Fathers have a reputation for being notoriously difficult to shop for.
Most of them are easy to satisfy – yet hard to please – which makes shopping for Father’s Day (18 June) a bigger headache than it should be.
It’s no wonder that many turn to gag gifts or trite ‘Best Dad Ever’ paraphernalia – you know, the stuff that gets a laugh or two before being tossed in the storeroom, never to see the light of day again.
This is SilverStreak’s Father’s Day gift guide for what not to get your dad on his special day – along with a list of better presents that he’ll actually appreciate.
1. A tie, a pair of socks or other generic pieces of clothing
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Yes, fathers usually don’t shop as much as they should. Dads are indeed prone to wearing socks, underwear or their favourite t-shirt over and over until they’re hanging on by a thread (or not even).
But that doesn’t mean they’d want clothes for Father’s Day, especially when they haven’t had the chance to try it out for themselves anyway.
Consider instead:
A high-quality tailored shirt that you know he’d never buy for himself.
- Get it from CYC Made to Measure, a bespoke family-run shirt tailoring shop first established in 1935.
- Custom shirts hewn from high-quality Egyptian cotton start from $180 at their Capitol Singapore shop.
2. Novelty coffee mugs
When it comes to Father’s Day gifts, one is the absolute limit for novelty coffee mugs.
It doesn’t matter what corny beer, golf or other father-related pun is printed on its surface – only one of these will make it to the office (to prove that dad has a sense of humour), while the rest head into permanent deep storage.
Consider instead:
A temperature-controlled coffee mug for fathers who insist on having piping hot java.
- The Ember Mug keeps drinks at an exact temperature of between 50° to 62.5°C (set via its companion app) for up to 90 minutes on a single charge.
- The ceramic-coated stainless steel mug is insulated, durable, and fully washable too. Get the Ember Mug on Apple’s e-store for $169.
3. ‘Best Dad Ever’ merchandise
‘Best Dad Ever’ merch is possibly even worse than generic novelty mugs, as it shows a father how void of creativity their children or spouse really are.
It shows that the only way you know how to show appreciation to your dad is by emblazoning it in capital letters upon his chest.
Consider instead:
A sentimental memento calling back to a pivotal moment in your life made possible by dad, showing him why he’s the best rather than telling him.
If dad’s a wine lover, consider getting him a vintage of his favourite pour from the year you graduated university.
- Cellarbration and Wine Connection are wine retail chains with a large footprint here – head to your nearest outlet, or their respective online shops, to find what you need.
4. Lawnmowers, power tools and other chore-related gifts
Nothing says Father’s Day like giving your dad more work to do.
Not exactly the best way of showing your appreciation. It is also terribly stereotypical – would you buy mum a washing machine or frying pan on Mother’s Day?
You could, but she’d be more likely to bung the latter at your head than sing your praises.
Consider instead:
Some kit or a fancy experience in line with dad’s hobby of choice, whether that be an upgraded golf club, a new pair of running shoes or an offshore fishing expedition.
- Consider booking an expedition with Singapore Fishing Charter, as they’re currently offering a Father’s Day promo of $100 off from now to 25 June.
- Their expeditions start from $899 for a group of five – not cheap, but the celebration is only once a year.
