That sneaky little Cupid has sprung the lovey-dovey holiday upon us once again, and what can I say? The pink and red heart candies I’ve been gobbling this week (cough*the last two weeks*cough) must have me in a romantic mood.

…Or maybe that’s just a sugar high?

Either way, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate all the style moves you guys have got that I absolutely flip for. A love letter, if you will, to stylish men, on behalf of the women who love them.

Helping to illustrate? YOU, my well-dressed readers of course. A few #OOTW honorable mentions, below:

 I LOVE WHEN YOU…DRESS UP

{Reader Brandon’s got the suit AND the girl! Coincidence? I think not…}

If you’re a jeans and sneakers kind of guy, think about how much I’ll sit up and take notice when you trade in your casual wear, swapping in khakis for your old beat-up jeans. Oxfords for those dirty gym shoes. Adding a sportcoat. Maybe even a tie. Or – wait for it – even a full-blown suit. Think about how much you love when a woman goes all out for a big date; well, we women feel the same way when you make the effort for us.

 I LOVE WHEN YOU…WEAR COLOR

{Reader Phil got the memo on my love of colored pants}

Guys are too often afraid to rock a bold hue. Which is exactly why it shows so much confidence. It sounds cliché by this point, but a man who’s not afraid to wear pink (or green, or purple, or red…) is – to me – a real man.

 I LOVE WHEN YOU…ASK MY OPINION

“Hey dear, should I wear this grey blazer or the navy one?” Looking for my input makes me feel good, and lets me know you want to dress to impress your number one audience member – namely, me.

 I LOVE WHEN YOU…TELL ME YOU’RE WEARING SOMETHING BECAUSE OF ME

{Reader Simon getting down with layers}

Because I write about guys’ style for a living, a lot of my male friends and relatives make a point to up their game when they know they’ll see me. Even better? They tell me so. It makes me feel great when I know a guy put thought into his outfit because he knew he’d see me – not just as a style writer but as a woman who loves to see a well-dressed man.

 I LOVE WHEN YOU…COMPLIMENT WHAT I’M WEARING

{What, this ol’ thing?}

Not how I look (though if you want to tell me I look fantastic, do that too!), but picking out a detail and highlighting what you like about it. “Honey, that necklace is really pretty.” “Babe, your hair looks really shiny.” “Wow, those heels are…wow.” Use details and I know you really mean it.

Tell me:

What’s the best valentine sentiment you ever received?

The post From Style Girlfriend, With Love appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

{image: etsy}

…Ha, jk. That’s totally not a thing.

But it IS the right time to start thinking about what you’re getting your lady this Thursday. Yes, it’s totally cool if you’re only just now starting to think about it.

Below, my do’s and don’ts for playing this game we call love:

DO surprise her.

Why not send the special lady in your life flowers today? Or better, today, on Thursday, and again next Wednesday? They don’t have to be roses – better if they’re not, actually, since they’re a bit, well, obvious this time of year. If you know her favorite flower then double points to you. There’s something nice about showing your girl you’re not confined to appreciating her on days appointed by the drugstore greeting card aisle.

Oh, and pro tip? You can buy a really – like, really – nice bouquet of flowers at your local grocery store. Pay your buddy five bucks to deliver them to your lady’s office, and you’ll save yourself a nice bit of cheddar.

DO write a note.

{technique’s a little iffy, but the sentiment is spot-on}

I’m not saying you need to make this year’s Valentine’s Day greeting card yourself (though, bonus points if you do, and it doesn’t even have to look that nice for her to love it), but you absolutely need to write a personal message on the inside of the card. If you’re going the Hallmark route, I suggest funny card = romantic note. Or vice versa. (But preferably the former.)

DO get mushy.

What to put in the card?

Literally, every single thing you can think of that you love (or, depending on the timeline of the relationship, like) about her.

The way her breath miraculously doesn’t smell in the morning. That purple dress she wears that’s like, boom-boom-BAM. Her endearing inability to chop onions. Whatever. Just tell her.

DON’T be practical.

{Diptyque ‘Baies’ candle, $60}

Valentine’s Day is not the holiday for a present she can use. Really. Get her something totally ridiculous, or totally luxe. My favorite candles in the world are from Diptyque, and they’re…well, they’re not cheap for candles. One of these, and I’d be a happy girl.

DO one-up her.

Agree ahead of time “not to make Valentine’s Day a big deal” or whatever level of expectation you set, but then go, like, 10% nicer than you agreed on.

Let’s be honest, this day is for her, not for you, so one-up her this time and she’ll be grateful, not annoyed.

DON’T go out to dinner.

{Overpriced prix-fixe meal? No thank you}

Valentine’s Day is the worst for dining out. You know all those chefs are phoning it in, treating you like a tourist who’s bound never to return again, or at least, not till next year. And besides, it’s so cliche. Valentine’s Day at Le Whatever or whatever the fancy “romantic” restaurant is in town? You can do better.

DO keep treating her just as well tomorrow as you do today.

