STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

Why are dads so hard to shop for?!?

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I got my dad a shirt he specifically wanted (the shirt my DH was wearing on Thanksgiving, actually) and some DVDs he wants to have in the house to watch with my nephew (his grand son) when he comes over. So, dad was easy this year, but his birthday is in January, and that will present a problem then, becuae he really struggles in coming up with ideas.

DH is getting a super fancy jumprope (It was $45, I didn't know jump ropes came that expensive) a few Under Armour polos (they are his favorites) and probably a few more items, I just don't know what.

The problem with men is that they are too practical and anything they want they buy when they want it. If they don't have it that means its too expensive. At least, that has been my experience.

Boots · Gucci

My dad is impossible to shop for. He has no hobbies, doesn't really go out much and has every tool/gadget you can think of. I usually buy him some books, some candy and I try to get him a silly toy each year. This year my brothers and I may get him a race car set. One year I got him a Rock'em Sock'em Robot set and another year it was a Nerf target practice set. We all usually play with the toy Christmas day (I think it reminds him of when we were kids) and then it get packed up until my younger cousins come for visits.

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

My whole family does a big exchange so I have about 6 guys to buy for ranging in age from 6 - 67. (Dad, brother, uncle, grandpa, husband, 2 cousins) I have trouble getting them all gifts as well. This year I came up with a really good idea though. They are all pretty close proximity wise so I got them each a ticket to go to a Chicago Wolves Hockey Game in January together. They have these Fan 4 Packs where everyone gets a ticket, a hot dog and a pop for $64, so I got 2 sets (8 tickets) for only $121! Now they all get to meet in the city and have a guys night at the hockey game and it was only like $15 for each person.

If you don't have a lot of men in your family that your dad could go with, maybe you can get him 2 tickets to something and tell him he can bring a buddy?

Just an idea! Good luck!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Boots wrote:

My dad is impossible to shop for. He has no hobbies, doesn't really go out much and has every tool/gadget you can think of. I usually buy him some books, some candy and I try to get him a silly toy each year. This year my brothers and I may get him a race car set. One year I got him a Rock'em Sock'em Robot set and another year it was a Nerf target practice set. We all usually play with the toy Christmas day (I think it reminds him of when we were kids) and then it get packed up until my younger cousins come for visits.

Are you my long, lost sister? Sounds exactly like my dad too! lol.

Kelly · Hermes

I don't know! I am getting my dad a robe this year but it was only through a stroke of genius that I thought of that. Otherwise I would be drowning like I am with my brother.

Neither like sports, and both are into things that are expensive and something I know nothing about (flying and solar power) and chances are if they want it, they've already bought it. At least with women you can usually default to jewelry or body products something!

Boots · Gucci

pollyjean23 wrote:

Boots wrote:

My dad is impossible to shop for. He has no hobbies, doesn't really go out much and has every tool/gadget you can think of. I usually buy him some books, some candy and I try to get him a silly toy each year. This year my brothers and I may get him a race car set. One year I got him a Rock'em Sock'em Robot set and another year it was a Nerf target practice set. We all usually play with the toy Christmas day (I think it reminds him of when we were kids) and then it get packed up until my younger cousins come for visits.

Are you my long, lost sister? Sounds exactly like my dad too! lol.

LOL. Wouldn't that be great? We could go in on something then! wink

We pull names for stockings between my brothers & SILs too. I pulled my middle brother. It is a challenge so far. I've gotten him a neoprene wine tote, a silicone coffee sleeve, some Hulk ear Buds (we all grew up reading comics and OK, some of us occasionally still do....) and a Superman tee shirt from Target. But I'm stumped for anything else. Now in comparision, last year I had his wife and was just brimming with ideas.

Luv2shop- what a great idea! We got my mom Blackhawks tickets for an early gift (she's the family sports nut) and she just loved them.

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

Well I feel better I'm not the only who is stumped on this!
I was thinking if all else fails I would find some type of concert or basketball tickets. I got him some awesome basketball tickets about 2 years ago and it was nice because I went with him.

He told my mom he needed a new leather wallet and if anyone wants to know, Wilsons Leather has some good priced ones right now.

Thanks girls for your inputs!

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

greendiamond wrote:
...

The problem with men is that they are too practical and anything they want they buy when they want it. If they don't have it that means its too expensive. At least, that has been my experience.

EXACTLY! it's so annoying! disbelief

my brothers and sisters are all pooling money and buying my mom and my dad a steel fire ring for their camp. we found one on target.com that we liked.

one other year my sisters and i sang "daddy's hands" (it's an old country song) for my dad as a gift. he absolutely loved it, and everyone was teary eyed when we were done.
i've also made my dad a cd of songs he really likes and ones we always listened to as kids, and he had that for years and years.

Kelly · Hermes

One year I did find some cute pictures of my dad and I from when I was little. My aunt had taken a bunch of us in the park together, him giving me piggy back rides and stuff. So I got three of those printed and framed them as a set. Just an idea for anybody!

LoMish · Kate Spade

My dad is super hard to buy for. The past two years I've ended up buying things that I know he'll use, i.e. food and beer! haha But I tried to make them a little more interesting by getting him either a holiday beer (like Shiner Cheer) or one that's really unique or from a country he's been to. For the food, I found a HUGE tub of Christmas tree shaped pretzels. Every year he says he doesn't want anything, but I know his feelings would be hurt if he didn't get anything. Oh, and he's a huge Auburn Tigers fan but that's hard to find in Dallas, so I do a lot of his shopping online (amazon) and found some things he'll use, like a koozie, AU desk holder, and flag to fly outside the house on game days.

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

My dad is nearly impossible to shop for. This year I bought him a cuisinart coffee bean grinder from the Williams Sonoma outlet ($24ish) and then I bought him a small scanner you plug into the computer and you can scan old photo negatives and slides and turn them into digital photos. It was about $80 on buy.com

Suasoria · Chanel

My FIL is impossible too for all the above reasons - no hobbies, buys himself all the DVDs or gadgets he could possibly want, etc. Clothes are a good bet with him, though it's so boring to do that every year. This year I got him a sweater and I made him some lemon sorbet, which is his favorite treat.

On the other hand my stepfather is never a problem, thus I tend to overdo it on gifts for him. He is really eclectic and has tons of interests so I always see cool stuff that he'll like. I've given him sipping tequila, old art/photography books, cuff links, cooking gadgets, clothes, music, etc.

jah · Dooney & Bourke

My dad is fairly easy - a nice, old bottle of Scotch always does the trick. That said, this year, I bought him a satellite radio for his car and a year subscription to the service - now he can listen to all the Big 12 basketball games - Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

wetbandit42 · Marc Jacobs

My dad is really hard to shop for as well. He always says he doesn't want anything - just peace and quiet. I don't know if that means he really doesn't want anything, but I usually get him some clothing and a book.

Boots · Gucci

wetbandit42 wrote:

My dad is really hard to shop for as well. He always says he doesn't want anything - just peace and quiet. I don't know if that means he really doesn't want anything, but I usually get him some clothing and a book.

LOL! THAT is exactly what my dad says when we ask what he wants! One year I wrote out "Peace & Quiet" on a piece of paper and wrapped it up for him. wink

ranchera20 · Marc Jacobs

OK! After thinking loooooong and super hard I finally figured out what to buy my dad as I browsed my works website today. I am going to buy him a safe. Figured he could use that to put up his gun, money and when we go on vacations more vauable things.

And I'm super excited because as I was comparing prices I found that Lowe's has it for $100 cheaper then what I would have paid for at work WITH my discount biggrin