FROM: MouseMerch Published Thursdays
Disney for Father's Day
If you're a Disney Dad, don't pass up the golden opportunity on Father's Day to ask for (and hopefully receive) cool new Disney merchandise from your adoring family. Not sure what to ask for? Not a problem! Chris has plenty of good suggestions.
What do you get your Disney-loving dad for Father's Day?
Well, to be honest, there isn't much out there for Disney men. Sure, you can get golf gear, but what if your dad doesn't play golf? A hoodie of his favorite college team coupled with Mickey? Only if he likes a few SEC schools or the University of Texas. Boxer shorts? Yes, there is that, but buying dad underwear seems a little, I don't know, weird.
It's true, Disney doesn't cater to men like it does for women and children, nor should it. Men are the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to retail sales. (For proof, drop by your local mall.)
Disney has areas where can can shop, the biggest being the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom, but much of the merch is sports-themed, and frankly, there are a lot of men in the U.S. who don't do sports. If you're a movie lover, you can find movie-themed merch, and if the dad in your family likes pins, crazy shirts, funny hats, and so forth, Disney has plenty.
But does any of that scream Father's Day? Maybe not.
Traditionally, Father's Day merchandise has leaned toward office decor, ties, maybe a sweater. Of course, there's always the hand-made gifts from your kids, and they are the best of all, but we're here to talk about Disney stuff you can buy, and men do like to have Disney stuff. This weekend is the perfect time to indulge your dad/granddad/husband with some quality Disney merch.
A Few Facts About Father's Day
First some background. Most scholars, or at least the people that study this sort of thing, agree that the first Father's Day was around 1908. The U.S. Congress voted in 1913 to recognize it nationally. President Johnson issued the proclamation in 1966 that designated the holiday as the third Sunday in June. But Father's Day wasn't a permanent national holiday until President Nixon signed a law in 1972.
To validate President Woodrow Wilson's fears that the holiday would become too commercialized, the Associated Men's Wear Retailers, a loose collection of shop owners, put together a formal 'National Father's Day Committee' in the 1930s to begin retailing clothes and other men's items specifically for the holiday. We haven't looked back since.
Now, Father's Day gets bundled with American high school and college graduations and is marketed as 'Grads and Dads', presumably so stores can advertise this new 'season' right after the Valentines/Easter/Mother's Day seasons and just before the Halloween merch comes out.
But what to buy?
Before we go further, I'll warn you now that my picks are just that - my picks. Honestly, my own father is not a Disney fan, so this is stuff I'd like, mostly. I don't play golf nor work in a wood-appointed office. I don't wear a suit to work, though I will wear a tie from time to time. I'm a professional graphic artist, photographer, and sometime musician. I've got tattoos and love mid-century style and modern art. I also cook a lot. So, my thing may not be yours. My style is simple, subdued and graphically compelling.
Take the following list as a starting point.
Shopping for Dad at Disney
click an image to expand:
Cars 2 Hawaiian Shirt
Titanium Mickey Mouse Watch
Mickey Mouse Polo Shirt
Walt Disney Surf Tours 1971 Woven Surf Shirt
40 Years of Magic T-shirt
Happiest Memories on Earth Coffee Mug
Art of Walt Disney World Resort Book
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Cars 2 Hawaiian Shirt: With John Lasseter's involvement with Disney decision-making now, I'd think you could find more Hawaiian shirts in the parks. I wish you could. I like this shirt, designed by Reyn Spooner. It's a little bold and garish, but what good Hawaiian shirt isn't? By the way, Reyn Spooner is not a person, but a company formed by California store owner Reyn McCullough and Hawaiian seamstress Ruth Spooner in the 1960s. They make the best Hawaiian shirts out there. [BUY] | |
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Titanium Mickey Mouse Watch: I've learned over the years of working at a major university that younger generations don't wear watches any more. They don't have to. They're always glued to a smart phone. But many still feel that no man's attire is complete without a nice watch. And honestly, women like a nice watch on a man. The choice comes down to a huge, 1,000 meter diving version with an altimeter, never-ending moon cycle and grappling hook, or a slim, slides-under-your sleeve version. I'll opt for this one. Sophisticated and elegant, this flat-black watch shows the world that you're aware of your appearance, you have no need to bring attention to yourself with flashy gadgets, and you dig the Mouse. [BUY] | |
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Mickey Mouse Polo Shirt: What can I say about this. Nice shirt, cool out-of-the-way logo. Modern colors. Buy some. [BUY] | |
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Walt Disney Surf Tours 1971 Woven Surf Shirt: Disney has a few of these available to celebrate Walt Disney World's 40th anniversary later this year. I love surf style. Sometimes called camp shirts, these invoke the feeling of long summer days at the beach, waiting in the sand with your friends and sun-kissed girlfriend for the right wave. These shirts are cut wide and are woven to breath easy. A true surf shirt is always a button-front with an open collar to allow for easy removal as needed, plenty of breathing room for the wind, and just looking great. Disney has two of them, blue and green. Surf style is currently borrowing a lot from western looks, like plaids, mother-of-pearl buttons, and large outer pockets. People from outside the western U.S. don't realize the importance of cowboy culture in California, where surfing truly took off. In fact, there are a lot of cowboys in California! Both surfers and ranch hands spend all day outside in the sun. It just makes sense that their clothing would be adapted for this, and the styles would intermingle. [BUY] | |
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40 Years of Magic T-shirt: Most disney t-shirts are way too bright and bold for my tastes. I'm 41 now, and I don't need to express my style and interests with a giant Mickey, Grumpy, or Donald logo that stretches from my waist to my neck. And if I can diverge for a moment, what is with the Grumpy and angry Donald stuff? Are men always mad? I've come to really dislike the Grumpy merch in the parks. I'm generally a happy dude, and if I'm in a Disney Park, I'm beside myself with excitement. Why in the world would I wear a hat or shirt telling everyone to avoid me at all costs? OK, back to the shirt. A simple masculine dark grey with a compelling 40th anniversary logo - the perfect shirt for Saturday errands or soccer practice. [BUY] |
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Happiest Memories on Earth Coffee Mug: My souvenir of choice during a Disney vacation? Coffee mugs. It takes me the entire trip to find the right mug. I love this one. Celebrating Disneyland, it captures the spirit and excitement of the early days of the park complete with a primary, yet toned-down color palette, beautiful use of fonts, and showcasing of Dumbo. A perfect gift for your coffee-loving dad. [BUY] | |
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Art of Walt Disney World Resort Book: Disney fans know about the enormous amount of work Disney puts into an attraction before the first turn of a shovel. This book showcases early drawings, sketches, and paintings from the Disney archives of everything from the Pirates of the Caribbean to the Boardwalk. It's also a great example of mid-20th century oil painting. I've mentioned this in my own blog, but I'm always hoping that Disney or Pixar will animate a film in this impressionistic style. Mary Poppins comes close at times. But I'd love to see a movie that looks like the cover of this book. [BUY] |
The Best Gift of All!
I can go on, but you get the idea.
Allow me to share my favorite Disney gift of all time which I just happened to get on Father's Day. It's a framed photo of me and my daughter at Epcot after the Flower and Garden show. The topiaries were still up, so we got a picture in front of, who else, Stitch as Captain Hook. My wife had it framed and then my daughter drew all over the outer matte. I love it. My wife says it's one picture where I look the most happy.
Who wouldn't be?
Happy Father's Day!
More: MOUSE MERCH
Stuff Not to Skip
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- Chris Taylor on Flickr