If Father’s Day has crept up on you – that pesky first Sunday of every September – don’t worry, you’re certainly not alone in the sudden panic to purchase a gift for your dad, husband, brother or grandfather.
While not every Australian will celebrate September 3 there is a group of people who will be looking to shower their loved ones in special gifts like a pre-cursor to the gift-giving they’ll get again at Christmas.
And while the usual underwear-and-sock staples aren’t necessarily a bad idea, the Best Picks team has rounded up seven other options – from the tech, skincare and fashion space – that might be more rewarding.
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You can pair any of these gifts with a delicious breakfast in bed or a celebratory brunch to make the most of the day.
The small but mighty Echo Pop is the latest smart speaker from Amazon, available in four colours including the brand new Lavender Bloom and Midnight Teal, alongside Charcoal and Glacier White, so customers can find a colour that fits their style.
The Echo Pop is designed to match your space and style, launching with new accessory options including silicone sleeves in seven colour options, including glow-in-the-dark, so you can mix and match your colourways.
The Alexa integrated smart speaker offers a quality audio experience so you can listen to your favourite music, sleep sounds, podcast, audio book and more from your device in any room in the home.
I’ve used an Amazon Echo before and found it so useful for recording down my weekly shopping list, playing music while I cook in the kitchen and asking for it to search through Google and answer a basic question.
I just know that my dad will love it for all the same reasons, so it’s definitely on my list this Father’s Day.
– Matilda
OTHER TECH HITS FOR DAD
2. WE11DONE Sweatshirt in Charcoal on Marais, $390
It’s not often that dad gets a funky fresh new outfit to wear and this WE11DONE sweatshirt on designer website Marais is the perfect mix of casual and cool.
With sizes XS to XL available on the website, the shirt is an oversized silhouette with an elasticated waistband.
There are a number of different shades you can choose from as part of the collection and it’s still cool enough to wear layers.
– Matilda
OTHER FASHION HITS FOR DAD
I’ve been obsessed with this body wash since I first heard about it last month on TikTok as a dupe for my favourite Le Labo Santal 33 scent.
The Palo Salto body wash boasts a similar aromatic combination of cardamom, Australian sandalwood, cedarwood, leather and musk to Le Labo’s Santal 33.
I invested in it a few weeks ago and both my husband and I have been using it since then.
Now I’ve discovered that they have a beard range too, I’m planning on stocking up for him for Father’s Day – but really it’s a present for us both.
At $27 a bottle on Amazon, there’s not much not to love.
– Sophie
OTHER BEAUTY HITS FOR DAD
4. Oakley High Bridge Fit Sunglasses, $288
With higher than average winter temperatures and the prospect of summer not too far away now, a pair of sunglasses is never a bad investment in Australia.
And you can’t go wrong with these Oakley High Bridge Fit sunglasses ($288).
Available in a range of different colours, the stylish sunnies are a great buy for dads and husbands alike.
Featuring a classic design, stylish lenses and full UV protection, they will significantly elevate my husband’s ahem “cool dad” credentials during the routine Saturday morning park/babycino ventures.
Shoppers can choose between lens colours including red, black, blue and grey – and all of the glasses are polarised, meaning they are made with special lenses designed to reduced reflected glare.
– Sophie
OTHER ACCESSORY HITS FOR DAD
5. Sunbeam Origins Coffee Machine, $899
This manual espresso machine offers a barista-style experience with the benefits of home comfort, as well as a sophisticated look and feel that delivers coffee with an unrivalled taste and texture every time.
I’ve taste-tested coffee from the Sunbeam machine before and it was next level, so it would almost be unfair to my dad if I didn’t give him the same opportunity.
Perhaps I can convince all my siblings to go in on this one? My fingers are crossed.
– Matilda
OTHER FOOD HITS FOR DAD
6. July Carry On Pro SnapSleeve, $425
If you’re in the market to push the boat out a little this Father’s Day, you can’t go wrong with July’s Carry On Pro SnapSleeve suitcase ($425).
With a detachable carrier for your laptop and essentials, a stylish hard shell finish and the coolest ejectable battery for portable charging your devices on the go, this really is the ultimate status symbol in travelling.
With a few work trips coming up towards the end of the year and a rather fraying excuse for a suitcase, I know my husband will really appreciate this.
He will particularly love the fact that he can pop the carry-on in the boot or overhead and quickly and easily snap off his laptop to work on-board.
July offers a range of six different colours to choose from, including monochrome, clay, forest green, khaki and navy blue. If you want to go the extra mile, you can add personalisation for $65. I’m obsessed.
– Sophie
OTHER TRAVEL HITS FOR DAD
7. August Berg Serenity Link Watch, $429.95
August Berg have a fantastic range of on trend and fashionable timepieces to suit any occasion and outfit.
Sadly, I feel like the common watch is going out of style and being replaced by the likes of Garmin and Apple, so I’m going to use Father’s Day as an excuse to get it back on the radar.
And there is an even better reason to invest in an August Berg watch.
With every watch sold, your purchase gifts six months of quality education and, with 20,000 watches sold, August Berg will build a school in partnership with the Human Practice Foundation for children in local communities in rural Africa.
– Matilda