Duh.

Tell me (so long as your wife or girlfriend doesn’t read SG):

What do you have up your sleeve for V-Day?

The post Valentine’s Day Do’s and Don’t's appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Each week, Intern Gabi takes the reins, giving the female college student’s perspective on guys’ style. Thankfully, her advice is good for guys of ALL ages. So fellas, listen up:

GUYS, I know you probably hate this holiday (since you made up your own version of it a month later called, ugh, “Steak and BJ Day“) but I want to let you in on a little secret – most girls aren’t all that fond of it either. It’s a lot harder to buy a present for a guy when everything on the shelves is pink and covered in hearts. But when we don’t have you we have to buy ourselves all that chocolate and, well, we tend to go a little overboard.

That’s why today, I’m going try to help you help her fall in love with you AND the holiday all over again with this Valentine’s Day wish list.

You could take the safe road and buy chocolates, flowers or stuffed animals – and yes, any girl would appreciate the effort – but it says a lot more about you as a man and about our relationship if you put a little more thought into a gift. Buying a bouquet of my favorite flower is thoughtful, but buying me something that I know that you wouldn’t have bought for a past girlfriend says that you’re thinking of ME, and not the idea of me.

I know my likes are very niche, so I polled a few of my lady friends for ideas about how they wish their significant other would show the love this year.

My roommate said it best:

“I want something that I can remember instead of have.”

Here are some future memory makers:

Clockwise from top left: A Class; Music; A Trip; Perfume; Jewelry

A TRIP

If your girl is into outdoor activities, plan a biking/camping/exploring trip. Put together a visually stimulating itinerary and present it to her on Valentine’s Day, and save the actual event for a long weekend in nicer weather. You can celebrate with s’mores in the microwave and ambient campfire noise.

PERFUME

Perfume is something I won’t buy myself, which automatically makes it a great gift. I can never commit to one, and most of them just seem overpriced. If you buy it for me I’ll assume you like the smell, so I’ll wear it all the time.

Before you commit to a scent, you should do some research: A) make sure I’ll like it and B) make sure you like it. The sales reps will be eager to help you with your personal and useful V-day gift if you can give them some information. The best way to figure out what kind of scent to get her is to look at her other beauty products clogging up her bathroom sink. Does she have a lot of vanilla flavored things? She’ll probably like something with a note of vanilla. Lotion that’s scented with eucalyptus? Go for a scent that’s a little more earthy. Perfume is an indulgent, feminine thing that she’ll be able to put on everyday, and every time she does she’ll think of you.

A CLASS

There are a lot of things that I like but don’t know how to do, like making sushi and kickboxing. Find something that you would want to learn about as well, and sign us up for a class! We can learn together and get some inside jokes out of it, if no actual new skills. Sites like Groupon and Living Social usually have deals on this kind of activity, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one that interests you and your girl.

MUSIC

I’m totally dated and want a record for the record player from my Holiday Wish List, BUT I guess you could just burn her a playlist from iTunes onto a USB? The medium in which you present it is not the point. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in saying that I relate certain songs to certain people. Giving someone music gives you the ability to choose the songs they relate to you.

You don’t have to be remembered as “the guy I was seeing when I went through my Ke$ha phase,” {SG note: Hmm, I’m still in my Ke$ha phase…} so don’t settle for that! Mixed tapes are cliché in the best way because they are inherently personalized. Burn a playlist of some songs that you think she’ll like or even introduce her to a new artist in her favorite genre.

Want to go the extra mile? Surprise her a week later with tickets to a concert featuring a band or artist on the mixtape.

JEWELRY

If you do want to take a more traditional route, jewelry is always a safe bet, BUT! Don’t buy her something that’s so *obviously* Valentine’s Day, like an infinity heart necklace {SG note: PREACH Gabi! And let’s put a moratorium on those Tiffany’s charm bracelets while we’re at it..}.

If your girl is trendy, look for an interesting piece, maybe in an unconventional shape or a strange material, and if your girl is classic try something dainty.

Don’t know where to start?

Check out a-thread, where you lucky Style Girlfriend readers can get 15% off in the Valentine’s shop until February 14th using discount code StyleGirlfriend15.

(I recommend ordering by Feb 8th so that you know it will get there in time.)

Tell Me:

What was the best Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever given or received? How do you make Valentine’s Day special?

The post Valentine’s Day Wish List: What to Get For Her appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Have you ever heard of Sharp Magazine? Me neither til last week. Apparently it’s the GQ of Canada (unless, of course, GQ is the GQ of Canada, but I’m just relaying the information I was told). Anyhow. They asked me to pull together a “chivalrous” look for a guy on Valentine’s Day, so of course I recommended the male Canuck population suit up for their significant others.

And really, any time I can share screen space with a tarantula scaling a tank watch, I’m a happy girl.

So take a look at all the advice. Guys, you still have twenty-four whole hours to get your act together for the day (if you’re not set already).

