What Dads Really Want Gift Guide, Including Cocktails & Cupcakes

By Laura Medina

Father's Day is hurrying up this Sunday.

For those in the lucky Los Angeles area, you can treat him to the free annual Father’s Day tradition in Beverly Hills, the 2013 RODEO DRIVE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, the free upscale car show that takes all of Rodeo Drive, from Wilshire Boulevard to Santa Monica Avenue.  

Two years, it was a sexy lineup of sultry Ferrais, cute Fiats, throbbing Ducatis, and sexy Bugattis.  A year ago, it was a heartfelt fleet of Aston Martins, Jaguars, and Mini Coopers...and a lot of motorcycles.

This year is an ode to the mid-20th Century "Mad Men" era, "The Jet Age."  According to
2013 RODEO DRIVE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE, http://www.rodeodrive-bh.com/CNC/CNC_2013.html,...
"In celebration of Learjet’s 50th anniversary, Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance will welcome the revolutionary Learjet 85 aircraft as the first aircraft to ever appear on the famous street."

If this gets your DILF into a "Don Draper" mood, you can treat him to the Art of Shaving Salon or give him stuff he actually needs, good electric shavers, lotions to soothe his burning face, some hair paste to tame his cowlick, and some really good shirts, jeans, and messenger bag to kit him out.  Stuff so cool, he doesn't need a tie, no...not another tie!..

The headlining photo, Panasonic Arc IV® ES8243A Wet/Dry Men’s Electric Shaver...

This electric shaver offers remarkable shaving on the first pass. Equipped with a Quadruple Arc Foil and four cutting blades, the cutting surface of this shaver offers a better shave with each stroke. The blades are powered by Panasonic's linear motor, which operates at an amazingly fast rate so even the thickest beards or no match for this shaver.

 $199.99

Panasonic Arc V ES-LV81 Men’s Electric Shaver

Designed with 30-degree-angle Nanotech™ blades and Lift-Tech™ outer foils to cut hair at its base, this shaver provides accurate precision every time. Along with the Multi-Flex™ pivoting head, the shaver glides uniformly along the contours of the face covering the chin, jaw line and sideburns while providing maximum comfort.

$599.99

Nothing gets a guy or a DILF to get grooming than hearing David Beckham's favorite hair grooming line, Hanz de Fuko, an organic hair products is a favorite of super chic dad David Beckham.  GQ just named it in their Style Bible as a must-have and Esquire featured how the conditioner also works great as a shaving cream!

Got a dad with sensitive skin?  All a guys wants is a good, age-appropriate skin.  A skincare routine to glide over the ingrown beard bumps and heal the nicks.  Here's Aveeno shopping chart for skincare confused.  Actually, it's pretty darn basic, the classic 3-step:

AVEENO^® Men’s^™ Face Wash

·         The ACTIVE NATURALS^® Oat formula works to cleanse, moisturize and soothe dry sensitive skin

·         Gently cleanses  and exfoliates with invigorating beads

·         Smoothes the surface of the skin, exfoliating dead skin cells to create the perfect canvas for a close shave

·         When used with warm water, the wash helps soften  facial hair, preparing skin for a better shaving experience,  helping prevent nicks and cuts. 

AVEENO^® Men’s^™ Shave Gel

·         ACTIVE NATURALS^® Oat  formula helps prevent razor bumps, nicks and cuts

·         After testing, 94% of men felt they received a closer shave with less irritation

·         Contains Vitamin E and Aloe to protect and soothe skin while shaving  

AVEENO^® Men’s^™ After-Shave Lotion

·         Instantly calms and soothes easily irritated skin from shaving

·         Formulated with humectants and glycerin to infuse moisture in the top two layers of skin

·         Contains petrolatum that forms a protective barrier on the skin to prevent moisture loss and ACTIVE NATURALS^® Oat to soothe minor skin irritation post-shave.

