TWE’s men’s style editor Lee Osborne rounds up the best gifts for grooms to bestow upon the impending groom.
Penhaligons, VRA VRA VROOM, 100 ml Eau de Parfum
A new fragrance from one of our favourite brands, with leathery floral notes, and a blend of magnolia and sage its guaranteed to delight. In true Penaligons style, the packaging will impress and the bottle will sit proudly on any dressing table. £195, www.selfridges.com/
Le Chameau, MEN’S VIERZON JERSEY LINED BOOT, £160
This should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe for countryside walks, it truly is the most iconic wellington boot. Handcrafted from natural chamolux rubber with a polycotton, tartan patterned jersey lining for all year-round use, including in warmer seasons. The boots are supremely comfortable with an adjustable waterproof gusset with snap-fastening buckle to ensure comfortable fit around the calf and leg. The also feature shock-absorbing dual-density grip outsole prevents fatigue, resists abrasion and are suitable for all terrains. www.lechameau.com/
Nyetimber | Personalised bottles
With some of our very own sparkling wines beginning to rival those of Champagne it’s no surprise to see them proliferating the tables of wedding breakfasts more and more. Nyetimber were pioneers among English sparkling wine producers to exclusively grow the same celebrated holy trinity of grape varieties as our Gallic cousins across the Channel: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Their recent in-house gift offering comprises personalised and beautifully packaged bottles of Nyetimber which make an ideal gift for the groom to share with his bride-to-be. You can even add a shiny metal plaque to the gift boxes, which can be engraved with up to 22 characters. Select from either Classic Cuvee MV, Rosé MV, Cuvee Chérie MV, Blanc de Blancs 2014 or Tillington Single Vineyard 2013 to gift a bottle to remember. From £45 per bottle with personalisation, nyetimber.com
Oliver Brown | Langton Dinner Jacket – Black Barathea
As ready-to-wear jackets go, Oliver Brown’s Black Barathea is difficult to beat if you’re set to tie the knot wearing black tie, and there’s arguably no more stylish way to rock up to the altar than draped in an exquisite double-breasted shawl-collared version. Made from a traditional barathea, a soft fabric with a hopsack twill weave which results in a beautiful lightly-pebbled textured surface. £350, oliverbrown.org.uk
La Bowtique | Oversized Hranek Black silk satin bow tie
While mastering the dinner jacket is key, it could easily be undone by the wrong choice of neck adornment. This is where former Huntsman and Cad & The Dandy alumni Mikael Korausch, the undisputed king of bow ties and Savile Row maker, comes into play. Hailing from the Basque Country in South West France, Korausch specialises in complementing a dinner suit or originating colour schemes for weddings. The ‘Oversized Hranek’ crafted by hand in Paris from silk satin is inspired by late night shenanigans and conversations over negronis with men’s style writer and Bon Vivant Matt Hranek at Pitti Uomo – an oversized bow for the man who’s not afraid to be bold. And if the Hranek doesn’t float your boat, downsize or commission a bespoke one. From £150, labowtique.com
Bowhill & Elliott | Black Velvet Venetian Slippers with embroidered Martini
Bowhill & Elliott velvet loafers are synonymous as the Rolls Royce of Venetian slippers, a whole cut loafer made from one single piece of plush black velvet, offering a fun yet stylish alternative to the traditional black Oxford worn by most men on their wedding day. Emblazoned with a Martini cocktail glass woven with all the debonair intricacies of a military blazer badge, they’re definitely more suited to the bon viveur groom for his summer wedding. While they could of course be paired with morning dress (although they’d raise a few eyebrows) they are much more at home worn with a pale linen or seersucker suit and open-necked shirt. Made by hand in B&E’s Norwich atelier, these kicks will lend a touch of James Bond to the proceedings – so long as your Martini’s shaken not stirred. £295, bowhillandelliott.co.uk
Philips | PerfectDraft machine
For the craft beer loving groom, PerfectDraft is a revolutionary keg machine designed to enjoy draft beer from the comfort of your own home. With none of the fuss associated with home brewing, there’s absolutely no equipment needed, no sterilising, no waiting around for fermentation. You simply insert the keg – of which there are 40 different styles available from the likes of Thornbridge, Tiny Rebel and Goose Island – into the machine and away you go. Each keg dispenses just over 10 pints of delicious craft beer which remains fresh in the machine for up to 30 days at a constantly chilled 3°C. They’re a novel way to kick- start the Stag Night too. £249, beerhawk.co.uk
Sirplus | Himuro Sky dressing gown and boxer gift box
Ensure sartorial resplendence is extended to the marital bedroom with this set of matching Liberty prints bearing artist Yuri Himuro’s highly emblematic repeat pattern. Featuring a Japanese skyline awash with planes, umbrellas, flying fish and butterflies, the dressing gown utilises Tana Lawn™ an iconic fine cotton weave with a high thread count which is richly luxuriant to the touch. A shawl lapel, deep pockets and belted waist complete the look while matching boxers offer the ultimate in bedtime comfort. £295, sirplus.co.uk
Love Brand & Co | Arawak linen shirt
You could be forgiven for thinking your impending honeymoon has already begun just by walking into one of Love Brand’s stores which effuse a rather Hamptons-esque aesthetic – complete with driftwood accoutrements and a whiff of freshly-roasted organic coffee. This is your one stop shop for head-to-toe poolside style: from Panama hats, tees and shirts to swim shorts crafted from 100% recycled plastic, right down to stonewashed espadrilles. But it’s their line of Arawak camp-collared printed linen shirts which get my vote. £130, lovebrand.com
