The smart guy’s gift guide

It’s that time of year again — dreaded by many — only because of this whole exercise called gift-giving, which sadly, for men, involves a whole lot of shopping. Shopping has been elevated to an Olympic-caliber sport by women, something we consider the very essence of our existence. But it ranks low if not lowest in men’s favored activities, hence the impasse, and their disastrous 11th-hour, do-or-die purchase of what often is — literally — a white elephant. Believe it or not: that white elephant you are about to purchase on Dec. 24, just before stores close, will have much to do with you lady’s perception of her relevance to you, so beware, and be wary.

Please don’t even think about getting her those Christmas-bundled specials all prettily wrapped at storefronts. They scream: “No effort” and “No thought.” Best to take time and consider what butters her bread. Here are affordable gift items that won’t break the bank and that she, hopefully, will swoon over.

For the jewelry and accessory fiend, consider these:

Cameo: Cameo is a method of carving an object, such as an engraved gem or item of jewelry, which always features a raised image. The most popular of these are cameo brooches and pendants carved out of shell. The antique ones from Italy, made centuries ago, are the best finds as the modern ones are not carved out of one piece of shell but rather, superimposed and glued on. Wearing a cameo at once transports the wearer to a bygone romantic era, when old-fashioned love stories unfolded at leisure. Visit Junjun Ablaza’s Ablaze jewelry shop at Market! Market! for these unique finds.

Charm or pendant: Nothing spells romance as much as a little velvet-lined box. It doesn’t have to bear a vulgarly priced piece of jewelry or a symbol of a lifetime commitment you are not ready to make. Pick out a dainty charm or pendant that she can attach to her chain or link bracelet. Tiffany at Rustan’s carries the most dreamy, breath-taking pieces. Watch her eyes sparkle as she opens that Tiffany blue box.

Clutch: Nothing completes a party outfit better than the perfect evening clutch. They are like pretty little treasures that hold a lady’s evening essentials: cell phone, powder, lip-gloss, perfume atomizer and breath mints. There are endless choices in shape, size and color, readily available in the malls. Check out the following stores for great clutches: Aldo, Adora, Arranaz at Power Plant, and Charles & Keith. The prettiest ones I’ve seen this season are from the Kotur brand. These are the clutches seen in the hands of current Hollywood A-listers Kirsten Stewart, Nicole Kidman and Kerry Washington among others. Her Name Is Lola, Inc. distributes Kotur clutches in Manila. Visit their Facebook page for details.

Cocktail rings: This is a statement piece for the minimalist. Women who manage to restrain themselves from over-accessorizing endlessly fascinate me. They wear outfits with simple if not stark lines and punctuate the minimalism with one dramatic accessory — the cocktail ring. Crystal manufacturers, Baccarat and Lalique have exquisite pieces that are very affordable. View them at Rustan’s Department Stores.

Cuff: Ladies are suckers for bling — the more blinding, the better. And how better to spruce up and sparkle for the holidays than to don a bejeweled wrist cuff. The most reasonably priced for the aesthetics and workmanship I’ve seen are those made by Angela Angeles. See her Angels’ Wings collection on her Facebook page. They are truly heavenly.

Drop earrings: Not your precious diamonds that cost an arm, a leg and half a brain, these earrings are made of semi-precious stones are as arresting and all about color for a fraction of the price. Visit Judy Jewels at Market! Market! and look for Nesty Serrano.

For the fashionista:

Little black dress: You can’t ever go wrong with this. The trick is to know her size and body type and pick out a silhouette that compliments her shape. Keep an eye on her preferences: length, cut, sleeves or no sleeves, daring or demure — in other words, do your homework. This is what it means to put thought and effort into picking out your present. Enlist the help of the store manager; she will know what’s best.

Ballet flats: What the French call balletines are every woman’s go-to shoes: comfortable and fashionable at the same time. One can walk in them all day and they go with any outfit under the sun. Picking them out is idiot-proof; you simply have to know her size and preferred color. Stick with the Repetto brand available at the Repetto store in Greenbelt 3. You could also go with the London Sole and Pretty Ballerina brands available at Adora in Greenbelt 5.

Makeup: This is candy for girly girls. Snatch up the holiday collections sets of brands like Chanel, Dior, Bobby Brown, Laura Mercier or MAC. If your lady is the whimsical or playful sort, go for the Benefit brand of cosmetics. All these are available at Rustan’s.

For more intimate options:

Lingerie: Again, this is the gift that keeps on giving back. Buy her a silk set with a matching robe either at La Senza or Natori. La Senza can be found at most malls and the Natori line is available at Rustan’s.

Santa Maria Novella potpourri: Don’t stop at lingerie. While you’re at it, snap up a box of this divine-smelling potpourri for her lingerie drawer. Santa Maria Novella is a line of soaps and scents from the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence, available at Rustan’s. 

Spa package: This is a gift that you can literally benefit from as well. Book a couples’ spa package and indulge yourselves with body scrubs, facials and massages at a couples’ room. Those that come with excellent reviews are the ones offered by The Spa, Chi Spa at Edsa Shangri-La and The Mandarin Hotel Spa.

Travel: Get airline tickets and hotel bookings for a trip anywhere — to the beach, to some exotic city, to some romantic hideaway. Put the tickets in an envelope, tie a ribbon around it and present it to her at Christmas.

For the sports fiend:

G-Shock watch. This watch needs no introduction. For 25 years G-Shock has been the ultimate tough watch. It provides durable, waterproof wear for every activity. The good news is it comes in all colors imaginable. Pick out a girlie color such as fuchsia, aqua or purple to offset the macho-ness that the watch embodies. This is perfect for the sports buff.

Sportswear: If you see the latest in women’s sportswear in the market today, you would spend an entire day at the store, thrilled at picking out sexy items for her sans the embarrassment of doing it at a lingerie store. Think sexy, but with muscle.

Bicycle and helmet: Introduce her to the pleasures of biking. Whether or not she is the athletic type, there is much fun to be had on two wheels, whether for leisure or hard-core workouts. Head over to any bike shop and they will now what’s best. Don’t forget the helmet.

For the nerd:

iPhone 5: No words.

MacBook Pro with Retina Display: One word: Amazing!

Personal office supplies: Muji carries the most functional home-office essentials. Check out their schedule calendar, notebooks, pens, foldable rulers, organizers, and pencil cases — the works. It’s a nerd’s wonderland.

Vanity Fair magazine subscription: This is for the fashionista who loves to read. This magazine is remarkable more for its feature articles than its fashion spreads. Worth every centavo.

If you are still clueless even after all this, you’re stuck with this one:

SSI Purple Card: Yes, this screams “impersonal, unimaginative and clueless.” But hey, better this than nothing at all. Store Specialists Incorporated’s Purple Card comes in denominations of P1,000 to P10,000 and may be used at the following stores: Zara, Gap, Nine West, Marks and Spencer, Armani Exchange, Banana Republic, Lacoste, Kate Spade, DKNY, Jimmy Choo, Kenneth Cole, Gucci, Prada and many others.

Cash: She will not hate you for giving cash. If she does, she’s pretending.

Happy shopping!