OK Ladies and Gents…it’s February 5th and Valentine’s Day is 9 days away. Ladies…what do you have planned for your hubby, significant other, boyfriend, your “Boo”? No, I didn’t ask what YOU expected or planned for yourself. What are you giving HIM? When we think about Valentine’s Day, it seems to always conjure thoughts of heart-shaped boxes of candy, red roses and maybe even jewelry. All of these things for the ladies. But what about the men? Oh boy…

Yes the men are often neglected when it comes to romance and pampering. So I consulted a few male friends to find out what they wanted for Valentine’s Day (um, not from ME…let’s be clear!). And just a side note…my husband and I don’t exchange Valentine’s Day gifts, so that’s why he was not inteviewed! HA! LOL. So let’s talk about the gift of CLOTHING! Now I’m a firm believer in doing things expeditiously and efficiently, so I’m killing two birds with one stone. One friend constantly chastises me for posting makeup and beauty sites and sales, but neglecting to highlight similar deals for mens’ clothing, accessories, grooming products, etc.  So just to shut him up, er, meet his request…here goes.

There are a few discounted sites that I subscribe to…they are free and offer several 2-3 day sales at a time. My two favorites also happen to include men’s clothing and accessories – HauteLook.com and Beyondtherack.com. Sales are short term (they usually run 24-72 hours) and offer discounts of up to 75% off! There is no obligation to buy, and registration is free. I have not yet ordered from Beyond the Rack, but they do carry nice brands, such as Hermes, Invicta, Fendi and BCBG. I have ordered cosmetics from HauteLook, which carries great brands, but also includes more cosmetics than Beyond the Rack, often featuring brands like NARS, Urban Decay, and Kevyn Aucoin.

Oops, I got sidetracked with the ladies. My bad!

Brick-and-mortar stores like Men’s Wearhouse and K and G Mensmart (the latter is only in the New York area, I believe) sell designer men’s suits, shoes and accessories, and carries larger sizes as well. So feel free to give him a gift certificate/gift card, or better yet, set aside time to take him to the store, and make a nice afternoon/evening out of it – nothing says quality time like shopping and lunch/dinner. And by the way, if you are in the NY area, K and G sells women’s clothing/shoes/accessories too! (like I said, do things efficiently and expeditiously! LOL)

Now if you want to shell out a few more dollars, you can send him to MySuitny.com, where he can customize his own suit, right down to the lapel stitching, jacket lining preferences, and personalization. Then you go to the store (located in Manhattan) for proper measurement and pampering.

So whatever your budget, there’s no reason to expect flowers, candy, dinner, gifts, and not be able to offer your special guy something nice (and tangible!) in return.

Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all!