THE 2024 ACL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
Gifts For: The Outdoorsman, The Style Guy, The Guy Who Needs A Chair At The Kids Baseball Game, The Watch Nerd, The Golfer And Our Beloved Better Halves. Plus, Something For Those Damned Kids.
Welcome to the 2024 ACL Gift Guide. It’s great to have you here for pretty much all of the holiday buying intel I could dream up. There may be gift ideas for your loved ones here. Or perhaps just something for you? Either way I’m happy to put this together and hope it helps. Feel free to pass this along to a loved one as a little gift-idea head start. Or just dig-in for your own selfish desires! I can’t believe this is all happening so early. God help us. Happy Holidays you filthy animals.
(Gift guides from the ACL archives are here: the 2023 gift guide, 2022 gift guide and the 2021 gift guide. The 2020 gift guide felt a bit different and the most recent Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift guides.)
KITCHEN & COFFEE
Balmuda Brew Coffee Maker — Balmuda is the company that makes the crazy Japanese toaster — so you know they are going to absolutely dominate the elite coffee maker space. I freaking want this thing. [Pictured]
Trade Coffee Gift Subscription — Give the gift of good coffee from speciality roasters. I am a subscriber to Trade and love everything about it.
Birdie Cocktail Shaker — This is hyper-nerd level cocktail equipment. Look at the guy on the package — he seems like he knows a good martini doesn’t he? Or he needs one!
Bitters Bottle — Elevated barware is a good gift because it’s not always the first thing we want to invest in, but also a place where we appreciate good quality. That’s what makes this a great gift.
Japanese Knife Set — A great set of Japanese Damascus steel knives from one of my favorite companies, Made In.
Kaico Coffee Kettle — An aesthetic and functional coffee kettle that will look good in anyone’s kitchen.
Hedley & Bennett Essential Apron — Buy one good apron and they’re set. Classic and made in LA, what’s not to love?
Sean Brock Heritage Cookbook — I went to one of Brock’s Nashville restaurants, Audrey, a few weeks back and knew instantly I needed this cook book. The perfect book for those of us who love updated southern classics.
Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker — Yes, another coffee maker. I couldn’t choose which one I liked more. This thing from Fellow is a particular level of interesting and insane that anyone who is into good coffee would definitely appreciate.
SMALL AND GOOD
For a lot of companies the holidays are just a time to hit the e-com manager’s revenue targets. It’s the fun game where everything becomes a game to get us all to spend money. In my opinion it is better to buy from places where our support means a little bit more. With this in mind, I put together a small list of brands that make great things and will actually appreciate your patronage.
Junior’s — It’s a blessing to have a new men’s shop emerge. Order online to support Glenn Au’s excellent curated collection or visit in person in Philadelphia. This is one of the good ones.
Oxford Pennant — These folks are the real deal and everything you could ever want out of an American company. Integrity, civic pride and creativity all converge to create one of the most fun and interesting companies I have come across. These guys are worthy of our support and then some. The pride of Buffalo!
New England Shirt Co. — A long-standing maker of woven shirts in Fall River, Mass. Great people who are still doing it the old way in America. I can’t think of anyone who would appreciate an order more than these hardworking folks. The shirts are great too, so it’s really a win-win!
American Trench — Great brand in so many ways and categories — from socks to sport coats, these guys do it all. On top of that, no one has done more to promote and encourage American manufacturing than founder Jacob Hurwitz. A true mensch!
Billykirk — Brothers Chris and Kirk continue to make great bags, leather goods and accessories with an obsession for quality. I consider these guys good friends and am just so impressed with their longevity and commitment to doing things right.
Artifact — The pride of Omaha! These guys really care and it shows in everything they make. Also, the 215 Lunch Bag is still a favorite!
Pinebury — Beautiful wool cycling and outdoor gear that’s all made in the USA. The new sun-protective active hooded shirt is super solid.
WATCHES
Unimatic Classic Military Watch — Pound-for-pound this could be the best aesthetics for the money. [Pictured]
RRL Nato Strap — My buddy Russell (who represents the cool side of the watch nerd universe…if such a thing exists) keyed me into this perfect RRL woven strap. These types of things are surprisingly hard to find good examples of, but leave it to Ralph to do it in a great way.
Hamilton Khaki 38mm Field Watch — Any level of watch-person will appreciate this watch. Simple, understated, classic and for a good price.
Rapport London Watch Box — This longtime London watch company makes some of the nicest watch accessories, including these handsome watch boxes. Anyone with a few watches would be delighted to keep their collection in one of these.
A Vintage Rolex — This might be a rare thing, but if I were to recommend a place to buy a vintage Rolex is would have to be Bob’s Watches in Newport Beach, CA. They are just the gold standard for transparency and integrity in what can be a complicated world.
Rickshaw Watch Travel Case — Anyone who travels knows about the desire to keep our watches scratch free and protected. These Rickshaw watch cases are a great (and affordable) option for protecting your timepieces while in transit.
