20 Great Gifts for the Freshly Minted College Graduate
45 Great Gifts for the Freshly Minted Graduate
Soon enough, families and friends all over the place are going to have some new college graduates on their hands. If you're one of the many folks about to wish a young man luck as he makes his first steps into bonafide adulthood, you might be wondering what to get him. How do you say a proper congrats to the class of 2021, who had the honor of enduring the most stressful, least fun senior year of undergraduate study yet? Simple: with something special and grown-up. After all, you can't send him out there on his own unprepared. In this economy? No way. Whether it's a tailored suit or a stylish briefcase, here are 20 great gifts to get him now that he's entering the working world.
The ReNew 13" Transit Backpack
Everlane
everlane.com
$68.00
No more Jansport backpacks for this kid—he's a working man now. Or hopefully he soon will be, and a professional-looking commuter pack from Everlane will help. Made from recycled materials, it has room for a laptop, books, water bottles, and plenty more.
Haneda Leather-Trimmed Nylon Briefcase
WANT LES ESSENTIELS
mrporter.com
$495.00
A backpack still too casual? Here's a leather-trimmed briefcase with a label that'll make his new colleagues respect not just his work ethic but his good taste as well.
Signatur Watch
Skagen
amazon.com
$66.40
A stylish watch, this one courtesy of Scandinavian design, is a minimalist accessory that will look good and go with anything. No need to break the $100-barrier for the kid's first timepiece.
Meisterstück Leather Card Holder
MONTBLANC
nordstrom.com
$185.00
Pulling out an overstuffed wallet is never a good move. He's going to need a proper cardholder.
DRIP 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
CRUXGG
williams-sonoma.com
$99.95
He'll need every one of those 14 cups with the entry-level grunt work he's about to be hit with. And this maker's got some seriously cool design hits to set it apart from the pack.
Classic Hardcore Sheet Bundle
Brooklinen
brooklinen.com
$198.00
The Target T-shirt sheets were fine for the dorm rooms and off-campus housing. They are not fine for an adult's apartment. Set him up with Brooklinen's best instead.
Stir It Up Turntable
House of Marley
amazon.com
$199.99
Not that millions of songs at your fingertips isn't cool, but now that he's a grown-up, he can start listening to music like a grown-up.
Major III Bluetooth Wireless Headphones
Marshall
amazon.com
$149.97
And when he's on the go (or just keeping the volume down), these will help. Classically cool.
Mash & Grape Spirits Club
Mash & Grape
mashandgrape.com
$54.00
Rather than just one gift, how about the gift that keeps on giving—a monthly subscription box for top-shelf whiskey, rum, gin, or tequila.
Navy Havana Suit
Suit Supply
suitsupply.com
$449.00
Make sure he looks professional—but not stuffy—for those upcoming job interviews. A great suit with a modern cut makes all the difference.
Park Avenue Oxford
Allen Edmonds
nordstrom.com
$395.00
He'll need a classic pair of shoes to go with that suit. Plus, these will last him for many years to come.
Tritan Crystal Wine Glasses (Set of 2)
Schott Zwiesel
amazon.com
$28.00
An extensive glassware collection will come with time, but it starts with wine glasses. These work for red and white.
Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44mm)
Apple
amazon.com
$414.98
He's about to get a crash course in juggling life. A high-tech wearable ought to help.
Premium Bar Tools Set
RBT
bespokepost.com
$150.00
He won't have a clue how to use this. Four years of Natty Light and Captain and Cokes ensured that. But he will learn, and happily.
Midweight Popover Hoodie Sweatshirt
Todd Snyder + Champion
toddsnyder.com
$138.00
It's time for him to swap out the college sweats for the actually-stylish stuff. Todd Snyder's team-up with Champion is loungewear holy ground.
Leaf Tray
Higher Standards X Jonathan Adler
urbanoutfitters.com
$70.00
Don't wince: There's about a one in three chance he's going to live in a state where this particular past time is totally above board. No reason he can't partake in style.
FREE T4 One-Handed Multitool
Leatherman
huckberry.com
$60.00
There are about a million and one situations where a pocket knife (and then some) like Leatherman's will prove itself useful. Supply him accordingly.
Home Chef Meal Kit Subscription
Home Chef
homechef.com
$125.00
Save him from the gut-devastating monotony of take-out food with Home Chef's vast array of meal kit options. It'll teach him some kitchen skills, too. He'll need those.
The Bed Frame
Floyd Home
floydhome.com
$990.00
One-up the mattress on the floor—and the second-hand Ikea frame he dug up on Facebook Marketplace—with the Floyd Bed Frame. It's a good bed frame. A great bed. A bed frame he'll have for years to come.
Yoshitomo Nara: Solid Fist Skateboard
MoMA
moma.org
$200.00
Now that he's an official adult, he can ditch that Pink Floyd poster. The MoMA has a collection of skateboard pop art that'll feel unstuffy and cool in his place.
Get Unlimited Access to Esquire's Style & Gear Coverage
esquire.com
These'll help make up for a crappy senior year.