of “Ahmed’s corny criterion collection,” or whatever, and go nuts. Put together genre packs comprising movies such as Zoolander, Dumb and Dumber, and Napoleon Dynamite. Or create “classic corny” like Young Frankenstein,Duck Soup and The Pink Panther. Violent classics are another good bet for testosterone-driven men: The Godfather, Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket. Or be director-specific. A “Tarantino pack” would be a big hit with 99% of men.

The combinations are endless, from old westerns to foreign films, comedies to classics. You will be surprised at what the older lot don’t realise is available and what the younger lot have often missed out on (one 15-year-old I know recently confessed to never having watched The Matrix).
Glossy Advice:

Our men used to be so behind the times in terms of personal care and grooming it was shameful. Many hairy-eared gentlemen and potbellied young men were a sad testament to this state of affairs, though this seems to be changing. Give your boys a chance to keep up with the latest in dude-land with a subscription to British GQ orEsquire. They can follow trends in “manscaping,” keep up on the latest styles and enjoy witty commentary from some of the best known names in politics, entertainment, business and the arts. If the ‘man’ you are buying for is still a young teenager, then a magazine like Rolling Stone is a good alternative.
Going Skin Deep:

With grooming, some men may need help and a confidence boost in terms of putting all that advice into action. Assemble a handsome pack of men’s skin-care products, from face washes to moisturisers with SPF (skin cancer, premature ageing and pigmentation does not only hit women, you know). Instead of shaving cream, find shaving oils that are substantially easier on the skin as they soften the hair and moisturise the skin, lessening the chance of razor burn. In fact, shaving oils are the one product that I have introduced to the men in my life that many have made a regular part of their daily routines.

Otherwise, think about the salon. Sadly, boys can often be brought up to fear metrosexuality, though that may be changing. I was recently stunned/pleased/tickled to overhear a conversation between two young men, debating which spa day experience was better — and planning where to go next time! Still, many others are still averse to it. Giving a gift certificate for a facial is a good way to get those boys through the door. Once they are over that initial resistance and see that all the salon-going men are, in fact, still men, they will embrace manis and pedis and all of the good stuff that they deserve.
Picture This:

Some boys find the idea of putting up photos pansy-ish. But put together some pictures in a couple of handsome frames, and chances are it will be appreciated. The techno geeks will love today’s digital frames. Buy one, unpack it and upload a bunch of pictures of friends, family, and buddies. With email and networking sites like Facebook, getting people to contribute images is easy. It’s perfect for the uncle/son/buddy/husband who travels, and under the cover of “techi-ness,” any boy can display it without looking soft.
More Gift Ideas:

There are more personalised gift ideas for men in Part 2.