Best personalised gift ideas for the father in your life
Famous for their iconic sneakers, get a pair of custom Nikes that get rave reviews for being the perfect present.
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Truly, the men in our lives who have graciously smiled through the gifting of another silk tie or pair of socks deserve all the praise.
And with Father’s Day coming soon – Sunday, September 3, finding a gift that dad doesn’t already have doesn’t have to be hard.
Personalised gifts are great as they make it clear that they, and they alone, were in mind when purchasing the gift.
Whether it’s a pair of custom sneakers he can rock everyday, a sleek perfume bottle with his name engraved, or a customised suitcase he can take on his next adventure, there are a range of unique yet thoughtful gifts that dad would be keen to unwrap this Father’s Day.
Interested? Read on for our roundup of the best personalised gifts he’s yet to receive.
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PERSONALISED GIFTS FOR HIM GUIDE
No matter if he’s a sports fanatic, budding poet, or both and more, we have rounded up the best brands and personalised gifts he’s bound to cherish below.
Nike By You, from $170 to $400, Nike
What You Need To Know
Does the man in your life prefer sneakers to all other footwear? Nike By You allows sneakerheads to customise some of Nike’s most iconic sneaker styles across lifestyle, running, basketball, training and beyond. Whether it be an homage to his favourite sports team’s colours or a reflection of his personal style, there is not a shoe you can’t design for him – and considering that everything, from the silhouette to the colour of the sole, upper and trims is customisable, this present is well worth the money you’ll invest.
The shoe customisation process has gone viral on TikTok especially as an activity for couples.
Uuser @santiagoec_ posted a video unboxing his custom pair and received over 10,000 likes.
One commented asked if they should get them, to which @santiagoec_ replied:
“They are worth it! Especially since you can customise them as you wish.”
Another commenter wrote: “Those are so clean.”
SWYSH Personalised Video, from $20 to $550
What You Need To Know
There’s no doubt you’ll take him by surprise with this gift. Swysh is an Australian-owned brand that champions connecting fans to their favourite athletes and celebrities through a short, personalised video message for any occasion – from birthday shoutouts to pre-game pep talks. Offering access to over 1000 sports stars across Australia, New Zealand and the UK, fan to athlete interactions have never been easier (and more meaningful) until now.
So, why not get his favourite star to send a message to him personally?
Right now, Swysh are currently offering 10 per cent off sitewide with the code DAD10.
Y Eau De Parfum, $205, YSL Beauty
What You Need To Know
Make this deep, fresh and seductive fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent his own, courtesy of complimentary engraving on its architectural, square-cut bottle. With top notes of white accord, geranium absolute and sage, and base notes of dark accord, sensual woods and tonka bean, this alluring scent is a signature fragrance for the gent who doesn’t mind a touch of daylong luxury.
Paul Hewitt Signum Male Coordinate, $89, THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
Tug at his heartstrings with this one-of-a-kind piece. Crafted from genuine leather and embellished with stainless steel detailing, the Paul Hewitt Signum bracelet can be engraved with coordinates of a meaningful place, a name (hint: make it yours), or a date significant to both of you.
Personalised Luggage and Accessories, price varies, July
Tried and Tested by Mariela Summerhays
I, myself, have a July suitcase – after trying it just once, I simply will not pack for weekends away with anything else. The next-gen wheels move every which way, and travel smoothly over every surface; and the luggage’s hard case is crush proof (trust me, I’ve got kids, they’ve tried).
Whether you’re buying a suitcase, a duffel bag, water bottle or bag tag, you can personalise it with his name or initials and pick from a range of different fonts, colours and emojis.
Personalised Cotton Beach Towel, $49.99, Cotton On
What You Need To Know
If he lives and breathes the beach or pool, a personalised beach towel is a great gift. Made from 100 per cent cotton, this 400GSM towel features a soft terry fabrication and stylish stripes. It’s also available in more colours and designs.
MasterClass Subscription, $23/month (billed annually)
What You Need To Know
If the man in your life loves nothing more than picking up new skills and learning new ideas, this option is a dream gift that requires no waiting through shipping times. A MasterClass subscription gives you access to over 100 classes – including tutorials from astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson; beloved chef, Gordon Ramsey; and iconic director, Martin Scorsese – with new ones being added in all the time.
Personalised Premium Cabretta Leather Golf Glove, $39.95, hardtofind
What You Need To Know
Know someone that loves to let off some steam on the green and spend every Saturday morning hitting (and missing) golf ball after golf ball? This Cabretta leather golf glove is a thoughtful, elegant gift. Debossed initials to the wrist make it all the more special and they’re available in multiple colours.
Personalised Fountain Pen, from $64.93, Etsy
What You Need To Know
Yes, the man in your life is probably more likely to type a message these days than write it, but for the moments when only a pen will do, a personalised fountain pen will do the trick. This one from etsy is handmade and features a 0.5mm fine nib that is made out of metallic iridium for smooth ink flow without leakage. It comes with an ink refill converter, 15 blue ink cartiridgets, 15 black in cartridges and a gift box.
Embroidered Cap, $23.19 (down from $28.99), VistaPrint
What You Need To Know
Constructed from pure cotton twill, VistaPrint offers personalised embroidery to the vamp of their classic six-panel caps. Upload a logo, design or his initial to the site; choose one of five popular colours; and voila! A gift that is both useful and made just for him.
Monogrammed Leather Credit Card Holder, $220, Paul Smith
What You Need To Know
If he’s anything like the men I know, his wallet is more than a little beat up from months and years riding in his back pocket. Gift him this minimalist yet functional leather credit card holder by Paul Smith, available in three handsome colourways. Featuring four slots for essential cards and notes, You can add a choice of eight playful doodles to its front, or his initials.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PERSONALISED GIFTS?
In our humble opinion, the best personalised gifts have an element of intention and consideration paired with the physical gift. Does your intended recipient love sports; watching it, playing it, talking about it? Then a personalised video message from their favourite sports icon speaks volumes. Do they love to write, but use nothing other than whatever can be fetched from a bottomless drawer of stationary? Gift them an engraved fountain pen they’ll treasure.
What makes an excellent personalised gift is the thought you put into it, culminating in a gift that makes clear it was only ever intended for them.
WHAT ITEMS CAN I PERSONALISE?
Thanks to rise in popularity of monogrammed designs, there is no shortage of items that can be personalised. Fabric-constructed items like clothing, bags and accessories can be embroidered; while sturdier materials, like metal and leather can be embossed and debossed.
If the gift you’re looking for wasn’t here, give them the option of choosing the perfect one themselves with our favourite eGift cards to treat your loved one with or check out GQ’s selection of the best gifts for men.
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