You ask him what he wants. He says "nothing, really". He is not being difficult. He means it, and that is exactly the problem.

If you are shopping for a boyfriend or a husband this year and the list is still empty, this is for you. One idea, explained properly: a sock subscription. Why it works for the man who wants nothing, which one to choose, and what it will cost you over a year.

Why he is so hard to buy for

He buys what he wants, when he wants it. The headphones, the book, the bike part: if he cared about it, it is already in the house.

He does not want more things. Another gadget is another object to store. A jumper has to fit, suit him and survive his opinion of it.

He never upgrades the basics. This is the gap. The same man who researches a coffee grinder for three weeks will wear the same tired socks for six years. He would never buy himself good ones. He will notice them every single morning once he has them.

So the gift that works is not something new to own. It is a better version of something he already uses every day, chosen by someone who pays more attention than he does.

Why a sock subscription solves it

It is useful, so it will not sit in a cupboard. He wears socks every day. These simply replace worse ones.

It does not end on the day. You give it once. Then a pack turns up in spring, and another in autumn, and each time he remembers who thought of it.

It is hard to get wrong. No fit to guess beyond a shoe size, and you can skip even that (see below). Our team picks the colours in each pack, so you do not have to.

It quietly fixes his sock drawer. You know the one.

Which subscription for which man

Every Escuyer sock style has its own subscription. You do not need to study all of them. Start from how he dresses.

5 Stripes Socks SubscriptionFrom €71.25 Classic Ribbed Socks Subscription€62.70 Crew Socks SubscriptionFrom €71.25 Melange Socks SubscriptionFrom €71.25 Surprise Pack SubscriptionFrom €71.25 Tube Socks SubscriptionFrom €62.70 All sock subscriptions

How to give it, step by step

1. Pick the style from the table above.

2. Pick his size. For most men that is EU 40 to 46 (UK 6.5 to 11, US 7.5 to 12). Not sure? The Tube Socks are one size, or check our sock size guide.

3. Pick the pack. Three, four or six pairs per delivery. Three is plenty for a gift.

4. Pick the rhythm. Monthly, every 2, 3, 4 or 6 months, or once a year. For a present, every 6 months is the sweet spot: one pack now, one in early summer.

5. Choose where it goes. Enter his address at checkout and every pack ships to him. If you live together, send it to yourself and wrap the first one.

One thing to know before you order: this is a real subscription. It renews automatically at the rhythm you chose, and each delivery is charged to you. It stays in your account, so you can pause it, skip a delivery, change the rhythm or cancel whenever you like.

What it costs you over a year

A pack of three pairs, the size we would choose for a gift, at the subscriber price. Shipping not included.

Larger packs save more per pair: 10% off four pairs, 15% off six.

If a subscription is not his thing

Some men would rather open one good object than start something. Fair enough. Three one-off gifts that follow the same rule, a better version of something he uses daily:

Under €50: a pair of cashmere socks, €35. The warmest thing we make.

Under €100: the Card Sleeve, €55, our thinnest wallet, in vegetable tanned Italian leather.

Under €150: the Slim Wallet, from €110, made for a front pocket and the best way to retire the brick he sits on.

The full list, by budget, is in our gift guide.

Men Cashmere Crew, Orange Red€35 Men Cashmere Crew, Navy€35 Men Cashmere Crew, Golf Green€35 Men 5 Stripes, Ecru / Blue / Red€25 Men 5 Stripes, Ecru / Green / Blue€25 All men's socks

What he will actually be wearing

See all sock subscriptions

Every pair is designed in Brussels and knitted near Braga, in northern Portugal. More on how the subscription itself works in our guide to the Escuyer Sock Subscription.

Questions we are asked

What do you buy a boyfriend or husband who says he wants nothing?
A better version of something he already uses every day and would never upgrade himself. Good socks are the classic example, and a sock subscription turns them into a gift that arrives several times a year instead of once.

Which sock subscription should I choose for him?
5 Stripes if he lives in jeans and trainers, Classic Ribbed in navy, anthracite or black if he dresses soberly for work, and the Surprise Pack if you would rather our team chose. If you do not know his shoe size, the Tube Socks are one size.

What sock size should I order for a man?
The Escuyer men's subscription size covers EU 40 to 46 (UK 6.5 to 11, US 7.5 to 12), which fits most men. The Tube Socks Subscription is one size, EU 36 to 45.

Who pays for the next deliveries, and can I stop them?
You do. The subscription renews automatically at the rhythm you chose and stays in your account, even when the packs ship to his address. You can pause, skip, change the rhythm or cancel at any time.

How much does a sock subscription gift cost over a year?
For three pairs every six months, €142.50 a year for 5 Stripes, Crew, Melange or the Surprise Pack, and €125.40 for Classic Ribbed, Tube, Striped or Ankle socks, before shipping. Once a year, it is €71.25 or €62.70.

Escuyer. Considered design, made to last.