Gift Guides & Inspiration
What do men actually want for Christmas?
We’ve gathered the men of John Lewis and asked them what gifts they’d love to unwrap this festive season
Want to get him a gift he can’t wait to unwrap? Stuck for ideas that aren't direct repeats of previous presents? To help get the creative gifting ideas flowing, we asked the men of John Lewis what they have at the top of their festive wish lists. To ensure the man in your life gets everything he wants this Christmas, read on.
Rob Nowill
Content Lead
Content Lead
When it comes to clothes, I'm likely to be most grateful for anything non-fitted, non-twee, and that isn't plastered with logos. A classic rugby shirt from Polo Ralph Lauren is a safe bet: it's the kind of thing I'd wear over a button-down shirt at work, or chuck on with jeans at the weekend. And it's one of those rare brands that you can never have too much of.
We recommend:
Polo Ralph Lauren Iconic Striped Cotton Rugby Shirt
I'd like to pretend I'm a man of sophisticated tastes, who'd be most happy with some elegant little curio found in an antique shop. But if someone gets me a portable PlayStation 5 player for Christmas, they are going straight to the top of the list of my favourite relatives. As far as I'm concerned, the very best gifts are those that you'd feel slightly absurd buying for yourself.
We recommend:
PlayStation Portal Remote Player for PS5 Console
Every year, someone asks for a hint of what I'd like for Christmas. Every year, I say I'd like a good quality saucepan. And every year, the gifter assumes that's too functional to be a good present and, instead, gets me a pair of Rudolph socks or a gift set of cheeses from around the world. So I'm saying again: I'd like a good saucepan. I'd use it every day. I really mean it.
We recommend:
Le Creuset 3-Ply Stainless Steel Lidded Saucepan
Wil LawSocial Content Strategist
Social Content Strategist
This table lamp is such a slick piece of homeware, it will look good wherever it lands. The fact that it's portable is a huge bonus – it's great for the desk when working, but also has nice diffused light that's perfect for watching TV. When it comes to colours, I want them all, but I really love the Bowling Green shade. It’s subtle yet impactful.
Fragrance is personal, but Le Labo’s Santal 33 scent is impossible not to love, and I promise you will get loads of compliments whenever you wear it. In my opinion, the hefty price tag is fully justified. But still, it takes someone special to give this as a present; to receive it would be a real treat.
We recommend:
Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum
I'm yet to find trainers that are more comfortable than the styles that New Balance brings out. The 574 design is on my wish list because they're smart enough to wear out-out, but also offer the quality and comfort needed for long-distance trekking. A green pair is what my shoe cabinet is missing.
We recommend:
New Balance 574 Suede Blend Trainers
Rory TanSenior Social Media Manager
Senior Social Media Manager
I enjoy cooking and being outdoors, so this Ooni Karu portable outdoor pizza oven is an absolute win for me. It bakes wood-fired stone-baked pizza in just 60 seconds, plus it would look super impressive in my garden.
We recommend:
Ooni Karu 12 Multi Fuel Portable Outdoor Pizza Oven
I admit I am a bit of a gamer, no shame in that. The Nintendo Switch is a great bit of kit that enables solo and multi-player sessions, perfect for when friends and family are over for the holiday season. Mario Kart, anyone?
We recommend:
Nintendo Switch OLED 64GB Console with Joy-Con
My face lights up when I see fast cars. Despite my best efforts, I am unable to afford one… yet. So until that dream's met, this LEGO Lamborghini is a welcome placeholder. Plus, having something fun to build on Christmas Day would make me happy.
We recommend:
LEGO Technic 42196 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica
Rory WilsonSenior Programmatic Marketing Executive
Senior Programmatic Marketing Executive
I much prefer reading a physical book, but at some point you just need to accept that a Kindle is so much more convenient and lightweight. And I love that there’s an Audible functionality, which means you can access over 200,000 audiobooks, too.
We recommend:
Amazon Kindle
I used to have the in-ear version of these Bose headphones (until I lost them on a plane, sob). They were the best headphones I'd owned. Since then I've been using an old set of Apple headphones, but Christmas is the perfect time for an upgrade.
We recommend:
Bose QC Ultra Headphones
Stan Ray is an American menswear brand I've only just discovered. Think: timeless workwear vibes, not a million miles away from the easy cool of Carhartt WIP. The quality is so good, I really wouldn’t say no to an entire wardrobe reboot featuring only their styles.
We recommend:
Stan Ray Waffle Knit Beanie Hat
