Written by Tess Ezzy
Every year when Father’s Day rolls around, I feel the same quiet panic: what do I get the dads in my life? My stepdad, father-in-law and my husband are both thoughtful, steady men, but they are also impossible to buy for. My husband will buy whatever he needs, whenever he needs it. My step-dad does not want another pair of socks. My father-in-law does not need another mug.
Here is the thing though. Gifts are my love language. I cannot help but want to find something that feels just right, something that says I see you.
So this year I have pulled together a mix of ideas that feel personal, memorable, and just a little bit different.
1. Something Stylish and Useful
The “Gifts for Him” collection at Say Hello Co is full of simple, well designed pieces. Nothing flashy, just things that look good, last well, and feel like a small everyday luxury. I love the idea of giving a gift that does not gather dust but gets worn, used, and appreciated.
2. An Experience You Can Share
Studio Inner West runs creative workshops in Sydney and some online too. From resin cheeseboards to candle making and tufting, they are a chance to step outside the usual routine and do something hands on together. I like that it is not just a class, but a memory you build while you are making something side by side.
3. A Quirky Little Gadget
I will admit this one makes me smile. The Royal Gold Nose Hair Trimmer is manual, waterproof, and does not need batteries. Equal parts practical and funny, it is the kind of gift that gets a laugh but also gets used. Sometimes Father’s Day is the perfect excuse for a lighthearted gesture.
4. Memories You Can Hold
The Trip Memory Book Ornament from Summed Up Threads is a tiny treasure. You can personalise it with details from a special trip such as where you went, what you ate, and the songs you had on repeat. It is such a sweet way of bottling up a story in a keepsake you can revisit anytime.
5. Functional but Beautiful
The Oyster Bottle Opener from Mau House is one of those objects that is both useful and beautiful. Made from solid bronze, it is small, weighty in the hand, and ages with a gorgeous patina. I love gifts like this, things you reach for often but that also feel like little works of art.
6. For the Deeply Sentimental: A Felt-Scape from The Moody Project
And then there are my felt scapes. For me, nothing beats the intimacy of turning memories into fibre. Each piece is a miniature landscape, stitched from wool and story, layered with the details you choose such as a favourite place, a ritual, a song, or a moment that still lingers. Every felt scape comes with a custom poem to anchor the piece in words as well as texture. It is not just a gift, it is a keepsake, a geography of love you can hold in your hands.
Buying gifts for dads can be hard. But maybe that is the point. The effort, the care, and the time spent searching or making says as much as the gift itself. This Father’s Day, whether it is something stylish, an experience, a funny gadget, or a piece of art, I am leaning into the idea that gifts are my way of saying thank you, I love you, I see you.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