The post Your Style Girlfriend: Conquering Canada appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Hey, that’s me!

Style Owner featured me and my mug in this week’s “Fashion Friday” email.

The user-curated, online boutique site asked me for all my Valentine’s Day picks for both the fellas and the ladies.

As if I needed an excuse to go window shopping for presents.

See the full gift guides here.

The post Style Girlfriend on Style Owner appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, whether you like it or not. And let’s be honest, guys, most of you don’t. V-Day brings with it some serious pressure for you to go all Ryan Gosling on your girl, building her a house   with your bare hands or dropping a million roses from the sky or some such unrealistic romantic gesture, and that can be scary. I get it.

As a female who prides herself on being pretty reasonable 364 days a year, I thought I’d pull back the curtain just a little bit on why the holiday matters, what we expect from you, and a few shortcuts to getting that “Perfect Boyfriend” first prize ribbon. As a disclaimer, I’m not promising that any of this advice makes logical sense, but this is Valentine’s Day and logic is out the window, so just go with it… (MORE)

The post GUYISM: Valentine’s Day Decoded appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

I’ve found myself on both sides of the day’s fortunes – mushy in love and Les Miserables-style On My Own. What I’ve learned through the years is that the cliché gifts that get a groan when mentioned – flowers, chocolate and the like – have gotten a bad rap. The success or failure of these standards, long synonymous with unimaginative gift-giving, is all in the execution. Below, how to outsmart Cupid and make standard tokens of affection feel anything but. 

FLOWERS 
 

Teleflora “Brights” bouquet ($54)

Long-stemmed red roses are to Valentine’s Day as Mel Gibson is to action thrillers. No longer relevant.
 
Update your floral gift-giving with a more modern bouquet. Bonus points if you know your lady love’s favorite flowers, but if not, what about her favorite color? Anything to give the florist a jumping off point to work with.
 
These days, bigger is not better when it comes to flowers. Skip the waist-high bouquets in favor of tightly-packed buds in a short vase. Have the arrangement delivered to her work to give her the added satisfaction of showing off how great her guy is to all her co-workers.
 
Oh, and include carnations at your own risk.

JEWELRY

Jess LC Braille “I Love You” Necklace ($58)

I’m all for jewelry – a well-chosen token will be cherished long after it’s given. But remember, if you’re not planning to pop the question this Valentine’s Day, avoid presenting your sweetheart with a ring-sized box. That means no elegant stud earrings (yes, even if they’re diamonds) or a bauble that goes on any finger other than the one next to the pinkie. Have I scared you enough? Good, then here’s some help – a necklace delicate enough to be worn every day is always a crowd-pleaser.

LINGERIE 

 Eberjay Bluebird Isabella bralette & culottes ($32, $20) ((also, you’re welcome))
 
Listen closely: step away from the Victoria’s Secret catalogue.
 
Despite what the card may say, a gift of lingerie is always in danger of telegraphing, “This is a gift for me, not you.” The trick is to go for “lovely,” not “sexy.” Trust me, if she feels beautiful (as opposed to trashy) sexy will come naturally. Also, your first inclination may be to go with an a padded push-up and a flimsy bottoms, but consider a pretty bralette and boy short in lace. This set from Eberjay will set her heart aflutter and yours racing.
 
So skip the red, the leopard-print, and especially, the mall brands.
 
CHOCOLATE

Marie Belle Hot Chocolate Tins ($42)

I’m not a huge chocolate fan, but I am a sucker for beautifully boxed foodstuffs. Like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, I’ll break into song for brown paper packages wrapped up in string.
 
Shun the drugstore heart-shaped box of boring milk chocolate in favor of a pretty package containing tasty contents. And you don’t even have to wrap it. I like Marie Belle for upscale chocolate in fancy boxes. They make amazing ganache (I’ve been told), but I’m all about their hot chocolate and the lovely tins they come in. The best part, she’ll think about how sweet you are every time she makes herself a cup.

DINNER
 

(via realsimple)

Please, please don’t go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. Even the best restaurants will be running an overpriced prix-fixe with a choice of salmon that’s been sitting under heat lamps, ribeye that’s been sitting under heat lamps or pasta that’s been sitting under heat lamps. No thanks. Instead, step into the kitchen and cook your specialty. Set the table with the best dishes you own and lots of candles. Use cloth napkins if you’ve got ‘em.
 
Don’t have a specialty? Try this easy recipe for a can’t-miss win.
 
If she really wants to get out of the house, after dinner head to the nicest restaurant in town – you know, the one you drive by thinking, “Someday…” – and share a romantic dessert at the bar.
 
 
Now you’re all set for your most stylish Valentine’s Day ever.

The post The Style Girlfriend Guide to: Valentine’s Day without the Cliché appeared first on Style Girlfriend.

Guys, I’d like to think this goes without saying, but please, please don’t get your girl anything from drugstore.com for Valentine’s Day.

That’s all. Go about your business.

The post At the top of my inbox this morning appeared first on Style Girlfriend.