Historically, women have had the most fun when it comes to a variety of high end, luxury accessories to choose from. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Even the most stylistically challenged of men can make a big statement with a small accent piece with little effort required.
Tie clips, watches, cuff links, chains, earrings—they all are making a comeback in a big way for men. As the adage goes, less is more if your man is going for a tailored, timeless look. But if he wants to keep up with modern trends, accessorize with fervor.
It’s not just about slapping on the first piece of expensive jewelry you can find into a gift box and calling it a day, however. The pieces you choose should be considered an investment—of time as well as money. Putting some initial thought into your purchase will ensure that the recipient will have a stylish piece that is compatible with the rest of his wardrobe.
Let’s face it: not all men put as much thought into creating a cohesive outfit. So the key here is finding something that will appeal to him as a wearable piece for a wide variety of occasions.
Here are 4 luxury accessories you can get the professional man in your life.
Watch
Watches are the obvious contender for a luxury accessory for men, but hear me out! It’s timeless, it’s subtle, and—best of all—it’s pragmatic! When a person dons a watch, other people take notice. It sends a message that the person in question is committed to being on time, on being a professional, and has put some thought into reaching that goal. All in all, a watch is a shortcut to looking competent.
So what should you look for in a watch? Good customization options and a neutral color scheme. Out of all the items on this list, a watch is the most likely to get worn on a daily basis…so it needs to fit with a wide variety of different color schemes. Brown, black, grey, or a combination of two of the three are your best bets.
Stay away from flashy primary colors like yellow, red, or blue, unless you are sure that this is something your professional man would appreciate.
Chain
The great thing about purchasing a 14k gold chain is that there is such a wide variety to choose from that it’s hard to go wrong. You can go flashy or understated, and there is a shade of gold that works for everyone. Rose gold, white gold, classic gold, yellow gold—the possibilities are nigh endless.
Take note of your man’s other accessories before investing in a chain. Is he into wearing earrings? Then he’s a great contender for a gold chain. What shape are his other jewelry pieces? If he’s heavily interested in classic cubic zirconium shapes, you can shop around for cuban link or tennis chain styles.
For the funkier or more adventurous professional men in your life, consider shapes that reflect this aspect of his personality. A man wearing flashy colors and bold accents will surely appreciate the unique styles available, such as wire links or figaro chains. Again, the possibilities: endless!
Tie Clips (or Bars)
Ties seem like an easy choice when you are shopping for a professional, but they can be a dicey prospect. You have a lot of moving parts to consider when choosing a tie, like body shape, suit style, color schemes, etc. It’s not an impossible task, especially if you are intimately familiar with the potential tie-wearer in question. But you’re better off going with a subtler accessory if you’re unsure, and a tie clip is a great compromise with an equally big impact.
So why am I so hyped about tie clips? Well, they’re easily tailored to specific personalities without being flashy or over the top. Take, for example, this dinosaur tie clip. It’s a detail you likely would not catch if you were not close to the wearer, but it’s still a nice touch. It speaks volumes about a person’s character without laying it on too thick.
Shoe Shine Kit
Okay, okay. This isn’t an accessory in the traditional sense of the word, but it helps keep an integral part of the outfit looking tip top: the shoes. There’s an old saying that is popular in professional circles that you can tell a man’s wealth or status by the quality of their shoes. Anyone can buy a nice suit, but cheap or lackluster shoes will tell on themselves.
A decent shoe shine kit will help keep the shoes your professional man has looking just as professional as he is. After all, what’s the use of putting a couple hundred bucks into a pair of shoes if they’re not going to look like it after a couple of wears in the real world?