Father's Day is Sunday, June 17th this year and I've picked out some of the finest leather goods Dad will love.

Bottega Veneta Briefcase

Your success today has everything to do with him providing the best for you. This Father's Day, let him know that you want the best for him too with this luxurious Bottega Veneta briefcase made from the brand's signature woven leather.

Louis Vuitton Clutch

A clutch bag is an accessory that I imagine only Dad will use. But if he's carrying a Louis Vuitton Epi clutch, I can give up all my reservations. Dad can tuck this handsome bag under his arm or sling it across his wrist. Either way he'll look stylish. What I love is the combination of the scratch-resistant Epi leather and the brass locking push closure. They are just meant for each other.

Mulberry Trifold Wallet

This trifold wallet by Mulberry fits nicely in his favorite shirt's front pocket.

The simplicity of its design brings out the character of Mulberry's distinctive Darwin leather. And it reminds Dad of your relationship with him - simple and understated.








dunhill Sidecar fountain pen

If Dad's an avid pen collector, get him the limited edition dunhill Sidecar Leather fountain pen. Only 1893 pieces of this exquisite jewelry are produced. Not many writing instruments out there are wrapped in leather. And this is not just any leather. It's dunhill's signature Sidecar leather - masculine, durable and a true classic.

Cartier Santos Belt

If Dad owns a Cartier Santos watch, this is the belt to get him. If Dad doesn't own a Cartier Santos watch, this is also the belt to get him. The belt is available in gold and palladium so you can actually pick the one that matches the watch. If he doesn't own a Santos watch, get him the one in gold. It's going to be a classic.

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For those of you who prefer a good old diary to a BlackBerry and a reliable rollerball to a stylus, you might already be shopping around for a new diary for 2007. If you think the price of your new diary has a direct correlation with good time management in the new year, you'll be happy to know that there are quite a number of luxury brands that offer a good selection of diaries and agendas.

Here's a few brands you should definitely check out:

Mulberry

Mulberry is an old English brand that's enjoying a strong revival in recent years. The brand has one of the best selections of luxury pocket books, agendas and planners for men. These organizers are made using either natural cowhide or croc-embossed leather. And they are available in two colors - black and oak (light brown). I got my first Mulberry pocket book 11 years ago and they are still selling it today. It's a true classic.

Shop online at http://www.mulberry.com. Mulberry ships worldwide.

dunhill

Another venerable English brand that has a rich heritage, dunhill makes some of the best leather goods in the world. And it being a favorite among the working professionals, it should come as no surprise that dunhill has a great selection of diaries. Choose from the bestselling Sidecar, the lightweight d-eight, the sophisticated Dunhill Confidential or the understated Mulsanne. My personal favorite is the Mulsanne pocket diary but at $240, it's the most expensive of the lot.

Shop online at http://store.dunhill.com. dunhill ships only to selected countries.

Mont Blanc

It would be preposterous for Mont Blanc not to have a good selection of writing accessories. The leader in luxury writing instruments has organizers in small, medium and large sizes and there are matching pocket address books and notepads too. Most men would probably go for the classic Meisterstuck line. But if you find black too boring, check out the Boheme collection. The lizard-embossed calfskin exterior matched with soft nappa lining create some very interesting combinations.

Visit Mont Blanc official site at http://www.Mont Blanc.com.

Smythson of Bond Street

Smythson may not be a big name like Mulberry or Mont Blanc but they are really good at what they do - diaries. All their diaries are made in England and hand-bound in genuine leather. And according to them, they introduced the world's first pocket diary in 1889. What I really like about Smythson is the level of personalization. You can choose to have your diary bound in calfskin, lambskin, pigskin, croc-embossed and you can have it in black, blue, brown, red, green.

Shop online at http://www.smythson.com. Smythson of Bond Street ships worldwide.

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With Christmas approaching, we picked out five fantastic products from Mensfolio.com that we think will make great Christmas gifts.

First on the list is a 8cc billfold wallet ($199) from Mont Blanc's Westside collection. Sleek and simple, this wallet is crafted beautifully using fullgrain calfskin that's scratch-resistant. And with Mont Blanc's elaborate packaging, you can't go wrong with a gift like this.

