Reaching a milestone, such as a 50th birthday, deserves a special gift. For country folk, we love a practical gift that’s also fashionable, which is why we’ve created this guide of five 50th birthday gift ideas. You might have a larger budget than a regular birthday gift budget but we want you to be able to buy a quality item at a decent price point. Hopefully, you’ll find something for everyone. Here are our top 5 50th birthday gift ideas.
A wax jacket
This is a staple for any countryside folk but it’s also an item that most people don’t replace until absolutely necessary. However, if you look after it properly and clean it regularly, it will last you for years. Styles might change but a traditional wax jacket of any length will fit with your country wardrobe for a number of years. It’s best to stick to neutral shades, such as brown, tan, navy, olive or black, to ensure that you get the most wear out of your wax jacket.
For the women:
From quilted styles to a longer version as well as belted and regular styles, every lady will be able to find a wax jacket to suit their lifestyle and wardrobe.
For a classic design, our Wrelton and Cawood versions will look amazing in any lady’s wardrobe. Both styles feature a country checked lining, corduroy-lined trims (including the collar), storm-friendly cuffs and plenty of pockets for a women’s jacket! For a cinched-in look, the Milly 2’s high-waisted belt on a shorter jacket shows off curves in all the right places.
Some of our new styles include quilted styles, which still look traditional but incorporate a modern style and colours, such as berry. Because these are lightly padded, they’re ideal for colder days and the elasticated side panels on the Wrelton style are super flattering on all figures.
For the men:
Every country gentleman should have a waxed jacket in their wardrobe. It’s the perfect jacket to just throw on as you head out the door. Because they’re showerproof and windproof, they’re ideal if you get caught in a small downpour when out and about. If you stick to a classic design, you’ll be set for all the seasons, especially if they happen in one day! This style even has a removable hood, perfect for summertime rain. If you think they’d prefer a more lightweight style, our Cawood style is perfect for cooler days.
When it gets cooler, they might prefer a quilted or padded version of the waxed jacket. The Stamford version is our padded style and it also has super deep front pockets, ideal for storing all their essentials. Instead, they might prefer a quilted style, which is also padded but is often considered a little dressier.
A tweed jacket or waistcoat
If there’s ever an item that sums up country fashion, it’s a tweed jacket or waistcoat. Whether you’re dressing it up for a family occasion or wearing it on the shooting range, they’re such a versatile item to have in any country wardrobe. Our wool blend tweed is of the highest quality and made here in the UK so you know it’s been made to last for years.
For the women:
The Wrelton is one of our best-selling jackets because it has such a flattering fit and length. It features a lightly padded lining, ideal for transitional weather in spring and autumn, as well as rear waist tabs if you prefer a more fitted style. For a more padded style for colder days, the Bramham 2 was made for extra warmth and protection. You get that same cinched look with the elasticated back and the suede shoulder detailing is a classic design.
For their 50th birthday gift, they might prefer a gilet or waistcoat, rather than a full-sleeved jacket. With both our Helmsley and Haworth waistcoats, they’ll be getting a high-quality wool tweed blend version, designed to be both windproof and water-resistant.
For the men:
From waistcoats to blazers as well as regular jackets, there’s a piece of tweed outerwear for every country gentleman. The Derby tweed jacket is one of our favourites because it’s a quintessentially traditional design. It’s breathable, durable and rain-resistant, ideal for the British outdoors.
Alternatively, a tweed waistcoat might be more practical as a 50th birthday gift. We offer the Derby tweed in a gilet version and many customers love to have both customers to hand as they head out to run errands or go on a countryside walk.
A fleece jacket or gilet
An item that lots of people love but don’t always have is a decent fleece. Whether it’s to lounge around in at home, to throw on for an early morning or late evening dog walk or to wear as a jacket when it’s cool out, many of our customers practically live in their Rydale fleeces.
