Need "gift ideas" for "a man"? Cooper reveals his wishlist

NO WHISKEY STONES! It's a good list; we hope his wife subscribes to these emails.

Hi Geezers! Caroline here, now passing the mic to Cooper! Cooper, take the mic!

First of all, I had so much fun moderating the Serena and Caroline Favorite Things giveaway this month. If you were in that 1,000-person chat: Whew, thank you for your grace and patient tech support. It was a whirlwind. I can’t wait to see you all again.

When I’m not behind the livestream webcam, I do digital strategy for small publishers. I lead a men’s lifestyle site called Cool Material, which gives me a front-row seat to a parade of Things Guys Want. I also get to test and review a lot of those things.

This may be why Caroline asked me to put together a holiday wish list, which I assume is meant to represent the Wife Guys of the Gee Thanks! world — that, or the assignment is a ploy, because I always say “Oh, nothin’ ” when someone asks what I want.

Ready for a window into my soul (and fridge)? Let’s dive in. Full disclosure: My mini goldendoodle, Howie, picked a few of these.

The Cooper (& Howie) Wish List

1. Fishwife: The Starter Pack

Here’s the midday snack I’m hopelessly addicted to:

• 1 can of Fishwife smoked trout or salmon

• 1 spoonful of relish

• 1 spoonful of capers

• 1 big squirt of Kewpie mayo

• 1 pinch of Maldon or Spicewalla salt

• 1 squeeze of lemon

Smash it, stir it up, and scoop it with Wheat Thins. Outrageously satisfying.

2. Flamingo Estate Douglas Fir and Ancient Vetiver Candle

Who says guys don’t like candles? We love a cozy vibe. We love to chill. This is, in my limited experience, a god-tier candle. Case in point: I lit the Flamingo Estate, made a Negroni, turned down the lights, put Emmylou Harris on the Sonos, and wrote this list. It’s on my shortlist of favorite smells: Howie’s paws, tomato vines, my mom’s biscotti, and now this candle.

For something even more seasonal and festive, try the very pine-forward Winter Woods from Borough Home.

3. Chappywrap Autumn Plaid Evergreen Blanket (30% off)

December comes from the Roman word for “10 daily naps on the couch,” which is why I could use a lightweight but cozy blanket for the living room — something ideal for cold and hot sleepers under one roof. I also need it to be relatively dog-resistant. Caroline and Lottie swear by the Chappy, and now Howie and I do too. Don’t miss the 30% discount this week.

4. Caraway Bundle (10% Off)

I love to cook breakfast, and I cook my eggs low and slow (I saw a Gordon Ramsey video when I was 22 and never looked back). Caraway gear really does it for me. I’m a believer in aesthetically pleasing kitchenware (it’s always on display!) and ceramic coatings on fry pans: It’s the best kind of nonstick, as long as you’re gentle with it. (For raging heat, you want a Lodge cast iron or Le Creuset dutch oven.)

5. The Samsung Frame

Caroline has one of these and I’m so jealous. I mounted my TV and it sticks six inches out of the wall. The Frame, however, sits totally flush. And it looks like art, not tech, when it’s turned off. It’s quite simply the best-looking TV you can buy, and it’s not outrageously costly, either — the biggest ones are currently up to $1,000 off.

6. Graza Gift Set

I like to think I was putting olive oil in a chef’s squirt bottle before it was cool. My Sicilian nonna taught me that the best EVOO comes in enormous tins, so years ago, I started collecting clear squeezy tubes for easy drizzlin’. Graza put two and two together — along with a trendy use of ITC Garamond — and now I can’t live without it.

7. Fable Magic Dog Leash

Howie’s 10 months old. He pulls a lot. I like a lightweight leash, and this one wraps around my body, which makes me feel a lot less worried that he’ll run off when he sees another doodle. Some dogs are food-motivated; he’s just dog-motivated.

Fable also makes a luxe wooden crate that Howie loves. It’s sold out on Amazon, but my wife found ours on Facebook Marketplace for half off.

8. Percival x Ilaria

I’m mostly a Uniqlo guy, but when I can afford it, U.K.-based menswear brand Percival has released banger after banger with the designer Ilaria Urbinati. The corduroy jacket, the ribbed polo, the rugby … Percival is so great at adding a touch of sophistication to everyday pieces without making them loud and peacock-y. They’re special, gift-worthy, and easy to wear.

9. Spicewalla Finishing Salts

I’m such a sucker for a sprinkle of fancy salt on a meal. Maldon is great for comically oversized flakes, but sometimes you need a little spice in that dish.

10. Mack Weldon Basics

I’m sure you know a guy who could use some new boxer briefs. Yes, it’s “just underwear,” but it’s so, so much better. I’ve tested countless brands and every Mack Weldon item (for “work”), and the Silver HD is the most comfortable boxer brief I’ve ever worn. I also must recommend the Ace sweatpant in the standard fit — that is, no cinching at the bottom. They kinda just look like pants, but extremely comfortable pants.

11. TP Link Deco Mesh Router

OK, this is certainly a geekier gift, but great Wi-Fi throughout your entire house might be the ultimate luxury. This is super easy to set up and we haven’t had a dropped Zoom call since install.

12. The Birth-Year Watch

OK. Time to get really honest. This is the male id, raw and real.

When a Wife Guy enters his mid-30s, he embarks on a miraculous evolution that’s unique to his species: He becomes a Watch Guy, too.

He refreshes 1stDibs, Chrono24, eBay, and Watch Exchange on Reddit, fantasizing about the perfectly patinated pre-owned timepiece. He browses for months but never pulls the trigger, because even the well-worn finds are hard to justify.

If you have a Wife Guy in your life, I’d bet that there’s one thing he craves but is too embarrassed to request: a vintage Rolex Date, Cartier Tank, or Omega Seamaster. He’s never been a brand-name or “luxury” guy, but these things can’t be helped.

I went down my own rabbit hole recently: seeking out the perfect “birth-year” watch. Stumbling upon a 1988 feels cosmic, like destiny itself has intervened to say, “This was made for you.”

So if he’s a goner, here’s where to find vintage watches for a lot less. They’re still a lot. But a watch with a story is a truly timeless gift, pun intended.

And, full disclosure, here’s my daily driver. If your budget is three figures, not four or five? Seiko all the way.

13. Squid Dog Toy

ARF ARF ARF ARF ARF ARF

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