Dads often get a bad deal: no one laughs at their dad jokes, they have dad bods and they’re always required to put out the bins. So why not make up for a whole year of dad drudge with one day in which the paterfamilias is celebrated, starting with a fabulous, thoughtful and very macho gift for him to drag back to his man cave.
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Norton Commando 961
If you want a motorbike with all the tech that makes for an easy (and reliable) ride but that still has some of the feel of an old-school café racer, the Norton Commando 961 is for you. The original Commando, which was first produced by British motorcycle manufacturer Norton in 1967, was much loved and is collected today.
One owner of a vintage Commando is a certain Keanu Reeves, who rode his 1973 Norton Commando 850 MK2A from Canada to Florida to persuade River Phoenix to join the cast of My Own Private Idaho. The two rode another Commando — this one a yellow 750 — in the 1991 Gus Van Sant film.
Today’s reimagining of this classic bike is a little more muscular than the original, but still sleek and streamlined and will certainly draw admiring glances at the traffic lights. The Norton 961cc air-cooled parallel twin engine delivers plenty of power, the five-speed constant mesh gearbox makes for easy shifting and the Öhlins suspension (front and back) gives 21st-century comfort. Norton Commando SP model; £16,999; nortonmotorcycles.com
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Leica M11-P camera
The Leica M series of cameras has become legendary since its launch in 1954 and has been the choice of many of the world’s greatest photographers. It has also taken many of the greatest images. Back then you could easily determine the veracity of a photo — you had a negative and could easily prove that the image captured on film was authentic. Today digital photography is open to manipulation, so that when it comes to recording world events, or even less seismic moments, our trust in what we are seeing pictured is under threat. So Leica has produced the M11-P, which uses encrypted metadata in compliance with the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), assigning a digital signature to pictures so their authenticity is easily verified. Apart from that, the M11-P has all the latest Leica tech for great picture-taking. And like all Leica Ms, it’s a beautiful piece of design too. £8,000 (body only); leica-cameras.com
Brunello Cucinelli Mr Brunello glasses
The Italian designer famed for his luxurious, soft tailoring has branched out into eyewear. This classic trapezoid model known as the Mr Brunello (also as the less romantic BC4002S) is actually based on a pair his father used to wear. The acetate frame is made in Italy and the lenses are photochromic, which means they adjust to light levels. There are many styles in this collection, which includes designs in titanium, too, and are all are infused with sprezzatura. £608; shop.brunellocucinelli.com
Montblanc Centenary Collection
The Montblanc Meisterstück pen — that’s Masterpiece in German — is 100 years old, and to celebrate, the German maker of luxury accessories has released a limited-edition collection of this icon of handwriting tools. Called the Origin Collection, it includes two models that feature a design inspired by a drawing in the Montblanc archive that was not put into production.
Our favourite is a midnight blue and silver take on the familiar black and gold Meisterstück, with a cap that has a subtle flowing ink effect. With the characteristic white emblem on the lid, which apparently references the snow-capped peak of Mont Blanc, these sleek writing instruments — which come as fountain pens, rollerballs and ballpoint pens — will elevate everything from novel writing to list making. The Origin Collection starts at £540; montblanc.com
BDXY beach set
BDXY is the actor Luke Evans’s range of resortwear. While we love the simplicity and sustainable credentials of its classic Actor T-shirt (which comes in a blend of Lyocell and organic cotton), we think that a beach set would make a great gift. Check out the Shutter Bag, a handy tote with a zip at the top the Atmos Swim Briefs and the Focus Baseball Cap. Top it off with the Wrap Towel, for which the Hollywood actor had a clear idea: “It has a pattern based on some tiles I saw and really liked, but the best thing is the size. I’m a big guy so I wanted a beach towel that I could lie on and put my book and sunglasses on without anything touching the sand.” Bag £150; Swim Briefs £90; Cap £54; towel £120; bdxystudio.com
Bennett Winch Trifold suit carrier
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Imagine a suit bag that can hold up to three garments. And is easy to carry. That would be great, yes? Because when you’re travelling you often need more than one tailored outfit — what if there’s an eveningwear event, for example, plus meetings during the day? Or a wedding that takes place over a weekend?
Well the answer is here: created by Bennett Winch for just such occasions, the Trifold is handmade in England and can accommodate three suits. It has a design that reduces hard creasing through open sides, and the whole thing is held together by Tuscan leather straps and hidden magnets. It can be carried by the handles or its military-grade cotton webbing shoulder strap, while a panel at the back slides on to suitcase handles and functions as a pocket for easy-to-access bits and bobs such as passports and gadgets.
