Holiday Gift Guide: For the Gents

Gift Sets by Aesop, $60–$110 from aesop.comWhen it comes to grooming, no other company has as comprehensive a commitment to good design. Take for instance Aesop's architecturally savvy retail environments and impeccable packaging. This year, the Australian brand channeled the look of Italian Futurists for its seasonal gift sets. Four different groupings range from lip and body care to a geranium-scented trio to a quartet of the company's best-selling items. While the line is unisex, the Intensity trio of body cleanser, post-shave lotion, and deodorant is geared specifically toward men. Reliable sources tell us that the potent botanicals in the deodorant will leave you smelling like you've rolled around in the Australian bush (in a good way).

Gentleman's Valet by Soren Rose Studio, $1,795 from mattermatters.comIn a previous issue of Dwell, we called the Hans Wegner Valet chair from 1953 "the manliest chair of the 20th century." If you can't scour vintage shops to find one, Soren Rose makes a modern interpretation. It offers compartments to store keys, change, wallets, watches, and all the other items that men need to go about their daily lives. Best of all, the rack offers places to leave shoes and hang coats, pants, and ties.

Crinkle Espresso Cups by Bialetti, $25 from bialettishop.comFor an espresso aficionado, Bialetti's porcelain cups are a wallet-friendly option. Pair with Blue Bottle's Espresso Medley Subscription, from $17.25 per pound, to ensure the vessels are put to good use.

Braun Analog Watch, $200 from store.dwell.comDieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs designed the piece in the 1970s and it remains popular today. Analog watches might seem like a thing of the past, but as any well-mannered gent will attest, it's much easier and more polite to use one to mind the time instead of stealing glances at an smartphone.

Cylinda Barware, $60-$150 from dwr.comIt all started with a napkin sketch. In 1964 Arne Jacobsen designed the line, which won an ID Prize from the Danish Design Council in 1967. Pieces are currently in the permanent collections of MoMA and the V&A Museum, but it'll look right at home in your abode, too. Head to a used book store for a vintage bartender's guide, such as this one from etsy.com for the ultimate accompaniment. We traveled to Detroit recently and think that these hand-stitched leather coasters from Hugh would also make a fine complement to the set.

Soft Tweedy Hat by Hikaru Neguchi, $130 from joinerynyc.comMade in the U.K. and Scotland from a blend of lamb's wool and cashmere, this knit cap will take the nip out of winter's chill.

Anatomy of Ideas by Uta and Thilo von Debschlitz (Taschen, 2013), $60 from taschen.comYou can't open a magazine or look at a website these days without seeing an infographic. In the early 20th century, German doctor Fritz Kahn (1888–1968) devised illustrations to help distill complex scientific ideas. Learn more about his pioneering graphics in this new tome from Taschen.

Crystalline Cufflinks, $50 from designmafia.netArchitecture firm Hariri and Hariri designed this pair of geometric cuff links for Acme featuring an acid-green accent.

Winter Sampler Sock Set, $25 from wearpact.comYou can't go wrong with socks. Here's a stylish three-pack made from organic cotton by the good folks at Pact.