Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Don’t worry, Father’s Day is NEXT Sunday, June 17th. But, with this list, you have plenty of time to find the perfect gift!

Suzanne Sevier’s newest adventure: TIES!

Ties, bow ties and skirts. Your family will be oh-so-cute!

Widely known for her custom made skirts, Suzanne Sevier has added ties to her repertoire! Choose your fabric and perfect length, and in about two weeks you will have your own special tie. http://sevierskirt.com

Lytro camera

If you have a techie guy to buy for, this may be the way to go. This camera is a bit of a novelty item, but it is seriously cool. You take a photo and then upload it to your computer. Now, click on any part of the image and the photo will refocus on that one part, blurring foregrounds or backgrounds to make the perfect image. It’s insanely cool and does provide for lots of entertainment. $399. https://www.lytro.com/

Seriously, click on the picture below. 1) Try clicking on the hydrangea up close. 2) Click on one in the background. 3) Click on the slide. IS THAT NOT INCREDIBLY, INSANELY COOL???

Pair of Imogene+Willie Black Jeans:

The same way mom jeans are a no-no, so are dad-jeans. Rid your dad or your man of those terrible high-waist, tapered, faded jeans. Indulge in some locally made Imogene+Willie jeans that he can enjoy wearing for the next DECADE. The investment per wear will ease your pain over the price tag, making them pennies per wear…he will wear them that much! Plus, this dark wash can mix with a button down, a blazer, a knit and a tee with ease. http://www.imogeneandwillie.com/

Emil Erwin Classic Satchel:

Emil Erwin's Classic Satchel

Nashville artisans have gotten some serious love from one of our all time favorite magazines, Garden & Gun. Emil Erwin received a nod from these taste spotters, and we agree wholeheartedly. If dad needs a serious bag to last for ages, we suggest this classic satchel. $800. http://www.emilerwin.com/

Otis James Ties:

Otis James ties from the David Arms Collection

Again, Garden & Gun showered this Nashville-based artisan with praise. And he happens to share a studio with none other than Emil Erwin! Stop by and pick up a tie (about $100) and see these two artisans together. Then, take dad to lunch for a nearly perfect outing. Otis James has also collaborated with David Arms in Leiper’s Fork for a collection of ties made from David’s personal fabric collection. So, taking dad to Leiper’s Fork to look for a tie sounds very appealing as well! http://www.otisjamesnashville.com/

Peter Nappi shoes, boots or belt:

Peter Nappi belts, about $100.

Liza’s husband has a pair of these boots (very nice b-day present…) and he pretty much wears them EVERYWHERE. She’s seen people in NYC, Denver and here in Nashville stop him to ask where he got them. They are distinctive, comfortable and go with most outfits.

And, for a not-so-serious splurge, Peter Nappi belts are awesome, with most hovering around $100. http://peternappi.com/

K-Swiss at Billy Reid:

Made to keep him youthful at heart, these K-Swiss shoes available at Billy Reid have “cool dad” written all over them. $95. http://www.billyreid.com/

Smoked BBQ Pecans

We are not sure that anyone cooks anything better than the folks at Blackberry Farm. The setting always heightens the flavor of their consistently outstanding food, but if a trip to Blackberry is not on your immediate radar, you can bring a bit of this heavenly retreat into your home for Father’s Day with a bag of these tasty Smoked BBQ Pecans. http://www.blackberryfarm.com/

Big Green Egg

If you don’t have one, start a BGE (Big Green Egg) savings account today and ask everyone to pitch in for the next few birthdays and special occasions. When you’ve collected enough to purchase the size grill you want (we suggest the large one), get it and immediately plan a party, as nothing – and we mean nothing – tastes better than food grilled on this baby. If you want to cook less this summer, give yourself your husband this present from the kids and my dear, all you’ll need to do is to provide the salad, as supper will be served up with a smile. Found at The Hearth and Grill Shop. Large is about $800. http://www.hearthandgrill.com/store/

Book recommendations:

Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball

We love being able to recommend local writers, and this memoir by R. A. Dickey (with co-author Wayne Coffee) doesn’t disappoint. A compelling story indeed, this Major League Baseball player’s unvarnished account of his professional and personal journey is a must.

Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated has this to say:  “It’s a gripping memoir, a brutally honest account of family woes, childhood abuse and his failures as a husband and father. But it’s also a meditation on contemporary baseball that is insightful without throwing anyone under the bus, save the author himself. (And maybe Alex Rodriguez.) It might be the finest piece of nonfiction baseball writing since Ball Four. Perhaps above all, it’s a classic epic quest, a flawed hero’s unlikely odyssey to the major leagues and to discovering the mystical pitch that helped him get there.” (from Amazon.com Editorial Reviews)

Two Important Political Biographies

With this year’s election season right around the corner, we want to offer you two great books to get you up to speed on the candidates.

Lest we say “There’s always a Nashville connection,” a new biography, Barack Obama, The Story by David Maraniss will be in bookstores on June 19th. For those of you who aren’t familiar with David Maraniss, he is one of the country’s most prolific non-fiction writers. To us, he is the father of Andrew Maraniss, a Vandy grad and good friend of StyleBlueprint. Maraniss’s biography on Obama has been featured in the national news circuit and is a compilation of hours and hours of interviews with the President’s closest advisers and friends. Knowing how men adore non-fiction, we give this book a nod when it comes to a studying America’s 44th president.

Undoubtedly, Mitt Romney garners more respect than most politicians when it comes to his dogged determination and staying power. In many respects, he leads a fascinating life as a successful business man, previous governor and candidate for President of the US.  It doesn’t hurt that he is a good looking, intelligent, family man. (Yes, we agree that Obama is all this as well.) A perfect gift, then, is Mitt Romney, An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics. Author Ron Scott provides the first independent (unauthorized) biographical profile of the Republican nominee and offers a revealing look at what makes Mitt compelling as a politician and a human being.

Amazon has this to say: “Drawing on extensive research amassed over more than two decades, including interviews with people who know him best–allies and adversaries alike–this book will paint a savvy, textured, and revealing portrait of the candidate, his history, family, religion, political beliefs, and strategy.”

Wine Opener – An Updated Classic

Available at The Oxford Shop, this Montana Artisan Collection wine opener comes in a variety of finishes and inlays. If he likes to golf, hunt or fish, there is one for him. There are also equally lovely ones that don’t specify a particular hobby. For $99, this will be used and loved. http://www.theoxfordshop.com/

Peter Millar Knit shirts and perhaps a golf pass as well!

Grab a new knit shirt from J. Michaels and give dad a Saturday pass to go play some golf. Of course, if you have little ones at home, encouraging him to include the kids on his outing would be perfect for you both! http://www.jmichaelsclothiers.com/

A Gift of Love

More than all the “stuff,” though, nice as it all is, it’s the card that matters most.

Other thoughts:

• Fly fishing lessons: contact Fly South, http://flysouth.net/ or http://www.rodandgunguide.com/
• Whiskey: ask your favorite wine and liquor store for a recommendation for something great.
• Handyman or lawn-care services: if the responsibility for these things falls in his arena, how about some hired help?!
• Grilling tools: always a hit.
• Gadgets galore at http://www.thinkgeek.com/

For more ideas see ideas from:

StyleBlueprint Atlanta (click here)

StyleBluperint Louisville (click here) 

StyleBlueprint Memphis (click here)