Bennett Winch, you may remember, made 007’s suit carrier holdall in No Time to Die. However, the Trifold allows you to pack more of a tailoring punch. £750 ; bennettwinch.com
Paul Smith Tan Leather Holdall
Paul Smith may be best known for his colourful patterns but he also knows how to make a great, subtle classic. This soft calf-leather holdall features some nice Smith touches, including the designer’s signature stripe on the handles and front pocket, and a Shadow Stripe, like the grain of wood, across the base and on the attached luggage tag. A slip design on the back means you can slide it over extended suitcase handles for ease too. £1,000; paulsmith.com
Hackett x Carl Friedrik collaboration suitcases (carry-on and check-in)
Hackett London has teamed up with the travel accessories brand Carl Friedrik to create a limited-edition range of luggage. It comprises a carry-on and check-in case, a soft compact weekender and a luggage tag.
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Our pick is the carry-on case and it’s bigger sibling for the hold. These are tough and lightweight bags — constructed on an aluminium frame with a polycarbonate shell. Instead of zip fastenings they have TSA-approved locks for added security and the 360-degree spinner wheels by the Japanese firm Hinomoto give noiseless and easy manoeuvrability. Inside is a compression pad (removable) and two sets of straps to hold your items in place.
The good looks — a modern case with retro spirit — come care of Hackett London’s signature colour palette: the shell is in navy and it has a green lining. The handles and interior are in Italian leather and feature discreet co-branding. Carry-on, £495; check-in, £645; carlfriedrik.com
Thomas Pink made-to-measure shirt
The British shirt-maker Thomas Pink has launched a made-to-measure service so that you can design your own shirt and ensure it fits perfectly. An appointment for the made-to-measure experience makes a great gift. We say “appointment”, and of course you can fix one, but usefully the service is also available for walk-ins.
Thomas Pink’s made-to-measure offer is available exclusively at the Thomas Pink store in Mayfair, London, where you will find a dedicated area to be measured and to choose from three body shapes and 20 fabrics — from cotton classics to denim. There’s a selection of buttons, placket style (the strip of fabric that holds the buttons), cuff types and pockets. You can even have your shirt monogrammed.
What we like is that the options on offer are not overwhelming and you’re guided through the process by a sales assistant. We also like the price. Shirts start at £195. Thomas Pink, 106 Jermyn Street, London SW1 (for appointments, email jermynst@thomaspink.com)
Breitling Navitimer Automatic GMT 41
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Breitling’s Navitimer timepiece is a curious beast. Designed to be a tool watch for pilots, the 1952 original incorporated a circular slide rule that enabled calculations and navigation in the cockpit (hence the name). Its popularity among flyers laid the ground for Breitling to claim it was the “official supplier to world aviation”. And yet the Navitimer’s techie look — a kind of mechanical computer on your wrist — attracted the attention of those who we presume simply liked its style, including the very stylish jazz virtuoso Miles Davis and the French louche legend Serge Gainsbourg.
Now in Breitling’s 140th anniversary year, the Swiss firm has brought out a new, pared-down automatic Navitimer, which eschews the model’s traditional chronograph function (and the three subdials that go with it) in favour of a cleaner dial. With a number of colours to choose from, 41mm cases in stainless steel or red gold and metal or leather straps, as well as an option of a GMT version that displays two time zones, this is a handsome timepiece — modern but with retro sentiments. Navitimer Automatic GMT 41, stainless steel case, blue dial, leather strap, £4,850; Navitimer Automatic GMT 41, stainless steel case, black dial, metal bracelet, £5,100; Navitimer Automatic GMT 41, red gold case, green dial, leather strap, £12,850; breitling.com
Dunhill Rollagas tie bar
“Everything but the motor” used to be Dunhill’s motto, back when Alfred Dunhill created an emporium to outfit early drivers and their vehicles. This evolved into a business making accessories and clothing for the discerning gentleman, including the Rollagas butane lighter, which first appeared in 1953.
Since then the design, which features a rolling cylinder to spark it, has undergone several incarnations. However, the rectangular art deco version, which actually dates from the Seventies, is the most familiar and is still available.
