A small box of high end chocolates, think Vosges, Burdick, or Richart
A creative flower bouquet
Gourmet tea (maybe an herbal red tea or a rose infused black tea) or coffee, if she drinks coffee or tea
A classic romantic movie such as: Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany, To Catch a Thief, Some Like it Hot or Amelie
Something to pamper herself with, like Lush bath products (but NOT a massage bar)
A gift certificate for a massage from a spa (not from you) or a pedicure
Invite her over for homemade dinner, serve champaign
Do not get: …

Back in the days when we were dating I purchased Origins Fire Fighter for my husband. Call it an attempt at metrosexualization, call it attempt at making shaving less painful so that he would do it more often…whatever! It worked! The lotion is a wonderful soothing aftershave developed for the man with sensitive skin. It works wonders at preventing razor burn and at providing a little extra moisture to abused, sensitive skin. Origins has recently improved the product by adding an ingredient that causes your whiskers to grow back slower, …

Flowers from Winston Flowers
Flowers from Winston Flowers
Flowers from Martha Stewart Flowers (lily, orchid)
Flowers from Martha Stewart and 1800flowers

Roses for Valentines day…cliche, expensive, a bit banal…you can do better! It is possible that roses are your significant other’s favorite flower…if that is the case PLEASE get her roses for Valentine’s Day, otherwise I recommend considering another more creative and perhaps even more beautiful option.
I’ve provided a few example of my favorite truly classic flowers above. Calla lilies and mini calla lilies are always a classic look, sophisticated and minimalist. Orchid plants …

You should ask her parents before proposing. You are never going to cause offense by asking, but there is a good chance that you will offend her parents if you do not ask. While traditionally, you talk to her father about proposing, many mothers would also enjoy being included.
Try to find out if your girlfriend has definite ideas about THE RING. It is possible she wants to pick it out, or that her grandmother will be passing down her ring to the two of you. Don’t be offended if she …

Perhaps it seems a bit premature for a Valentine gift guide…but Valentines Days is rapidly approaching! Reservations for dinner, online present ordering, these things take time and planning, wait much longer and all the best restaurants will be booked up. So, over the next week the Charming Dandy will provide a guide to Valentine’s Day. First up, chocolates! These days a box of chocolates need not be a tasteless Valentine cliche, there are several companies specializing in delish high end chocolates which are sure to impress your sweetie. The …

Ascots: hot on Cary Grant, not so hot on most men in the twenty first century. Cary Grant was a huge fan of the accessory, as he was self conscious about his neck and thought that it the ascot minimized its thickness. Today it is virtually impossible for a man to pull off a true ascot without looking somewhat theatrical. The look even looks a little off on David Beckham, one of the more adventurous modern mens style icons.

But, if you do decide that you want to give the ascot …

Ties: One of the major avenues for wardrobe self expression in a man’s life. Tired of the standard issue striped tie? Not interested in tiny palmtrees or lobsters dancing all over you chest? Look no further than TieLab for interesting and unique ties. At just $30-$40 dollars each these ties are quite the deal! Ladies: why not love bomb you man this valentines day with the Bombs Away black silk tie on the far right?
Images from TieLab

Dolce and Gabbana Spring08, Thom Browne in his own design, Junya Watanabe Spring08

Thom Browne is a New York based designer who specializes in a highly tailored, narrowly fitted mensware. Over the last seven years he has turned out distinctive suits, with a hallmark aesthetic which includes a shortened pant leg. Browne has become a major tastemaker, which is evident from the adoption of his short pant look in the Spring 2008 collections of several other designers. Personally, I really like how Dolce and Gabbana translated the look into …

Coalface provides the perfect skin care solution for the lazy man…a bar soap that you can use on your face and your body, which doesn’t leave you smelling like a girl.