Style and accessories gifts in Australia

Accessories beat clothing when you are unsure

Clothing is the riskiest style gift. You need the right size, the right fit and the right taste. Accessories remove most of that. A hat, a key organiser, a sunglasses case or a pair of studs fits almost everyone, and you only have to judge taste.

The trick is to replace something they already use with a better version. Keys spilling out of a pocket suggest the Orbitkey. A passport loose in a handbag suggests the Status Anxiety travel wallet. Sunnies rattling around a bag suggest the matching case.

Summer Christmas changes the list

In Australia the big gifting season lands at the start of summer, so the useful style gifts are sun hats, beach towels and things for the trip away, not scarves and knits. A bucket hat is cheap, useful and needs no exact size. A good beach towel gets used on Boxing Day.

Sun protection is a gift that gets used every day for months. Pair the hat with the sunglasses case if you want a bigger gift that still needs no size.

Jewellery without the guesswork

Small, plain pieces are safest: studs, a fine chain, a light bracelet. Leave rings to people who know the size. Sterling silver, like the two Lovisa pieces, is kinder to new piercings than plated base metal. Earrings usually cannot be returned once opened, so the heart pendant is the safer pick if you are not sure.

For someone who already owns a lot of jewellery, buy something that holds it. The Dinosaur Designs dish is easier to get right than another piece.

Where the money goes

Under $25 covers socks, the claw clip and the bucket hat. From $25 to $100 you get the jewellery, the sunglasses case, the dish, the passport wallet and the beach towel. Above that, the Crumpler tote is a bag people keep for years, and the ERROYL watch is a milestone gift for someone whose wrist size and taste you know.

If you run out of time, the Dinosaur Designs e-gift card arrives by email.

Questions people ask

What is a good accessory gift for a man in Australia?

Replace something he already carries with a better version. A key organiser suits someone whose pocket jangles, a passport wallet suits a frequent flyer, and a work tote suits a commuter with a tired laptop bag. A bucket hat is a cheap, useful summer pick. An automatic watch is a milestone gift for someone whose taste you know.

How much should I spend on a style gift?

Under $25 buys novelty socks, a claw clip or a bucket hat, which suit coworkers and stocking fillers. Between $25 and $100 covers a strong accessory such as sterling studs, a pendant or a sunglasses case. Save bigger spends, like a leather tote or a watch, for milestones and for people you know well.