STYLE DAD
Wythe Boom Cat Peacoat — Every man needs a good peacoat and Wythe’s outerwear is really tastefully done. Can’t go wrong with this brand. [Pictured]
Polo Ralph Lauren Plaid Flannel Workshirt — I picked one of these up a few weeks back and they are excellent. Anyone can wear an overshirt and these great flannel plaids are comfortable and look great.
Easymoc Trailside Chukka — Easymoc excels at putting a small twist on the classic made in Maine aesthetic.
ACL Shetlands — Have to plug my most-worn sweater of the fall and winter. These made in Scotland Shetlands are an everyday driver for me. If I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t sell them. Simple as that.
Rivay Wool Flannel Overshirt — This brand is so underrated it’s crazy. Everything Rivay makes is great. This overshirt is casual but still looks elevated — which is the exact balance Rivay manages to strike with its collections.
Polo Ralph Lauren Edric Penny Loafer — I’m really into Polo Ralph Lauren right now. These loafers have just the right amount of design to make them fun and different.
Sid Mashburn Wool Paisley Scarf —Everything Sid does is great. There’s so many gifts I could pick, but these scarves look good and are a solid value. All the cool guys wear these scarves and they go perfectly under a sports jacket.
Drake’s x Rocky Mountain Featherbed — RMF is a classic and the collab with Drake’s just hits all the notes we want. I would be absolutely thrilled to get one as a gift.
TRAVEL
Ghurka Express No.2 — This is exactly the type of thing to give as a gift. This bag sees heavy use from me all year. Doesn’t matter if I am going to Europe or Japan or to Buffalo (yes, especially to Buffalo!) the Express No.2 is crucial to my travel happiness. Those side pockets are actually huge and can hold a good amount of gear. I would cry with happiness if someone gave me one of these — and I would then proceed to own it forever. [Pictured]
Billykirk Camera Strap — A good camera deserves a proper strap. Billykirk offers a wonderful USA-made option from Horween leather.
Wild Sam Magazine Subscription — A great new adventure mag from the good people from the Wild Sam Field Guides.
Battenwear Packable Tote — This is the bag I bring with me everywhere. It packs up so you can throw it in your suitcase or car. The perfect lightweight tote for near or far.
New York Nico’s Guide to NYC — A rare good travel book for NYC filled with picks from locals.
Ace Luggage Pocket Liner 2 Luggage — This is the Rimowa alternative for me. Good quality. Not some weird DTC start up. Made in Japan.
Buck Mason Wool Hoodie — All planes must have a gauge with the choices of FREEZE or BOIL. More often than not it’s set to freeze and if you don’t have a good layer you are in big trouble. I freaking love wool and love this piece from Buck Mason for travel.
Aged & Ore Bottle Flight —TSA compliant travel cocktail kit for the (enlightened) degenerates among us.
American Weekender Field Guides — Awesome digital travel guides from people who really know what is good.
Peak Design Tech Pouch — A travel pack to keep small cords and tech essentials organized.
OUTDOOR LEISURE DAD
Tom Beckbe Canvas Tailgater Bag — Bottles sold separately! A purpose built bag for game day. [Pictured]
Ember Kitchen Open Fire Cook Kit — Simple, portable and good quality make this outdoor grill the perfect thing to cook out on an open flame.
Ghurka Market Tote — Farmer’s markets are outside and this is a great bag for a run to the market or for a cross country trip.
Snow Peak Titanium Mug — No one needs these yet everyone needs one!
Cape Cod Beach Chair — My favorite beach chair, still made in Massachusetts.
Nest Pour Over Coffee Kit — A great self contained pour over coffee maker for those of us who need good coffee.
EVERYDAY CLASSICS
Items I wear often and will appreciate for years to come.
Filson Tin Cloth Field Jacket — An American alternative to the classic outdoor jacket. These things are good for work or just a simple coffee run. This is a gift that will last for a long time. [Pictured]
Sunspel Lambswool Polo Sweater — One of the sweaters I wear the most. Looks great under a sport coat. Good for a chilly plane or for a Zoom call. The collar adds just a bit more formality which makes this jumper get even more air time. Highly recommend.
Aether Cashmere Beanie — I have owned this hat for nearly a decade (I did lose one and replaced it along the way) and still continue to bring it out each winter. The perfect weight for cashmere. Not overly delicate and super warm. Very much worth the money.
New England Shirt Co. Wool Overshirt — I’m big into the overshirt game. In California, this is almost all we need for most of the year.
Rose & Co. Eyewear — Rose & Co. is one of my favorite brands. I love everything they make and have had the sunglasses in my daily rotation for a few years. This fall I had to get reading glasses for the first time (because I am old) and the silver lining was I get to bring a new pair of Rose & Co. into the mix. Great glasses.
Donegal Shawl Collar Cardigan from Campbell’s of Beauly — What more needs to be said about Campbell’s. It’s just a fabulous company with so many lovely things. They ship to the US so that’s no issue (especially in Nov with a lot of time before the holidays). These cardigans are just the perfect thing for sitting by a fire or taking your dog for a walk. Everything is great at Campbell’s and I highly recommend you poke around — there’s so much here that will make a good gift.
MISC.
