Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 6-15-18

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2018
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Shopping For Father’s Day?: Here Are Some Suggestions From Owners Of Men’s Clothing Stores
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Want to give your father- figure an item of clothing for Father’s Day, but not sure ex- actly what to purchase?
Luckily, you’ve got plenty of options that go beyond the standard tie, said Ricc Rollins, stylist and owner of men’s boutique, The Style Lab @5508.
Cuff links, dark patterned socks, and lapel pins make for great Father’s Day gifts, he said.
Pocket squares can en- hance a suit, but often are overlooked and make for a nice, unexpected gift, Rollins continued.
Another fashion gift that may surprise Dad is a bowtie, along with a lesson on how to tie it, said Howard Green, owner of TFP Menswear.
“It’s such a different class of fashion statement,” he said.
Fancy socks with fun colors
Howard Green, owner of TFP Menswear; Ricc Rollins, owner of The Style Lab @5508 and Daryl House of Classic Gentlemen’s Boutique.
The 47 percent of con- sumers plan to spend $3.2 billion on a “special outing” gift, such as a concert, sport- ing event or dinner, the sur- vey states.
It can be a challenge to buy something fashionable for a man who sports certain style. In those instances, you can’t go wrong with a tradi- tional tie, said Daryl House, owner of Classic Gentlemen’s Boutique.
Be sure that it reflects his personality, because that will ensure he’ll wear it, he said.
“Buy him what he wants, not what you want him to have,” he said.
Still can’t decide on a clothing item to buy? Pick up a gift certificate, House said.
If you just can’t find any gift that’s suitable, you still have one more option, Rollins said.
“If you can’t get a great gift, get a great card,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with a handmade card.”
and designs and pocket watches also are fun fashion gifts, Green said.
No matter what you buy, put some thought into it, so that dear old Dad knows you appreciate him, Rollins said.
“Father’s Day is probably the least celebrated (com- pared to Mother’s Day) and it isn’t fair,” he said. “There are good fathers who deserve to
be celebrated.” Green concurred.
“Anytime you give a gift, be careful because it is a repre- sentation of you,” he said. “Don’t wait until the last minute. It pushes you to get whatever you can find.”
According to a survey by the National Retail Federa- tion and Prosper Insights and Analytics, a total of 77 percent of Americans will
celebrate Father’s Day and spend an average of $133 per person.
About $2.2 billion will be spent on clothing, $2.1 bil- lion on gift cards, and $1.8 billion on consumer elec- tronics. Additionally, $878 million will be spent on home improvement supplies, $862 million on personal care products, and $844 million on greeting cards.
FATHERʼS DAY SHOPPING
Look for something classic and unique, but prac- tical. Make sure it’s something that truly reflects his style and it’s something he would wear.
Skip novelty ties and opt for a more traditional look that will add to his wardrobe. Or up the ante with a bowtie and book on tying lessons.
Don’t over think it, and avoid purchasing some- thing you want him to have versus what he likes. If all else fails, a gift certificate and/or a card still makes for a great gift.