Gift ideas for him

Gift guide · For him

All the gifts for him available in our boutique, almost all one size, are collected on a single page: gift ideas for him.

Gifts for men have a reputation for being difficult, and the real reason is that almost everyone tries to guess at a clothing item. That’s where things go wrong: sizing is a gamble, and the fit varies from brand to brand. Objects, on the other hand, don’t have sizes.

Here’s what we recommend in store to anyone who comes in without any ideas. No surprises: these are things a man uses every day and, if they’re well made, wouldn’t buy for himself. Below each recommendation, you’ll find the pieces we have in stock.

A little something

Here, leather key rings and hats work well, as they’re almost always one size or adjustable. And the card holder: it’s the gift we’ve been asked for most in recent years, because cash has disappeared from pockets and the twelve-compartment wallet is now carried empty.

Everyday leather goods

This is the domain of Piquadro leather goods, the Bologna-based house that treats the wallet as an engineering challenge: aluminium, automatic opening, the MagSafe ring for iPhone. For those who work with documents, there are document holders.

Belts usually require knowing his trouser size. The Nobuckle by Orciani avoids the problem: it has no buckle, fastens with a sliding ring, and comes in one adjustable size, from 42 to 56. For winter, Peuterey and Lacoste offer matching scarf and hat sets in one size: the perfect gift without having to ask anyone a thing.

The boutique’s advice. Take a look at the wallet he uses now. If it’s worn at the edges and holds three cards but no banknotes, the right gift is a cardholder, and he’ll thank you for weeks. It’s the men’s gift that’s hardest to get wrong at the counter.

The special gift: fragrance

Niche fragrance is the ultimate gift for a man who already has everything. Here’s something few people know: niche perfumery has no such thing as men’s fragrances. The maisons create without assigning a gender, and the same bottle smells different on every skin.

If you’re looking for a starting point, woody fragrances are the ones most often chosen for men at the counter (cedar, sandalwood, vetiver), while aromatic fragrances with lavender and sage are the easiest to wear to the office. One warning about the most common misconception: rose is not a feminine note. In Middle Eastern perfumery, it is unquestionably masculine, and it features in the fragrance pyramid of some of the scents our customers buy most often.

If you’d like to know how to read a product description before choosing, we’ve written a guide on how to read a fragrance pyramid.

For the home, when size doesn’t matter

The hardest gift to choose is for someone who already has everything, and it almost always ends up forgotten in a drawer. Glassware is the exception: there are no sizes to worry about, it can be used that same evening, and it doesn’t need a place to be found for it. We carry NUDE, lead-free crystal.

The piece that works best is heavy-bottomed whisky glasses. NUDE also makes sets designed as gifts: the Square bottle with two Rocks glasses, the Malt set with a carafe, two glasses and an ice bowl, and the Vintage decanter with a cork stopper and two glasses, for anyone who opens a special bottle and doesn’t finish it that same evening. For wine, explore our full range of carafes and decanters.

The same rule applies as with wallets: the gift that works is the one that replaces an item the person uses every day without thinking about it. A well-chosen whisky glass makes an impression from the very first evening.

If the gift has a size

We’re reluctant to give shoes as gifts: feet don’t forgive, and the fit can vary even between two styles from the same brand. Clothing is also tricky without knowing the size, for the same reasons; for men, it’s even more of a problem, because the shoulders and sleeve length can’t be adjusted by changing the size.

If the gift absolutely has to be a garment, ask someone who knows their size and check the brand's size guide. It’s not a defeat: it’s the only way to avoid making them queue for a return. Slides are the size-dependent item that sees the biggest growth for us in December: according to our Christmas data, their share of sales is double November’s.

In Italy, returns are free and must be requested within 30 days of delivery. During the return process, you can request an exchange for a different size or color of the same style instead of a refund: the first exchange is free, provided the right size is available. So for December gifts, the delivery date is what matters: a gift delivered on December 10 can be returned until January 9.

How we wrap it

When you place your order, you can add the boutique's gift kit: a Vittorio Citro bag, a scented ribbon for the bow, and two logo envelope seals. If the gift isn't quite right, returns in Italy are free within 30 days of the order, which is worth more than any card when it comes to a gift.

For a gift for her, the companion guide is gift ideas for her. In December, there's also the Christmas gift guide, with data on how our customers shop.

Frequently asked questions

What can you give a man without knowing his size?

Leather goods and fragrances: wallets, card holders, document holders, an adjustable belt like Orciani's Nobuckle, a one-size-fits-all scarf or beanie, a key ring. These are things a man uses every day and rarely buys for himself. Shoes and clothing, on the other hand, are the gifts most often returned.

What's the safest gift for him?

A card holder, if the one he uses now is worn or he only carries a few cards and no cash. It doesn't need to be sized and it's used every day. It's the men's gift we recommend most often in store.

Can you give a man a fragrance without knowing him well?

Yes. Start with the fragrance families that have the broadest appeal: a woody fragrance with sandalwood is soft and pleases almost everyone, while vetiver, which is earthier, is more divisive. Avoid choosing based on what you like: the same fragrance can smell quite different on different skin.

Can I exchange it if I get the wrong size?

Yes. In Italy, returns are free within 30 days of delivery, and during the return process you can request an exchange for a different size or color of the same style: the first exchange is free, if the right size is available.

Can I add gift wrapping?

Yes: when you place your order, you can add the boutique's gift kit, with a Vittorio Citro bag, a scented ribbon for the bow, and two logo envelope seals.

Vittorio Citro Boutique, Roccapiemonte. A family in fashion since 1917.