Sterling Silver Zippo — An heirloom quality piece of iconic American design. [Pictured]
Sidio Crate Stacking Storage System — Every guy secretly wants to upgrade from the milk crate to something more technical. Enter the Sidio Crate system.
Ask Someone Else Cardigan — Let your knitwear do the talking.
Taylor Stitch Robe — Everyone likes a good robe and they make great gifts. This one from SF-based Taylor Stitch is especially good.
Formawerx Vintage Car Key — A good gift for the vintage Porsche lover who is difficult to buy for and appreciates all of the details.
Grease Point Hauler Tote Bag — Everyone needs a good bag to carry stuff around. This tote is also good to stick into your luggage in case you need extra bag space when you return.
Imogene + Willie x Crescent Down Works — A lovely CPO style quilted jacket from the greatest in Nashville. This is all you might need for winter if you live in California or the Southeast.
Leuchtturm1917 Notebook and Kaweco Pen (or Pencil!) — Everyone can appreciate a good notebook and writing utensil.
Wood Tool Box First Aid Kit — Perhaps not the best omen, but this thing would look great in a workshop or for someone who makes things and suffers the odd scrape.
Puebco Basket — Get this basket and fill it with good stuff they will like. Snacks, PRO-V1s, magazines, a hat, peanut butter cups, good coffee, instant lottery tickets, wine, etc. No one would not like that gift.
KIDS
Snoopy Cassette Player — I saw these at MoMa in NYC and fell in love. [Pictured]
Kitpas Bath Crayons and Kitpas Little Artist Kit — Great art kits for the kiddos.
Hitotoki Journal Set — Our children love notebooks and I am always looking for good ones for them.
Tonie Advent Calendar — The whole Tonie universe is a big hit at our house. Highly recommend for families with little kids.
Vintage Trico Field — A vintage assortment of potentially the best kids clothing brand of all time.
GOLF
Sentinel Field Socks — Made in Japan socks from one of the most interesting brands in golf. There’s nothing quite like a new (good) pair of socks. [Pictured]
The Foundations of Winning Golf Book — This is a gift for a golfer who wants to take a strategic approach to improving their game. There’s a lot of noise in the golf space and this is sound advice that won’t offend anyone.
Northwind Supply — This Etsy seller makes some really nice personalized headcovers that would make a great gift.
Holderness & Bourne Lawson Hoodie — This hoodie is great for golf, but also just good to wear everyday. I picked one up at Caterbury GC in Cleveland and have been wearing it all fall. Super soft with a nice fit. Everyone will like one of these things.
Bluegrass Fairway Golf Accessories — The pride of Louisville! My favorite leather goods and USA-made accessory company. So much good stuff here. I always want one of everything.
GIFTS FOR WOMEN
Last and perhaps most importantly: some gifts for the women in our lives. Obviously, I have limited authority in the women’s gift buying universe, so I asked my Creative Director and former Fashion Director friend Laurie Trott to lend her expertise again.
It’s that time of the year, and gifting can be so overwhelming. Seems like these days, the majority of the best gifts are only available online, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, shopping online can feel like staring into a digital black hole. I’ve done the initial legwork for you and scoured sites — some very obvious, others pretty obscure — but all have a good track record of delivering in time for the holidays. Below, you’ll find a cheat sheet of beauty, fashion, home, sport, books and jewelry that is sure to score points with even the pickiest of giftees.
BEAUTY
Something for everyone here, from Prada lipstick (note the signature saffiano texture on the actual stick - Miuccia 4-ever!) and Hermes blotting papers to bath salts sourced straight from the Japanese Alps.
Ilia Beauty of Balm Lip Set [Pictured]
FASHION
Quiet luxury is so boring. Enough already. Time for color and print! Case in point - a bright red mesh bag from Alaia, giant lemon yellow mohair Phoebe Philo scarf and a very cool And Daughter cardigan in wool spun from a nature reserve in Scotland.
And Daughter Wool Cardigan [Pictured]
HOME
Wine glasses that make even the tappiest of tap water taste better. A portable lamp to make anywhere a room of one’s own. Does anyone need a mother of pearl caviar set? No, but it’s pretty fabulous to have at the ready.
La Double J Murano Wine Glasses [Pictured]
JEWELRY
Jewelry can be so personal. Some women layer necklaces, others have perfected the art of earscaping, with a passion for piercing that could be a candidate for My Strange Addiction (though, not strange). Here’s a mixed bag that, in my opinion, covers all territories.
David Yurman Renaissance Ring [Pictured]
BOOKS
A lightweight curation to read, recreate the Big Ass Salad, and revisit the ‘90s ads we all hung up on our dorm room walls.
90s All American Ads [Pictured]
SPORT
Sport and sport-adjacent are key here. Aside from the ski goggles and the pickleball set, everything below can function as everyday gear too.
Prada x Oakley Ski Goggles [Pictured]
Thanks Michael! A great gift guide as usual. We love Oxford Pennant; bought some pieces as decor for the Pinebury store and now selling some in the store. Unique items.
This is the most thoughtful gift guide I’ve ever read. Thank you Michael!