February signals two very important events in the calendar: Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl.
Funnily enough, it seems that these occasions are also mashing up in the zeitgeist, with an incredible amount of crossover happening between the world of #anything and #everything luxury fashion and sports/ athleisure. We’re talking trendy but timeless. Sporty but chic.
For the sport-centric guy who has it all (except maybe that one special present you can find in this gift guide), embracing the trends and gifting a sporty yet luxe item is a sure-fire way to make a splash and turn any frown upside down during the season of love and halftime shows.
Below we’ve rounded up our top sporty gifts for guys for Valentine’s Day (and beyond). Because any athletically inclined dude would be overjoyed to receive one of these treasures at any time of year, truly. So, let’s get started!
Where Fashion Meets Sports: A Timeline
Sportswear and luxury fashion first happily collided in 1998 with the Jil Sander collaboration with Adidas. And the combo proved to be a fruitful mix. Almost a decade later in 2017, though, things really took off with Louis Vuitton, which was the first luxe brand boldly to welcome the streetwear movement with its capsule collection dedicated to skater culture: New York’s Supreme. Thank you Virgil Abloh.
Today, luxury brands are indeed launching new sporty offerings — from everyday sneakers to more bespoke must-haves such as water bottles and unique gym accessories. And the sport’s world is also reaching across the aisle, as evidenced in the Major League Baseball collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Gucci and the bevy of sports stars, like Lebron, dawning everything luxe fashion from Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets to Balenciaga sneaks. Yes, please.
Sports-Centric Gifts To Buy For Your Guy
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite sporty yet chic gift ideas for guys to help you prep for Valentine’s Day. And yet, these fashion stars actually make the perfect gift all year round. Delight the guy in your life with one of the superb choices and we guarantee he will be turning heads, whether on the court, in the office, or jetting about town.
FOR THE GYM JUNKIE
This stylish Louis Vuitton water bottle is quintessential sporty chic. Fastened to one’s waist, the bag features dark oversized Damier Geant check canvas print and space to hold two water bottles. It’s the perfect item for a jog or a run or a walk around town and has a very masculine appeal.
FOR THE SNEAKERHEAD
Louis Vuitton
Jazzing it up a notch in terms of the shoe game, a pair of pink transparent trainers from Louis Vuitton is the ideal gift for a guy who needs a little something more. Sporty but very, very, very luxe, these sneaks are veritable eye-candy in addition to being a great pair of shoes to wear while exercising or out around town. The subtle pink monogram moment is also fantastic for any die-hard LV-lovers – it’s the small details that matter!
Christian Dior
So much has been said about Dior and, let’s face it, the brand never disappoints. Nothing says sporty and chic quite like these white high tops with the subtle Dior monogramming action. These sneakers pair wonderfully with anything from a sweatsuit to an actual suit and are likely to be one of the best gifts to give this V-day season.
Chanel
Chanel doesn’t make too much menswear, so when the storied French house does, it is always noteworthy. One expectation to the rule is men’s sneakers – which Chanel does with their signature flair. These stylish sneakers are crafted of gray nylon with a trim of gray felt and red calfskin leather. We love the little “c” detailing near the sole of the shoe…. the very definition of sporty luxe!
FOR THE CAP COLLECTOR
For the diehard New Yorker who loves fashion and also loves the Yankees, this baseball hat is a guaranteed hit. Gucci paired up with the MLB to create a series of sports-inspired products, including this hat! An embroidered butterfly appliqué adorns the side of the hat with “Gucci” embroidery, elevating the hat from beyond your traditional baseball cap, while a stitched NY Yankees patch features prominently in the front – staying true to the team.
GUCCI x MLB
Cotton NY Yankees Baseball Hat
Louis Vuitton x NBA
Collection
Continuing with the baseball hat trend, a nylon baseball cap from Prada is a great choice. Elegant yet understated, this Prada hat is the perfect finisher from everything to an ever-chic airport ensemble to a walk to your local coffee haunt. Did we mention that black nylon goes with everything?
FOR THE WATCH CONNOISSEUR
For the globetrotting guy with a serious case of wanderlust, who also happens to be a watch aficionado, this beauty from Jaeger-Lecoultre is a fantastic choice. Sporting a gorgeous polar-centric map of the globe, this watch has eye-catching luminous silver-tone hands and hour markers, a universal time scale with world time cities, such as Karachi, Athens, and Hong Kong, appearing around the outer rim. The watch additionally comes with a fabulous sapphire crystal and an incredibly handsome blue alligator strap. What’s not to love?
Nothing says “I love you” like Rolex. Coming in a variety of case sizes and metals, Rolex watches are the ultimate in sophistication and class. Why tell time on your iPhone when you can glance at a Rolex every day? The same goes for your man. There are a bevy of different styles available at FASHIONPHILE, so choose the Rolex model you think will suit your special guy.
Pro tip: An important step in finding the right Rolex size for his wrist is notating the watch case size, which is the diameter of the case measured in millimeters. Watch this video comparing Rolex watch case sizes on two different wrists.
FOR THE STREETWEAR ENTHUSIAST
We all know that some men just love their sports teams, and oftentimes, it is a life-long affair. Why not gift him a chic yet functional bag with the color scheme of their fave team? We feel like that’s a winning idea! Anything from the Louis Vuitton x NBA collaboration is a hit, with perfect pops of red and blue unveiled by Kim Jones at the 2018 Spring/ Summer Show. Talk about a fab choice!
For the guy on the go, a fanny pack or belt bag is the perfect way to stand hands-free, and fashionable. Fendi, for example, has a delightful selection of men’s bags featuring the instantly-recognizable Fendi FF monogram throughout. Belt bags have the perfect amount of space to store your phone, keys, wallet, chapstick, and stunner shades…. aka everything a stylish guy needs!
Resale Fun Fact: Collaborations are mutually beneficial to both luxury and sportswear brands, with products from these collections reselling for up to 10 times their original value on the market. Talk about an investment piece!
