Gift Giving Guy

Valentine’s Day is nearly three weeks away, so let’s delve into guy gifts. Sure, February 14th celebrates love and romance, often marked with boxes of chocolates, red roses by the dozen, and dining out by candlelight. I’ve enjoyed giving and sharing these gifts with my wife.

Generally speaking, women prefer gifts that are beautiful and sentimental — and if this is not the case, you will know. Most women in committed relationships enjoy Valentine gifts that publicly acknowledge your affection: flowers sent to work or a Tiffany bauble dangling from the wrist. (Gentlemen, the key phrase here is committed relationships. Please avoid sending those public sentiments too early while dating.) These romantic presents appreciate and reaffirm your couplehood.

But most men are wired differently on gifts. Even on Valentine’s Day, I think many guys favor the playful and practical gifts over the sentimental ones. In other words, steer clear your local Hallmark Gold Crown store when seeking guy gifts. You won’t find a deck of stainless steel playing cards there. (The King of Hearts pictured above is from the deck.)

I know this advice contradicts the romantic spirit of Valentine’s Day. How can an iPod Touch possibly delight a guy more than the split half-heart pendant necklaces you both share? One is a guy gift, the other is not.

Of course, women can express romance in presenting the guy gift for Valentine’s Day. Use red wrapping paper, heart-shaped boxes, ribbon and bows. Add some themed chocolate that coordinates with the gift, such as chocolate poker chips for that casino gaming set for poker night. Plus, the Valentine greeting card affixed to the gift can relay amoré in your own words.

In upcoming posts, I’ll explore seven guidelines for guy gifts, including:

1. Tune in for clues
2. Choose playfully functional over sweetly sentimental
3. Select gifts from his interests
4. Give an adventure
5. Consider retro
6. Go with manly gifts
7. Inspire show and tell