A gift for the man in your life

Curated by my most stylish friend

Hi everyone!

I am still on a Substack hiatus - I promise I have a good reason, I am on a deadline for a satellite Ghia project I still haven’t found the gut to share with the world yet, largely because I am not sure I’m going to pull it off (and I’m embarrassed). It’s also a long and windy road to Dry January for us over here (and shall I remind you that a bottle of Le Fizz is < $20 and the perfect host gift?).

I bit off more than I can chew, but I will be back in just a few weeks, I promise! (?)

Last year, everyone asked me for men’s gift guides, so I asked one of my most stylish friends to curate one. Ash Narayan is the epitome of best dressed, not just in LA (it wouldn’t be that hard) but in the whole world. He’s a straight guy who pulls off earrings. We met when he worked at Bode, and I’ve asked him to share some of his humorous commentary - usually reserved to a very, very small group of about 30 instagram followers to my Substack. He does all sorts of creative and styling work - hit him up to dress your husbands! 

xx

Melanie

In his own words: 

I love buying things. I buy things when I have money and find ways to buy even more when I don’t. I like to think that I have restraint and that I shop with intent, but I have a 6-page Google doc titled “clothes to buy” that has only grown in length since 2020, so maybe I’m just organized. We’ve only got one life, and all I know is I’m gonna live it wearing nice coats, pretty earrings, and eel leather loafers. Since I’m sure all of you will be adding more items to your cart than you should in the coming weeks, here are a few things I’d recommend you take a look at while you’re at it. If you don’t buy them, I probably will. 

1. The best jeans money can buy because I can’t be bothered to look for big E Levis or whatever. The Row, $650

2. Perfect socks that your partner can wear with his Lemaire piped loafers (I recommend dark brown). Uniqlo, $4.90

3. GQ says your man can pull off an Andiamo like Elordi, but trust me, he can’t (I tried), so just get this classic duffel bag, and he’ll at least look normal on your walk to Tuba Club this summer. Patagonia, $199                       

4. Scented holiday candle, a recommendation I stole from Chris Black to help achieve a good range of prices in this list. Ralph Lauren, $24 

5. A new belt to replace the fraying Stussy pony hair one your boyfriend got on the Ssense sale in 2021. Taiga Takahashi, $239

6. This would be my go-to shirt if I went to an office, but instead, I go to Maru. 100 Hands, $395

7. Dries makes great scents that I stand by even though they’re not what I use because I strongly believe in keeping things of that sort a secret. Dries Van Noten, $340

8. Earrings are my favorite thing to splurge on, and Sophie Buhai makes gorgeous baroque pearl drops that you won’t have to sell Nvidia stock to buy. Sophie Buhai, $475

9. Easy everyday sunglasses that look like the ones Layne Staley wore in the Alice In Chains MTV Unplugged. Ray-Ban, $140

10. These headbands keep the hair out of my face so my mom can look me directly in the eyes when she asks when I’m getting a master's degree. Scunci, $7.73

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11. This Buly body oil will look good on your IG story if you frame it just right with the vintage Tiffany’s pill box and MNZ scrunchie in the background. Officine Universelle Buly, $41.67

12. I’ll use this folding yak horn comb if I ever decide to comb my hair. Araki Crafts $18.99 

13. I take most of my style cues from women, and a girl I have a crush on has an SC103 links key chain that’s now sold out, but this tackle leather one is a cool alternative. SC103, $115

14. I go to Equinox at 5 am and then come home and have a kouign-amann and hot chocolate made with whole milk and four tablespoons of Ghianduja just to feel something. Ghia, $32 for 2

15. This is the mug I drink my Nutella hot chocolate from. Heath Ceramics, $99 for 3 on ebay

16.  If I were Delta Platinum, I’d get this Hermès passport holder. Hermès, $320

17. The last time I was in London, I bought a sweater for my ex from Drakes and one for myself from Anderson and Sheppard; pick your poison. Drakes, $345, and Anderson & Sheppard, $1,150 (lol)

18. We used to buy this incense in bulk at Bode, and I might have pocketed a box or two from the basement when I had a date night. Astier de Villatte, $60 + Incense Holder $145

19. Speaking of Bode, they make the best scarves, and this one is so fun. Bode, $350

20. Gildan white tees are really all a guy needs. Your man can wear them to the gym, Sqirl, or under a Yohji suit with Converse Chuck 70s if he has it like that. Gildan, $33.10 for 10

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21. The only pens I’ve ever used are BIC or stolen from Odeon, but this burgundy, lacquered Cartier is so stunning I just might if my invoices are ever paid. Cartier, $440