Dunhill is now known principally as a clothing-maker, but its accessories such as pens, cufflinks and, yes, lighters, are classically stylish and make great gifts. Even if you’re a non-smoker you could always have a Rollagas for lighting scented candles. Or the barbie. Or how about this: new to the spring/summer 2024 Dunhill collection is a platinum-plated sterling silver tie bar with crocodile clip, which subtly references the famous lighter. £295; dunhill.com
Acqua di Parma x Poltrona Frau leather car diffuser
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Life’s little luxuries surely should include a leather Acqua di Parma car diffuser. A collaboration between the maker of fragrances and lifestyle products from Parma and fellow Italians the design firm Poltrona Frau, the leather case has been designed by the multi-award-winning Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi. This holds the scent and can be attached to the vents on your dashboard, where the incoming air circulates the fragrance.
The case is fashioned from Poltrona Frau’s luxurious, soft, tactile — and stain-resistant — patented Pelle Frau leather (which undergoes a 21-step tanning process), while the fragrance is supplied by Acqua di Parma. You can choose from different colours of leather to complement the interior of your motor, while the scents are available in handy refills. Case, £144; refills £43; harrods.com
Crockett & Jones Bibury chukka boot
The chukka boot is possibly named after the periods of play in polo and is a great smart-casual piece. The Northampton shoemaker Crockett & Jones, which has been producing quality footwear since 1879, has a very nice example of the style in the form of its Bibury model. Made from a single piece of suede that is attached to a matching butted apron, the look is clean and simple, making this a perfect partner for all manner of summer trousers — from tailored flannels to linen strides, jeans and chinos.
These practical ankle boots with their military heritage (the British army used them in the desert — which is why they are also known as desert boots) can even relax a summer suit. While chukka boots can come in leather and have different types of sole, the desert boot version is in suede with a rubber sole.
The Bibury’s sole is exclusive to Crockett & Jones: a wedge-design rubber boat-style with a horizontal tread pattern. This is flexible and comfortable but grips well and is made to last. The Bibury comes in two colours of suede, tan snuff and earth green. £690; crockettandjones.com
J Craft Torpedo
This really is the ultimate gift for the dad who has everything. J Craft is a Swedish boatbuilder that launched in 1999 and produces only about two vessels a year from a boatyard in Gotland, the largest island in its homeland.
Built entirely by hand (they each take more than 8,000 hours to finish) and true to its Viking heritage, the 42ft J Craft Torpedo differs from most day boats in its category in that it is ocean-going; J Craft Torpedoes have made long, open-sea voyages in the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic, the South China Sea and the Mediterranean. And despite the beautiful retro looks — with a mahogany-veneered fibreglass hull and deck, leather trim and an old-school instrument panel that will delight any design buff — the technology at play here is decidedly 21st century and impressive.
The Torpedo can reach speeds of up to 47 knots (55mph) at full throttle, while a joystick enables the forward-facing propellers of the Volvo Penta IPS system to be deployed individually so that you can even steer the boat sideways while spinning around your own axis. Starting at approximately £1.3 million, although each boat is customisable and this will affect the price; j-craftboats.com
Favourbrook corduroy suit
Oliver Spencer, Favourbrook’s designer and founder, has long-championed velvet as the brand’s core fabric, particularly for eveningwear. But there is a new kid on the fabric block, says Spencer, and its name is corduroy. “Corduroy is like velvet in that it takes colour beautifully,” he explains, “and the wales — the ridges — give it a three-dimensionality that makes it look rich and sumptuous.”
Favourbrook offers corduroy in two widths of wale in an array of colours and a style that will ensure you are not mistaken for a geography teacher: peak lapels and one-button fastening, like a dinner suit.
And although Spencer says that his customers are indeed wearing the cord styles as an eveningwear alternative, he sees these garments as being equally suited to your daywear wardrobe — and a great investment as they can be split and worn as separates. Olive Hatfield Newport jacket, £620, and trousers, £260; favourbrook.com
Dandemonium – The Dandy Defined collector’s edition
This handsome collector’s edition book, bound in imperial purple cloth and with a foiled slipcase covered in the same material, is limited to 1,000 copies. Featuring many illustrations and photographs, it is the culmination of more than a decade’s work by the journalist Robin Dutt. And while it includes some fascinating history about dandyism, tracing the notion back to such figures as George Bryan “Beau” Brummell, whose statue stands on Jermyn Street, the author brings the notion of male sartorial finery right up to date. Every chapter ends with an account entitled “Dandies Met” in which Dutt recalls his meetings with a whole raft of modern-day dandies, including Andy Warhol, Quentin Crisp, AA Gill, Pierre Cardin and David Sylvian. Published by Kerseymere, £100; available online exclusively from shreejinewsagents.com/pages/shop