Many style guru advocate carrying the bare essentials in a money clip and not stuff a wallet with junk. If this is the message you wanna send to him, get him this money clip wallet ($43) from Renoma. With a wallet this simple, there's no way he's gonna stuff his wallet even if he tries really hard. And at just $43, you won't feel the pinch even if he doesn't take your kind advice.

Almost anything in a little red box that bears the name Cartier in gold will make a great gift. We especially like this business card holder ($184) from the Pasha de Cartier line. It's understated and classy and will definitely help him make a good first impression when he's dishing out his business cards.

If his job requires him to do a lot of international travel, get him a passport holder ($121.50) from dunhill's d-eight collection, a collection of leather goods designed specially for travel. The passport holder is made of lightweight canvas trimmed with tumbled leather. Highly durable, it makes a good low-maintenance travel companion.

Lastly, we think the cutest gift of all is a key ring ($80) from Mont Blanc Platinum collection. It comes with a small pouch made of really soft lambskin for his loose change.

With these great gift ideas for Christmas, you have no excuse to settle for a mediocre gift for him. You may say it's the thought that counts. But we all know that's not true.

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I've said before that it's not easy to find a nice zipper wallet for men so I get really excited when I see a good one. Bottega Veneta popped out from nowhere to become one of the most desirable brands in the world. Touted as the next Hermes, it owes its success to the iconic woven leather they call intrecciato.

This gorgeous ziparound wallet in luxurious black nappa leather opens to reveal four credit card slots and a coin compartment. I would have preferred one with 8 credit card slots and no coin compartment but hey, I'm not complaining. This zipper wallet is already close to perfection.

Buy it online for $420 at Bottega Veneta.

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My Prada duffel bag has served me well as a sports bag although it can look pretty refined and as a result, I've not been taken seriously as a formidable opponent by my tennis buddies. I suspect this carryall by Offermann is not going to help much but what the heck.

The rugged canvas trimmed with oil-tanned leather makes the carryall decidedly masculine and it's roomy enough to hold a pair of sports shoes, two cans of tennis balls, my towel and underwear, and my Bodyshop toiletry bag.

Buy it online for 139 euros at Offermann Germany.

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Despite its rich history, I've never been able to relate well to Louis Vuitton. I find their products too rigid and structured.

But the Huron (nowadays even men's bags have names) - a double-handle briefcase from the Utah collection - will make an excellent replacement for my Dunhill Cricket briefcase, which has served me for the past 3 years.

Huron's hand-grained calf leather, complemented with aged bass hardware, has a nice, vintage look. And although it doesn't have a protective compartment for my laptop, its main compartment does hold a laptop well.

Buy it online for $1,840 at eLuxury.

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I've never been a huge fan of money clip, choosing a slim card holder over a money clip every time I need to dress light for my nights out.

But this quirky money clip by British designer Paul Smith made me an instant convert. The plain-looking black money clip opens to reveal a naked lady sitting coyly on the inside. Suppressively sexy.

Buy it online for 49 quids at Paul Smith.

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Since Christmas is around the distant corner, I thought I'll come up with my wish list of leather accessories if I could change my entire wardrobe. (Can a guy actually say this?)

What I want for Christmas is a John Varvatos saddle messenger bag. Forget the fact that it'll be a real challenge filling such a big bag. And I have to, because the leather is exceptionally soft and without a decent amount of content, the bag loses its shape.

But heck, I need a messenger bag that goes well with my Tony Lama cowboy boots and my Prada studded belt. And the dunhill d-eight messenger bag I'm currently using simply can't do the job.

Buy it online for $895.00 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Father's Day falls on the third Sunday of June and this year it's June 18th. If you're still cracking your head thinking of a perfect gift to get him, why not buy a nice wallet that he can use for many years to come? Finding the right wallet for your dad is not that difficult once you identify the kind of dad you have.