22. I use this Ayurvedic soap because the smell reminds me of my grandparents' house in India and because I no longer date an Aēsop employee. Chandrika, $17 for 10

23. My friend Sodi wore these Birkenstocks all summer with RRL jeans and a vintage Hanes blank tee, and we started calling him young Tom Cruise. Birkenstock, $135

24. Camber makes hoodies that make me feel like Jeremy Renner in The Town. Camber, $110

25. I love my Supreme cherry chapstick because it makes people roll their eyes, but I ought to level up and make them straight up walk out of the room with this Hermès Lip Balm. Hermes, $75

26. I don’t quite have what it takes to pull off a money clip, so I compensate with this card holder. Celine, $380. 

27. Open has been my favorite book since 8th grade, and I’ve written as much on three college application cycles, sigh. Open by Andre Agassi, $10.74

28. But I also have to include the real boyfriend book. Heat 2 by Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner, $16

29. The chicest thing in life is a solo dinner. Osteria Mozza, POA

30. If you’re going to buy a coat, for god’s sake, do it right. Lemaire, $1,670

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31. I don’t wear pajama sets because I’m 26, but if y’all are into that kind of thing, spring for this herringbone number. Schostal, $150

32. If you and your partner like to chef it up, this is, without a doubt, the most fun cookbook ever. Fancy Desserts by Brooks Headley, $15.60

33. Everyone is playing tennis now. Buy these shoes (white, not some weird color) if you want your man to look presentable in your Vermont Canyon sunset grid post. ASICS, $150

34. Speaking of tennis, I was recently hitting with some fashion guys who just started playing less than a month ago, and they were all talking about how they needed this all-black Japan-exclusive Yonex racquet that’s released on a random drop schedule. Don’t make your life harder than it needs to be. Babolat, $259. 

35. There’s a first-edition Prada campaign book by Norbert Schoerner that I really want, but I’m not going to link it here in case one of you buys it before I get my credit score high enough for Klarna to approve my loan. Instead, I’ll point you to this new Prada archive 1998-2002 with all the same photos. IDEA Books, $60

36. I don’t believe in haircuts with scissors. I either shave my head or let my hair grow out, and when it’s long, I use this hydrating leave-in cream so I don’t lose my curls. Kérastase, $46. 

37. If you do believe in haircuts with scissors, gift someone you care about a nice one. David Mallet, POA

38. I feel like Emrata when I walk down Beachwood Drive in my Calvin Klein 205w39nyc ringer tee, listening to “Broken Dreams Club” in my wired headphones. Apple, $19   

39. I don’t condone eating in your car, but if your man does things of that sort, get him this car freshener set, so your Attersee sculpted vest doesn’t smell like Mini Kabob. DS & Durga, $60

40. Mélanie specifically told me to add more non-high-fashion items under $350, but this vintage laptop case is so sick that I’m just going to add it and see if she will let me keep it. Hermès, $5550 

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41. Someone once came back to my hotel room and said they wouldn’t have taken me for a Colgate kind of guy. Don’t let that happen to your friends. Santa Maria Novella, $20

42. My best friend Alisha tells me to wear sunscreen every day, and I don’t listen, but maybe your boyfriend will! La-Roche Posay, $25.99

43. Alisha also tells me to drink more water. Maybe your boyfriend who’s clinging to gorp-core will hydrate more if he has this water bottle. Snow Peak, $150

44. I first met Jenna when she was the head baker at Gjusta. Now, she bakes cakes out of her place in Venice, and you should reach out if you need something sweet for the holidays because she’s the best. Baked on Rose, $85

45. I’m not a design guy, so I won’t recommend a chair or sofa. Instead, I’ll just tell you to buy this ashtray that you have to inquire about the price for. Green River Project, POA

46. This could very quickly become an annoying present in the hands of a boyfriend with a Smiths tattoo, but if you have a 10-year-old child who’s getting bored of the piano, get them a guitar and some lessons. Fender, $189.99

47. And here’s a record with fun riffs to go with the guitar. Muddy Waters, $39.99

48. I buy all my boxers during the holiday season at Gap, so they always have little sleighs, snowflakes, and reindeer on them. I think it’s kinda funny, but I’m still single, so maybe I’m wrong. Gap, $19. 

49. I gifted my friend one of these so she could carry a single cigarette to Odeon. Instead, she used it to hold a tick that bit her in the Hamptons. I love you, Miranda. Benjamin Edgar, $110

50. Y’all should eat Häagen-Dazs with sea creature mother-of-pearl spoons while watching Closer this Christmas. Gohar World, $68. 

In case Mélanie makes me get rid of the Hermès laptop case. Fujifilm, $24.21

Graphics by Paige Stewart Enslow