(They might sometimes feel the same way about us gals, but let's ignore that for the moment.)
Maybe it's simply that it's easier to buy presents for friends and relatives of your own gender, because you have a little more insight into their possible needs and desires.
I think I got lucky, because my husband is strangely easy to shop for. Even my family has picked up on this and have found it easier to buy presents for him than it is to buy presents for me. The key to Angel is that he invariably will like a gift as long as it belongs in one of these four categories: metal cups, candles, Tom DuBois artwork, or milk chocolate.
This is part of Angel's metal cup collection. He's particularly fond of pewter, but it's not a requirement: the cup on the left is stainless steel and the goblet on the right is silver-plated.
I always keep him well-stocked with candles because he goes through them quickly, and the first present I ever gave him after we got married was a frame for one of his huge Tom DuBois prints. His interests remain quite consistent, so I never have trouble figuring out what to buy him. Even when my sister was in Israel, she told me, "It's so easy to find stuff over here that Angel would love!"
She brought him back two candles in metal candleholders. Brilliant.
However, if you want to go outside those four categories in your gift-giving, that's where it gets tricky. Outside of the 4 safe categories, he's picky, and he tends to buy things he needs for himself instead of waiting till an appropriate occasion. What I will never buy my husband is anything wearable. He's fond of shoes and clothes, so in that regard, they would make great gifts, but he's pickier than I am. I know the brands he likes, and I know his size--but I'm still not brave enough to attempt buying him a shirt or a pair of jeans. Any time I have tried just ends in disaster. Women who can buy clothes for their husbands amaze me.
I've got an anniversary coming up, and Christmas too, so I better start figuring out which categories to shop from pretty soon! Is your man easy to shop for or not so much? And, pray tell me, what is the secret to successfully buying clothes for your husband?
Ah, I find guys so tricky to shop for! I do sometimes go the clothes route though - I have a good idea of what hubby likes, know his sizes, and as long as it's comfortable he will usually wear it, haha :)
Away From The Blue
My husband usually doesn't want anything. We both make out lists (or well I do) and give it to our family, so they know what we want.
I just usually walk around stores and see what catches my eye. I've bought clothes for my husband before several times. I know what he usually likes (Polo, Express; Old Navy).
My husband is the type who goes out and buys things for himself too..making him difficult to shop for.
I bought him a shirt and tie once before we were married, because he was sorely in need of dress clothes. The combo remains to this day one of his favorites, but I have been too chicken to try buying clothes without his approval since then.
i got the easiest husband ever because he absolutely doesn't want me to spend money on his at all. period. and if he does want something, he flat out tells me what it is. however, when family asks me what they should buy peppy, i am usually left shrugging my shoulders. we do try to get most of our family to give us cash for holidays though, and end up using that to go on a cruise or other weekend trip together.
The secret? Have a husband who doesn't care what he wears - as long as it isn't "feminine". Which isn't the word my husband uses, but you're running a family blog here. My husband doesn't want anything and hates spending money or having money spent on him. He wears the same clothes and shoes until they fall apart.
i never buy clothes for my husband either! i'll just get him giftcards. but he also loves candles so i know i can never go wrong with that!
I can't buy clothes for my husband either. Unless I'm buying Texas Rangers T-shirts in which case he will wear them til they're ragged. But I do go shopping with him sometimes, because he likes getting an opinion before shelling out.
I always know I can get Iz clothes and he'll be happy. But if it's something along the lines of hobbies or what he likes it's harder - he's a gamer and I am SO not so if I want to get him something like that I have to ask if he needs or wants a specific item, and that takes the surprise out of it.
Well it's nice that at least you have those 4 categories to shop from! My boyfriend likes clothes but he's also pretty picky. And I feel like his only "hobby" is high school wrestling (he's a coach and fan) and really, what can I buy then?
Isaiah is really easy to shop for...he NEVER buys himself stuff unless it's a tool or something he actually needs to finish a project, so starting in about July I start keeping a list of everything he mentions that he wants. I've learned what styles of clothes he likes, so that's easy too. My dad was always the one that was hard to shop for - he hated getting clothes, he always ate too much candy so we didn't like to buy it for him, and the only "hobby" he had was his computer which gets expensive.
