This Sunday is Father’s Day and a reader asked that I list a few favourite gift ideas. Of course, the traditional gift is a tie. The one above was a gift from the Caribbean-inspired Mrs. E. . It took me a couple of years to figure out how to work it into my wardrobe, but I like the 40’s flavour that it lends a chalkstriped suit and tattersall shirt. It helped that Ralph Lauren was showing this sort of thing on the runways this year, I can’t claim the inspiration was mine. Now that I have the white linen suit, the companion yellow version will go to the beach with us for our dinner out. Ties, can be tough.

A child, with little or no budget, might opt for some colourful silk knot cufflinks.

A good friend of mine is a real outdoorsman. In fact, he’s going camping and fishing next week. He might like some hand tied flies

But since I don’t know what he fishes for… I might choose to find a nice vintage book. Hemingway’s short stories or something more esoteric…

In general, it is best to stick to things that he can enjoy while pursuing his hobbies. Although, if you have the means, two of the better gifts of which I have heard were a vintage convertible MG (I like the MGA pictured below courtesy of MGCars.Org.UK) and a Panerai watch.

(Panerai image via: Essential Watches)

And lastly, I will mention one of the greatest gifts of all for a father. Time. Another friend has a Father’s Day tradition that I think is perfect. Breakfast in bed and the whole day to himself to read the New York Times. For your husband or father it might be a Dagwood sandwich and time to watch all the episodes of “Band of Brothers” or the three hour “The Right Stuff.”

Which brings up a point. Not to sound too marketing oriented but, while gifts are fine, it is experiences that will be remembered. A cookout, a sail, a ride to the mountains or the beach would be a good start. Pack a picnic and a t-ball set, or set the hammock in the shade, hand Dad a beer and a straw hat and let the kids run through the sprinklers. Take a lot of pictures.

Happy Father’s Day.

I do….

So goes the Cole Porter song from “High Society.” And while I’m decidedly short of funds, I do have a trick to feeling like a million bucks that I’d like to pass along.

I think the story goes that when a certain young actor, who was then penniless, was asked to play a millionaire playboy, he asked in return how he could possibly feel like a very rich man? The director told him to go to the bank and withdraw USD$5,000 and put it into his front trouser pocket to carry around for the day.

It worked like a charm and the young actor went on to become a famous actor who specialized in playing the gentry. (Sorry, I can’t remember who it was. Maybe it’s an urban myth. But I think I heard it on “Frrr-esh Air with Teri Gross.”)

Now, I wouldn’t even know where to lay my hands on that much cash. Nor would I be very good at carrying it on my person (for any length of time.) But I do like to carry $50 around in case I have to pick up a bar tab or cab home or tip someone helpful.

And when I do carry cash, I carry it in the sterling silver money clip seen above. It is the second one I’ve had in the shape of a paper clip (a marvel of industrial design.) The first didn’t have the monogrammable disk. (I’m thinking of having this one engraved with “Pls. Refill.”) Both were gifts from very special people, my father in the first case (it went missing some time ago) and the disarming Mrs. E in the other.

They really do make thoughtful gifts.

Carrying a money clip serves more than one purpose; it makes me think about the cash I’m using, and it keeps me from having to carry a “billfold.” Which in turn keeps me from walking around with the bulging back pocket and popped open pleats. (My “wallet” is a credit card case that holds only a few necessary cards and identification. When I did carry a wallet, it was one of those larger ones that fits inside your inner breast pocket in your suit.)

In other words, it makes me feel more elegant. And I bet it will you, too.

So until that lucky day when my man will carry my umbrella and cheque book and wear a watch for me, I will continue to use my money clip — just four smaller bills, please.

Here’s a great gift for the audiophile on your list.

The Tivoli Platinum Series Model One Radio® in piano finish.

Not only is it a elegant piece of work and easy to operate, the sound is incredible — warm, enveloping. Using a monster cable, you can run your iPod through the speaker and deliver lush sound and a wholly different kind of listening experience. Besides, what would you rather have sitting on your desk hooked up to your laptop? Regular old speakers or one of these true hi-fi beauties? I’ve got three — a Model One in black and silver, a Model Three clock radio in cherry and silver, and a PAL in black rubber. And I wouldn’t mind a Platinum Series Model Two, hand-lacquered, walnut and beige one (or Sirius satellite service table top model one) for the “office” either…

Photo from Tivoli Audio