As someone who cares a lot about personal style, it is not something I consider a qualification in a prospective partner.
A bad sense of style is not the same as an unharnessed sense of style.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), the importance of a sense of personal style is often less ingrained in many cisgender straight men than it is in young girls.
Unfortunately for women, that often leaves unstylish men in the dating pool.
D- Curating my boyfriend
My boyfriend did not have a bad sense of style when I met him, the few things he spent time picking out (like his shoes) showed good taste, but his overall wardrobe lacked the style benefits of years of experimentation with personal style that mine possessed.
With every anniversary, holiday, and birthday I have slowly helped him curate a more aesthetic wardrobe, and life. One that he enjoys and best of all finds practical and useful.
I- Interested In
In theme with the slowed-consumption I wrote about last week, this week I am introducing you to my passion for making gift lists.
Gift lists store gift ideas for people in your life so that you don’t fall victim to overconsumption when a gifting occasion comes around.
With my boyfriend’s birthday coming up these are the items I am eyeing right now:
TO WEAR
This is your curatorial time to shine as a girlfriend: you need to find the perfect balance between their comfort zone, and your style aspirations for them.
Fleece vest- Practical and stylish, always works for my bf
Red hat- The unexpected pop of red is a popular design motif for a reason, it elevates a wardrobe of neutrals and is a color that universally flatters everyone
Cotton/ Linen Pants- These are the Walton Goggins as Rick in White Lotus-inspired pants that any style-shy boyfriend can get behind
Corduroy shorts- Another easy way to add texture and interest to an otherwise basic closet
Waffle Pants- Get your boyfriend out of their track pants in public, please
Quarter Zip- Sports teams don’t belong on grown men’s outerwear
G- Getting
This year I am going with the Il Bisonte wallet (#3. below) because it combines sentiment, function, and style- my favorite type of gift.
THINGS THAT HOLD THINGS
This is where function really meets fashion.
Carafe- It doesn’t have to be this one (although the periwinkle color of the glass is my current hyper-fixation color) but a carafe is a great gift for the man in your life who is always leaving glasses by his bedside
Felt coasters- They come in so many color combinations and make the perfect gift on their own or paired with the carafe (I gifted the combo of 1&2 to my brother and he loved it)
Leather wallet- A leather wallet is always a good idea for a gift, this one is from Il Bisonte (this one has an added sentimental value because while in Florence together I purchased a bag from their flagship store and it brings my bf joy whenever I use it)
Leather and felt tray- Leather and felt are just so masculine but in a cool way. This is the perfect catch-all tray your boyfriend doesn’t know he needs but will love, trust me
Carhart tool bag- Because everything can be elevated with a stylish alternative (you can sub for a nice backpack if your bf takes a laptop to work instead of tools)
S- Suggesting
I hope this list provides some tips for how you can gift like a curator and provides ideas for gifts that are sentimental, functional, and visually appealing.
THINGS TO HAVE
NYT Birthday Book- This book binds together The front page of the New York Times from each year on your birthday starting the year you were born (definitely a great gift for a milestone bday, 50+), a smaller (less expensive) version (for younger recipients) is this unbound option
NYT History books for Hobbyists- The NYT bookshop also has great options focused on the front page news of specific topics for the hobbyists in your life
A Whiskey Subscription- I love gifting subscriptions because they are the gift that keeps giving, a local distillery will usually offer a club subscription which is a great way to support local
Tickets- The gift of something to do together is always a great gift (example: comedy club, concert, plane ticket, this can fit any budget)
Essential Houseplant Care Kit- I can’t take all the credit for this one, last year I told my mom my boyfriend was really into indoor plants and she found this care kit which he has become obsessed with using. 100% approved gift.