Skip to main content

Essential Man: Gift-Giving Made Easy

It’s a fact: browsing the Internet for gifts to buy for your best mate can be an exercise in frustration. We wish the Internet came with guideposts, but all too often Google throws up way too many options and distractions. Alas, one site is doing much to make browsing more guy-friendly and less pained: Essential Man. And the site, conceived as an online gift registry with the look of Pinterest and sleek aesthetic of Gilt, is now looking like a possible game-changer in the business of men’s retailing online.

For one, there are several things that Essential Man gets right: one, the visual interface. Guys are visual creatures so we’re naturally drawn to objects on the screen, and at a time when guys are starting to spend more time on their Instagram accounts than on Facebook, Essential Man looks pleasantly familiar and surfable; two, customer service and discovery. For all the folks who go online knowing precisely what to buy, there are scores that have absolutely no clue what to buy or where even to begin.

Related Videos

That’s where Essential Man trumps other sites. Its GiftGenius customizable search engine allows shoppers to determine where they sit on a sliding scale of traits, ranging from “Night Owl” to “Early Bird,” “Dapper” to “Casual,” “Creative” to “Practical,” “Jetsetter” to “Homebody,” “Foodie” to “Fast Foodie,” and, of course, price. Adjusting the bar on each scale automatically tweaks and refreshes the merchandise on the page, so there are even fewer buttons to click. All you do from there is scroll down and click through to the object that piques your interest—and there are many, we should add.

Founder Jason Landver, who has quietly been growing a small but powerful licensing empire on the West Coast with clients such as Rachel Zoe, Wildfox Couture and Giles & Brother, has one of the best eyes in the business, so we weren’t surprised to learn that Essential Man comes stocked with some of the best-looking modern gadgets, fashion accessories, travel necessities, grooming products, collectible antiques, fine wines and even meats. About a month ago when we first previewed the site, we even spied gift certificates to sporting and culinary experiences. With a range of products from Cartier to Smith & Wesson to Leica and a mobile version of Essential Man underway, we could think of worse ways to spend your lunch break or time on the couch.

Editors' Recommendations

Lookmatic’s Vision Quest
Lookmatic

1.
Lookmatic
2.
The Vesper
3.
The Andy
4.
The Leonard
5.
The Apprentice

Until recently finding a pair of great looking glasses was about as challenging as finding a great pair of pants. It wasn’t just abou nailing the style but nailing the fit and price. Fortunately a few folks in the eyewear industry decided to bring technology into the picture to develop eyewear you could not only buy online, but customize to spec and get sent right your doorstep no matter where you were. Of the lot, the New York City-based companies Warby Parker and Moscot have made converts out of many with their mid-century modern (read hipster) frames, but if it’s easy, understated frames you’re after, you’ll want to consider Lookmatic.

Read more
East Dane Launches Holiday Gift Shop
east dane launches holiday gift shop

 

Admit it.  You’ve been curious about that website your girlfriend is constantly checking.  You’ve wondered why your female coworkers always receive packages of clothing at the office. Yes, it’s Shopbop, the extremely popular and omnipresent women’s online shopping destination.  Don’t worry though, now you can get in on the action with the launch of East Dane.

Read more
How to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day — style tips you need to look your best
Your St. Patrick's Day style guide
style tips for holiday party outfits green and tan

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, kidnapped and brought to the island as an enslaved person at 16. He eventually escaped but returned later and is believed to have brought Christianity with him. One thousand years later, he is still celebrated on St. Patrick's Day, the accepted date of his death, March 17. And how do we celebrate it? By wearing the color green on St. Patrick's Day, of course. Wearing the color symbolizes the patriotism of the entire island.

Now, whether you are Irish or not, you can show your support for the island by donning green on St. Patty's Day. However, that doesn't mean you have to go all out and look like you jumped right off the box of Lucky Charms. Here are a few tips to help you celebrate the patron saint of Ireland without sacrificing looking fantastic.

Read more