My husband is THE WORST to shop for. 1) He hates receiving gifts of any kind and it makes him feel so awkward and weird, which makes gift giving a nightmare. 2) If there is something he wants, he never wants to spend the money to buy it, so if I buy it, he usually gets upset that I did. 3) He would probably rather me buy him a dead rat than spend money on clothes for him. He hates it! I don't know, he must be broken.
I'm not trying to put Joel on blast, but it is what it is. He is not into much- just cooking stuff and healthy food/living, so I try to stick to those areas when buying him gifts. Occasionally a book, also, but he has said he doesn't really have time for books when working so much and then being at home with three kids. :/
It's the hardest to buy a gift for a man . I never gave good gifts to my dad or brother or any guy friend. A plain perfume or watch works well . I think getting a gift for a girl is easiest , you only need to put a good packaging ;)
Noor's Place
I've braved the clothing front a few times, and have gotten lucky a few times, but Jt is so oddly shaped that shirts are REALLY hard to buy for! Normal sized shirts end up being too short while the Big and Tall shirts are almost too long! But he is ridiculously hard to buy for! Except for this year, I've had his Christmas Presents bought for MONTHS :) I promised him that this year I would carry on his mom's old tradition of restocking his drawers with new socks, undies & undershirts for Christmas--LAME!!!
I have both Christmas and an Anniversary coming up too--- and I really do think that buying clothes for my husband is one of the hardest things ever. I think the trick to doing it is the gift receipt and not being offended when they take something back ;-) good luck!
Love your commentary on your husband ;)
I think the bit that gets hard is when you're pretty sure your guy HAS everything.
Or they want something really bizarre or expensive. Like, this year, Chris wants a cello. A CELLO. Does he play? Not even the tiniest bit. No idea how to maneuver that sucker.
But he wants everyone to pool together and buy him a cello.
I am so confused.
And clothes? Chris is easy so long as you follow his three rules:
1. 100% sturdy cotton--not the clingy, see-through stuff
2. It fits snuggly (meaning a small no matter what)
3. It does not require a tie or shiny shoes.
So he gets lots of jeans, nerdy $10 tee shirts, and flannel.
All guys seem to have weird rules like that--material, fit, and style. So long as it meets those qualifications, guys usually like it.
Best of luck!
Go into his closet and look at the size labels. That is how you buy. That and you have a super power like me. I can pretty much eyeball something and will know if it'll fit my husband or not.
bisous
Suzanne
If I buy my husband clothes, I stick to tees. Those are safe. I did buy him a pair of jeans this summer, and it was like a true miracle that they fit - AND that he liked them. Other than that, I've had little success.
Such interesting categories, and I love the pewter cup with the castle on it. I'm really bad at buying gifts for guys. Luckily I can buy Malcolm clothes pretty easily because he doesn't buy any for himself ;)
You are seriously lucky you have guidelines like this you can follow, Christmas is driving me mad this year!!!
I read this post yesterday on my phone, started to comment, and never finished...
Scott's birthday is right before Christmas and mine is right after. It's stressful for gift-buying! Scott doesn't like surprises so usually just buys himself what he wants..I always buy him something little (this year: a book, some clothes) so he has a real gift to unwrap. He's not easy to shop for.
If you figure out the secret to clothes shopping for your husband, let me know, lol! Jim hates to clothes shop...I know his pant, sweater, shirt size, and that seems to work. Also having a running list of items he needs works too.
How awesome that Angel is so easy to shop for! I actually can get Nate clothes since I've been able to figure out what he will and will not wear. I definitely keep the reciepts until he's tried it on, though, just in case.
You're so lucky that he is easy to shop for!
I now want a metal cup collection of my own.
Hubby is a little difficult to shop for because when it comes to what he needs as far as what to wear I usually want him to try it on and let me know if he can get wear out of it. I bought him a pair of shoes for Christmas once and he can't wear those with a lot because they sit too low to give an example. I think with time I can only get better at buying for him though. Thanks for sharing on Countdown in Style! xo
My husband is hard to shop for because (1) he will buy anything he wants (not waiting for a holiday) and (2) he feels that since it's "our" money, it's not really a gift. Oddly, he doesn't feel the same way about #2 for me, but I'm not complaining. I think, however, he wishes I would update his wardrobe more often. His mother seems to shop for him regularly and I hate shopping.
Thanks for sharing and linking up with Countdown in Style! Don't forget to come back on Friday to see if you were featured!
~~April~~
100lbCountdown.com
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