Maykoosh · Surf & Water
Handcrafted Cedar Surfboard
Rideable, but mostly it is the best-looking thing on his wall.
$500–$1,000
See Price →The Surfer Boyfriend · /surf-style/
The Surfer Boyfriend: coastal style that is not costume
Surf style works when it looks used and fails when it looks bought. The wardrobe is almost nothing — shorts, a faded tee, a linen shirt over the top, sunglasses — and the whole effect depends on the pieces being plain enough that they could have been there for years.
Which is why the single best purchase on this board is not clothing at all. A hand-shaped cedar board is as much sculpture as equipment, and it does more for a coastal apartment than any amount of driftwood decor.
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The object
Western red cedar, hand-shaped, rideable — but mostly the best-looking thing on his wall.
What he actually wears
Tailored shorts so he can leave the beach without changing, and sunglasses that are not sport wraps.
Orlebar Brown · Men's Swimwear
Bulldog Printed Swim Short
Tailored swim shorts. The reason European men look better at the pool.
$250–$500
Buy This for Him →
Persol · Men's Sunglasses
PO3330S Polarized Sunglasses
Straight off our JFK Jr. board. The fastest old-money upgrade there is.
$250–$500
Shop Now →
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Bang & Olufsen · Audio & Hi-Fi
Beosound A9 (5th Gen)
A speaker that is furniture. Fills a room and anchors one.
$1,000+
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Technics · Audio & Hi-Fi
SL-1200G Direct Drive Turntable
The turntable. Gives his record collection a reason to exist.
$1,000+
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Ferragamo · Men's Shoes
Byte Gancini Driver Loafers
Fixes his shoe rotation in one move. No socks required, no sneakers allowed.
$500–$1,000
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Creed · Men's Cologne & Fragrance
Aventus Eau de Parfum
The compliment magnet. If he owns one cologne, it should be this one.
$250–$500
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Surf Style FAQ
What is surfer style for men?
Faded, plain and slightly oversized: board shorts or tailored swim shorts, a washed tee, an open linen shirt, leather sandals and sunglasses. Nothing new-looking, nothing branded, nothing technical outside the water.
What is a good gift for a surfer boyfriend?
Something for the space rather than the water — he almost certainly has opinions about boards and wetsuits that you cannot second-guess. A handcrafted wooden board, a good cooler or a decent pair of sunglasses are all safe.