Men's holiday gift guide 2024, from Kangol hats to the perfect socks

Haven't started shopping yet? No need to panic, these suggestions are sure to please

Irish actor Barry Keoghan stars in this year's Burberry festive campaign. Photo: Burberry

The festive season is here, which will either spark joy or fill you with dread, depending on how your gift shopping is going.

If you to have everything done and dusted in July, then congrats as you can relax and enjoy the festive build-up. If, like most of us, however, the moment of putting wrapped presents under the tree remains a distant dream, then we are here to help and offer some suggestions.

Here's a guide to what to get the men in your life this holiday season.

G-Shock GM 700 IADR, Dh992, Casio

Men's metal GM 700 IADR watch, Dh992, G-Shock by Casio. Photo: Casio

Gadget fans will appreciate the G-Shock GM 700 IADR watch in metal. With manual timekeeping and a digital day and date window, this comes with a stainless steel case and bezel as well as a bio-based resin strap. It is shock and water-resistant to 200 meters, has 31 world time zones, a stopwatch that is accurate to 1/100 of a second and has a calendar that runs through to 2099.

Berluti socks, Dh340, Berluti

Scritto socks, Dh340, Berluti. Photo: Berluti

Socks are such a cliche for festive presents they have come full circle and are now cool again. With decades of know-how, Berluti has created many fabulous pairs, including these in knitted cotton, which is an ideal material for keeping the feet cool. Decorated with its famous Scritto pattern to match its leatherware, these socks are the ideal starter gift for the man who dreams of one day owning a Berluti bag or wallet.

Kangol bucket hat, Dh293, Noon

Bucket hat Dh293, Kangol. Photo: Kangol

The Kangol hat is the stuff of hip-hop legend, having been worn by everyone from Run DMC to LL Cool J, and has myriad styles to suit everyone. Baker boy? Check. Baseball cap? Check. The original bucket hat? These now come in all manner of colours and materials including the above furry version in a colour best described as Monsters Inc purple. With the Oasis reunion slated for next summer and a resurgence of 1990s fashion growing stronger by the day, we can expect to see these grow in popularity in the next few months, so why not get ahead of the curve?

Kangol can be found online at Noon.com and HatStore.ae, as well as in person at Sole DXB this weekend in Dubai, where it is staging a pop-up with a full complement of styles.

Adidas Samba trainer, Dh624, adidas

Gazelle indoor Off White trainer, Dh624, Bad Bunny x adidas, at Farfetch. Photo: Farfetch

The adidas Samba trainer is another classic that looks as good with jeans as it does with a suit and has plenty of amazing collaborations, including with the Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny. A blend of comfort with snappy style, which will earn the wearer extra swag points, the Samba is a winner.

Burberry check scarf, Dh1,620, Burberry

Wide check cashmere scarf, Dh1,620, Burberry. Photo: Burberry

Another classic is the Burberry check scarf, in the softest cashmere. Something to be enjoyed for years to come, the signature check really is a timeless addition to any wardrobe. While there are few occasions to wear one in the Middle East, except perhaps for stints at Ski Dubai, a Burberry scarf will come into its own during trips overseas. It can even be personalised with initials to make it an extra thoughtful gift.

Vergoni pistachio panettone, Dh140, Spinneys

Pistachio panettone, Dh140, by Vergani at Spinneys. Photo: Spinneys

Foodies are always fun to buy for, as gifts can range from the viral Kunafa Chocolate Bar by ChocoArt in Sharjah (and still a steal at Dh15), or something far more traditional like the Italian Christmas cake, panettone. A light sponge with flecks of candied fruit and nuts, it is perfect for our warmer climes, and there are many varieties to choose from but a popular one is sure to be the pistachio and chocolate version by Vergoni, at Spinneys. Not only does it taste heavenly, but the packaging is a delight too.

De'Longhi manual coffee machine, Dh499, Jashanmal

De'Longhi Dedica manual coffee machine, Dh499, Jashanmal. Photo: Jashanmal UAE

Such treats of course taste even better accompanied by a good coffee, and every coffee fan would no doubt love a manual machine for home. The De'Longhi Dedica is compact enough to not take up precious kitchen counter space, yet can still make an excellent coffee day after day. The manual machine requires coffee grounds to be spooned in and tapped down, and can make one espresso at a time. Some machines are bigger or use pre-packed coffee pods, but many coffee drinkers would argue that no coffee tastes better than one that has been made by hand, from scratch.

Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, Dh4,499, Dyson

The Dyson 360 Vis Nav, Dh4,499. Photo: Dyson

Every man loves a gadget and Dyson excels at engineering, so why not put the two together and give the man in your life the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robotic vacuum? At Dh4,499, it is pricey, but this little robot is bristling with technology, including a state-of-the-art 360-degree visual navigation system that can not only "see" where it is going but also identify where to be clean. It can also remember where it has already been, to avoid the aimless meandering of other robots. Activated via the Dyson app, this fulfils the desire for tech while keeping the place clean. What's not to love?