For the women:
A fleece gilet is one of the most practical items that every country lady should have in their wardrobe. We love to throw ours on when it’s cool out but not cold enough for a jacket. The Huggate waistcoat is one of our bestsellers, probably because it comes in 18 different colours! The simple design is a classic country staple that will stay in their wardrobe for many years.
One of our favourite newer designs is the hybrid fleece, available in both a gilet version and a full-sleeved style. It’s a mix between a fleece and an insulated jacket and the fleece sleeves and side panels have some extra stretch to them as well.
However, the most popular 50th birthday gift idea would be a long-sleeved fleece in their favourite country colour. Our Huggate fleece is a great mid-layer underneath a winter coat or as an outer piece on cool summer mornings or evenings. Whether you opt for a full zip style or an overhead version, both feature moleskin trims and an elasticated drawcord at the back.
For the men:
If our Huggate fleeces are good enough for the women, they’re good enough for the men too. Our full zip style is our most popular, followed by the overhead version. We definitely think the moleskin trims and anti-pill fabric show you’re getting a high-quality product for a decent price. It’s also available in a waistcoat style with even more colour choices to choose from.
Hybrid fleeces are getting more popular, especially as a transitional season type of outerwear. They’re more insulated than a regular fleece because of the padded, quilted qualities. Coming in both a full-sleeve jacket and a gilet version, you can choose the style which they’d prefer as a gift.
Leather boots
You won’t find much more versatile footwear than a pair of leather boots. Whether they’re knee-high or ankle boots, they’re some of the easiest shoes to dress both up and down.
For the women:
A classic pair of leather knee-high boots can be tricky for some women to find the perfect pair. From tan riding boots to a traditional country boot, we want to have some dressier options in our footwear range. They might even love a tweed/suede pair, these look great against a neutral outfit.
If you think they’d prefer a shorter pair, you have even more choices to pick from! From short Spanish boots to pull-on yard boots, you’ll need to bear in mind the type of tread. Some are grippier than others, ideal for country walks and farm work, whereas others had a flatter tread for indoor wear and running errands.
For a real ladylike look, heeled boots give them a little extra boost whilst still being comfortable. The Welburn leather boots come in both brown and tan and with a 6cm heel and a grippy tread, they’re some of the comfiest boots in our range!
For the men:
If they’ll love a smarter pair of leather boots, look no further than a brogue, lace-up style. They have a lightweight rubber sole that is extremely grippy under your feet so whilst they’re very stylish, they’re still practical. For a sleeker look, a classic pair of Chelsea boots in a neutral shade will suit just about any smart casual outfit or even a formal one.
For a more casual style, market boots look great styled with jeans or chinos, a perfect look for nights at the pub or family days out. With tan, brown and brier red shades to choose from, each will complement a neutral outfit. They’re the perfect boot for all-round country living as the sturdy tread is ideal for country walks and farm work.
Walking boots
If they’re celebrating their 50th birthday and they spend a lot of time outdoors, why not treat them to a brand new pair of walking boots? Of course, it can be a tricky gift to get someone so we recommend only buying them for close family or friends, such as a partner, sibling, child or best friend. The fit is paramount so triple-check their shoe size!
For the women:
Sticking to a neutral colour of walking boots means that they will go with every outfit on every walk. With dark brown leather, khaki or navy to choose from, all of our boots offer extra ankle support with a padded tongue and cushioned insoles and ankle areas. The tread is super grippy, ideal for a range of terrains when out walking or hiking.
For the men:
Walking boots should offer support and comfort whilst being as practical as possible. Our men’s Aike boots come in a lovely chocolate brown colour, meaning they’ll go with every outfit. They feature brass eyelet hooks for your laces so they can feel as snug as they need them to be but not too tight. Alternatively, the khaki Gembling boots are fully waterproof and breathable so they’re ideal for rainy days when they’re out and about.
Purchasing a gift for a 50th birthday doesn’t have to be a typical gift so how about buying them something that you know they’ll use and love? Keep it practical and we’re sure they’ll appreciate such a thoughtful (and usable) gift!