The Silent Breadwinner

Day in day out, he slogs away trying to make a little bit more money so that you can have a better life. He may not seem to care much about what goes on at home but you know how much he's sacrificed for the family.

For the Silent Breadwinner, pick a wallet that's simple, practical and down-to-earth. It shouldn't be too expensive too, otherwise he might just snap at you for spending too much on a mere wallet.

You may want to consider this black leather wallet by Goldlion. It holds everything - his bank cards, his driver's license, and his cash and coins. It's neither fanciful nor flamboyant. It simply serves its function well. At $40.50, it's great value for money. You're likely to get a nod of approval from him.

The Family Man

He held your hand when you first learnt to walk. He heard you utter your first word. He accompanied you on your first day of school. And of course, he attended your graduation ceremony.

For the nurturing Family Man, get him a wallet that can hold a nice family photo. This should put a smile on his face every time he opens his wallet.

If you're prepared to splurge, you may want to consider this billfold wallet by Lanvin. It has a generous clear photo window that should make any family photo look great.

The $280 price tag may be daunting but you're really paying a premium for superb French craftsmanship. And the Lanvin label, of course.

The Over-Indulgent Dad

He's largely responsible for the spoilt brat you've become. In his eyes, you can do nothing wrong even if you burn down the house. He spends all his energies ensuring that you're provided for, making sure that you're protected from the harsh realities of the outside world.

Father's Day should be a good time for you to pay your dues and spoil your Over-Indulgent Dad. Pamper him with a luxurious lambskin wallet by Mont Blanc. This wallet is held in such high regard that Mont Blanc calls it Cashmere in Leather.

Your daddy will probably feel really guilty that you got him such an expensive present and buy you a brand new convertible to make it up to you.

The Giant

He's feared and respected by many, including you. Most people envy you for having a father who's somewhat larger than life. But the pressure of living up to his expectations or filling his shoes can sometimes be overwhelming. Not everyone is born an alpha male.

For the Giant, get him a credit card wallet from Cartier's prestigious Pasha de Cartier line. Made in France using top grade cowhide, it looks sleek and stylish, oozing confidence and charisma just like its soon-to-be owner.

The Scumbag

For as long as you remember, he doesn't really give a damn about what's going on in your life. This Father's Day, you probably don't need to give a damn too.

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Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity for you to express your affection to your lover. You can actually convey different messages with different gifts.

"Think of me wherever you are"

Contrary to popular belief, a wallet, not a dog, is man's best friend. The wallet is arguably the only accessory that almost every man uses and carries wherever he goes. Get one with an I.D. window and include your picture in the wallet. That way, he'll be reminded of you wherever he may be. I like the one by Renoma because the I.D. window looks like a photo frame.

"Remember what I got you last Valentine's?"

I like what I call a "follow-up gift" because it shows how thoughtful you are. Say you bought him an iPod last Valentine's Day. Why not buy him a case to protect his iPod this year? I love the one by Dior Homme. It's simply stylish. Of course, it may not make much sense to buy a case that costs more than the iPod that it's supposed to protect. But who cares?
P.S. Before you buy a "follow-up gift", always make sure he actually likes the first gift you got him.

"Let's party in style!"

If your boyfriend is a slop who likes to stuff a fat wallet into his jeans' back pocket, you may want to get him a skinny card case. This is one accessory that all party animals should own. It carries everything you need (and nothing more) when you go clubbing - your credit card, your I.D., and some cash. It fits comfortably in those tight fitting jeans and it's so light that he can dance the night away. I like this one made from alligator skin. It's sleek and smart.

"Because I'm worth it"

If he's always grumbling that you're very high maintenance, buy him a Cartier checkbook wallet so that it brings a smile to his face every time he writes a check. Of course, you'll be paying for this gift with the credit card he gave you.

"I know you're actually gay"

Ok...I had to add this in because, for some reasons, this Murakami iPod Shuffle cover was featured under Gifts for Him on Louis Vuitton's website. Seeing those cute rainbow monogram on the case, he's sure to let out a squeal of delight before he slips his iPod Shuffle into it excitably. Now he can listen to his Cher collection in style.

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