Dads are searching for a cool dress shirt that actually keeps them cool, as in air out the sweat during Summer such as these dress shirts from "Life After Denim," http://www.lifeafterdenim.com/

Want him to graduate from Uggs yet keep the soft, wooly soles?  Staheekum Slippers are the cooler version of Uggs, elegant enough for as a pair of driving mocs, http://www.staheekum.com/default.php

Hip loafers and dock shoes...Venettini on www.zappos.com got some cool black leather dock shoes and loafers.

Puma is the activewear-turned-lifestyle sneaker, one of the first "fashion sneakers" if your Dad wants some dash to his wear.

Puma is also good when he transition into the gym with his Puma active/gym wear so he can make some room for those Georgetown Cupcakes.

Got a "cool" dad who really wants to keep his cool during the Dog Days of Summer?  He can really keep his cool and you can make yourself cool when you, the kid (regardless of age) can buy him a pair of 20Jeans for...get this...$20! Yes, for $20, you can buy him a pair of 20Jeans.  Since http://20jeans.com/ bypass the retailer then gives you the true manufacturing price, ok the "wholesale" price,  you with your weekly allowance can keep him in stylish basic year-around by buying him 20Jeans a month or a week.  This the "gift that keeps on giving" that he truly wants...you shop for him without busting the bank. How cool is that?

 

If your dad has peculiar tastes then give him an investment, like this Ted Baker Canvas Messenger Bag, a quality item to balance his 20Jeans that come in urbane grey, basic blue, and preppy reds.

What?! Your dad can't wear jeans to work, no matter how colorful?  For $30 a pair (ok, they cost $10 extra), 20Jeans does skinny chinos from posh Summer Whites to city steel grey to Preppy Hipster Red.  20Jeans gives you the reason after you miss Father's Day.

 

Ok, he got the electric shaver, the shaving kit, and the wardrobe, how about a drinking tour of Regent St. in London? Why not!?

The Regent Street Cocktail safari launched in April. Offering the best of the street’s mixers and shakers, this safari is certainly one for the diary. Peppered along Regent Street and the surrounding area are a range of restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels, each with their own signature cocktails. This year, Regent Street is giving you the chance to sample them all in succession. Shoppers are invited to each of the participating restaurants and bars to sample the very best of their cocktails. Small plates of gastronomic delights will also accompany your cocktail selection at each venue. That is of course, if you aren’t interested in a liquid lunch…

Taking part in the 2013 Regent Street Cocktail Safari are Aubaine, MASH, Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel, aqua, Gaucho, The Living Room W1, Piccolino, Sartoria, Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton, Le Méridien Piccadilly, Dirty Martini and Inamo. *Remember to call up and book your safari in advance to avoid disappointment!

 http://www.regentstreetonline.com/Feature-Articles/Cocktail-Safari.aspx

Plan your route…

Start at MASH on Brewer Street to try their movie themed cocktails, the American Psycho and the American Beauty. Bar Américain at Brasserie Zédel will be serving Salt Beef Bagels, Hot Dogs and Slider Sandwiches alongside their signature Chrysler Cocktail, with a Cognac base. Go to aqua for their Iron Lotus and Guatemalan Spirit cocktails to complement their Spanish tapas.
Gaucho have created their own Regent Street Cocktail including Smirnoff black with Aperol and a saffron infusion. The Living Room, W1 are launching their brand new Bar Sliders menu, a new concept, with their Regent Street punch. Next try out the authentic Italian plates at the Cicchetti bar in Piccolino before heading across to Aubaine for a French Martini. Sartoria have designed 3 cocktails to embrace the West End spirit including a Regent Street special, made with lychee juice, whereas Courthouse Double Tree by Hilton have created the Regent Street Cosmojito.
At Le Méridien Piccadilly you can try the mini tasting menu with three mini food plates and three tasting cocktails. If you’re a sushi fan then Inamo is offering a sushi selection with their signature spicy cocktail the Inamo, with chilli syrup. If you’re looking for a martini, head to the experts at Dirty Martini to try their Tropical Pear Martini, Mango & Chilli Martini, or signature Dirty Martini.

A free car show on Rodeo or a drinking tour of modern-real day London, you have no excuse to give him a tie.