It's hard to shop for them, but to make it easier, think pink!
From personal experience I know how hard it is to shop for men. Seriously, how many more times can you give your husband, brother, or boyfriend a belt, a business-card holder, or another “Simpsons” mug? Valentine’s Day is the toughest nut to crack: does a gray scarf, beige sweater, light-blue button-down shirt really say “I love you”? On the other extreme, you can’t bring yourself to give him a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
This year, why not try something different – something that breathes more life into this romantic day? Here are some ideas that could constitute quite refreshing and uplifting Valentine’s Day gifts for the man in your life.
Pretty in pink?
Don’t be afraid of pink. Limiting pink to Barbie dolls is an inefficient use of this zesty color. Pink is known to have a soothing effect psychologically, meaning it can be useful for both women and men. In addition, various shades of pink look amazingly energizing on men, since the color complements any skin tone and radiates confidence.
Right after Christmas I started noticing more pink on Ukraine’s male news anchors and high-street mannequins. I like it. Rosy pastels remind me of spring and provide a warm distraction from this miserable winter. This year, pink is also a hit at Hugo Boss and the Gap (Doh! There’s no Gap in Ukraine).
I think pink is wrongly classified as a “feminine” color. Pink is appearing more often in boardrooms and banks. Pink may become part of the new power suit.
In Kyiv shades of strawberry, magenta, lavender, rose and pink for men can be found in lots of chain stores, including Springfield, VD One and Peacock London shops. Those shops carry dress shirts, crew necks, sweaters, polo shirts, T-shirts and ties with this Valentine color.
After all, if you do venture to buy something pink and your man has something against it, just tell him: “It’s not pink, honey, it’s ‘salmon’ and it is Ashton Kutcher’s favorite color!”
Save your skin
A couple years ago I was washing hands in my male friend’s bathroom and noticed a bottle of Clinique moisturizing cream. My friend, who is happily married now, was single at that time and I had a little giggle thinking that he finally got himself a girlfriend. It turned out the moisturizer was actually his. My friend is actually one of a growing number of “metro-sexuals,” a term coined by British journalist Mark Simpson to describe the new urban male who cares about his appearance and who enjoys a more broadly defined lifestyle.
I did not know about it at that time, and the whole idea of a male moisturizing cream seemed a bit unconventional to me, but girls do like well-groomed men who smell nice. Also, a brutal winter like this one necessitates using a moisturizer or risk serious skin damage.
I have also noticed more and more male skin care products on drugstore shelves. With the cold encroaching and Valentine’s Day approaching, I decided to check out local stores to look for man-friendly skin care products.
When I asked a sales person at Brocard cosmetics whether they carry anything for men besides the regular shower gels, colognes and after shaves, she looked at me as if I had just come from Mars. Without a word she directed me to three huge display stands full of male grooming products from such well-known brand names as Clarins, L’Oreal and Matisse. Their male product lines included various skin-care items such as face and body moisturizers, under eye creams, cold weather masks and hair treatments. You can get a Clarins Moisture Gel or a bottle of Clarins Moisture Balm for your Valentine from this store.
Pamper your man
Mimoza Mobile Spa offers a romantic spa party for you and your Valentine with a chocolate massage, rose-petal bath, cocoa butter hand and foot treatment, and warm vanilla-sugar facials. If you want to give a “personalized gift,” Mimoza can organize a special Valentine pedicure for men (Hr 239) or an “Executive” manicure/nail grooming session (Hr 149) and scalp massage (Hr 69). So think twice before you buy that beige sweater: there are so many yummier options.
Springfield
Ukraina mall, 3 Peremohy Ave.
Caravan mall, 12 Luhova. Tel: 496-1543.
VD One Menswear
Ukraina mall, 496-1578.
Peacocks London
Ukraina mall, 496-1579.
Brocard CosmeticsMultiple locations, including Mandarin Plaza, Globus mall and Ukraina mall.