Antler | Clifton medium carry-on
Crafted from a strong yet light polycarbonate shell, paired with an innovative twist-grip handle and a set of the smoothest wheels on the market, The Clifton, like every Antler suitcase, is hand-finished with meticulous precision. This colourway brings to mind a glass of claret or ruby port and is colour-fast, meaning that any inevitable scratches during use will stay true to the colour of the shell. A personalisation service is available – simply choose a luggage strap or bag tag and add your choice of 3 initials for an additional £35. £179, antler.com
Favourbrook | Black Moiré Silk Braces
Favourbrook’s moiré silk braces, the type that give off that wonderful wavy water-like appearance, are the perfect balance of form and function for sartorial connoisseurs. Perfect for your posture and maintaining the correct trouser height, there’s something rather dashing about a groom who dances jacketless in just a collar, tie and braces at the Wedding Reception. They’re a sustainable gift too in a neutral tone, meaning they can easily be paired with other trousers long after the wedding is over. £165, favourbrook.com
Maurice Lacroix | Masterpiece Moonphase Retrograde 43mm
A special day merits a special gift. Mark the Groom’s auspicious occasion with this intricately designed Moonphase Retrograde from Jura-based horologer Maurice Lacroix. Providing a wonderful introduction to the world of complications – watch-speak for any function on a watch other than the display of the time: in the case of the Retrograde two adjacent semi circles on the dial display the days of the month and days of the week with a Moonphase indication beneath. Boasting a stunning fusion of Silver with Clous de Paris, (a particularly elaborate type of embossing on the dial), flanked by blue indexes and hands on a black calf leather strap. €4,950, mauricelacroix.com
P Johnson | Solid Brass Bracelets
These two solid brass bracelets, handmade in India, work supremely well as a pair and while they work with most outfits, they’re particularly attuned to the Groom who plans to tie the knot on an exotic beach bedecked entirely in linen. They have added romantic significance as their shape resembles a couple ‘spooning’- in that they nestle perfectly together on the wrist and are soft and pliable enough to adjust the size to suit the wearer. What’s more, because they are made from a natural metal, they will develop a gently-worn patina over time. Thick $75.00, Thin $65.00, pjt.com
Ghiglino Genova | 1893 Eau de Cologne
If you yearn for a heady fragrance that will linger long into the night of your wedding day and have guests clamouring for its secret ingredient, there simply is no better scent to gift than Ghiglino’s iconic 1893 EDP. A fig-infused olfactory delight, crafted in the city of Genova, gateway to the Italian Riviera, it is an absolute steal and will infuse a touch of Portofino to your big day. So good in fact, you’ll have people thinking you’ve paid thrice the price. The thistle-themed retro packaging reveals little of what lies within but is an ode to the brand’s affinity with Scotland. €39, Ghiglino.it
Tusting | Medium Superlight Explorer
Located in the village of Lavendon on the juncture of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire – land of charismatic sand coloured stone houses and inviting roadside inns, Tusting are a family-run leather goods business. Five generations worth of knowledge and experience goes into creating each and every piece, blending timeless style with contemporary flair. The company recently joined forces with a specialist Italian maker to develop a super-light luxurious Nylon Twill fabric which allows the brand to produce bags which are around 25% lighter than their canvas counterparts. Alongside its interior-zipped security pocket, there’s a nifty padded computer compartment which handily frees up space in your cabin bag. As with all their products, Explorer is also available in bespoke colourways or all-leather finishes and can be personalised in 3 different styles: embossed Initials, embossed or handwritten messages. £450, tusting.co.uk
Wolf 1834 | British Racing Green 8 piece watch box
Handmade throughout, the sportscar loving groom with a penchant for watches will love this British Racing Green leather watch protective case with a revolutionary quad-angled panelled lid. Hand-pressed gold foil lines are highlighted on vegan friendly leather with space for 8 of their beloved timepieces to be encased. £375, wolf1834.com
Baudoin & Lange | Sagan Ginkgo Loafers
I once said Baudoin & Lange were the Rolls Royce of men’s loafers. But now that I’ve had time to reflect I’d go one step further. They’re far more Aston Martin Vanquish, an automotive that has become the sheer embodiment of this fine British heritage brand, building an interior that struck the perfect balance between style and comfort. This is what founders Allan Baudoin and Bo van Langeveld, , coincidentally former racing car driver, have achieved with their premium shoe brand. Most sartorially-inclined gents will know that smart loafers are plentiful enough, but when you throw comfort into the equation few are able to deliver. The Sagan was the shoe that first put Baudoin & Lange on the menswear map, and its new cousin The Ginkgo introduces a new motif to the Sagan Classic range – a Japanese ginkgo leaf cut-out replaces the more traditional decorative slotted leather strip over the upper, in which a penny has historically been placed – fun fact. Us Grooms are on our feet all day too, meaning comfort is even more equally proportionate to style. What more perfect way to sashay down the aisle to join the love of your life, than in these beautifully supple textured deerskin masterpieces. £460; baudoinlange.com
