STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

crystal · Kate Spade

1st date on his bday... what do i do?

rocky · Coach

When I first started dating my SO, he invited me to his bday party, and we had only been like on one date. Only thing I could think of was bringing him a bottle of champagne and celebrating his bday with a toast. Maybe you could bring him something like that, his favorite alcohol, or maybe dessert even. Anything small but still a sweet thought.

sugar · Nine West

I'd just get him a card and offer to buy him a drink.

lynnie · Chanel

sugar wrote:

I'd just get him a card and offer to buy him a drink.

I agree- you barely know him so it would be weird to get him something IMO. I would just buy him a drink, take him out after for ice cream, etc.

Luv2Shop · Kate Spade

I think you can do something to seem thoughtful without seeming too into him on the 1st date.
Get him a gag gift maybe a funny birthday cup or glass he can get his drinks in all night, have the dj or bartender announce happy b-day to him from you, or a gift certificate to dinner and tell him it's for 2, hint hint, second date!!

mikacat · Coach

card

crystal · Kate Spade

Luv2Shop wrote:

or a gift certificate to dinner and tell him it's for 2, hint hint, second date!!

ooh, that's a good one! see that's the thing is i'm not afraid of scaring him off w/ a meaningful gift cuz i've known him so long & i know he's interested & i know i am & i feel like i owe it to him to get him something other than a generic card cuz it's not like he's a stranger, i just haven't really hung out w/ him since high school (we dated for a few days but mainly were good friends) so i don't know what he's into... well, i do actually know he's into flying, bicycling, his car, etc. but none of that really translates into a good gift. i think so far the gift cert. is the best idea... shows that i cared enough to get him something AND that i want to see him again! perfect! thanks girls for the ideas... keep em coming!!

blubirde · Chanel

I always go for the bottle of wine and a card that says "maybe we can share this at a later date" or something. It's better than a card and it shows you want to see them again but it's generic enough that most people like it. Plus it says I like you enough to buy you a decent bottle of wine (never over $30) but I don't know you well enough to presume your tastes, etc.

And I always think in hindsight - will I be embarassed about this gift in the future? A bottle of wine? Never. An autographed cd or something? Probably. But I'm a weirdo like that.

crystal · Kate Spade

blubirde wrote:

I always go for the bottle of wine and a card that says "maybe we can share this at a later date" or something. It's better than a card and it shows you want to see them again but it's generic enough that most people like it. Plus it says I like you enough to buy you a decent bottle of wine (never over $30) but I don't know you well enough to presume your tastes, etc. And I always think in hindsight - will I be embarassed about this gift in the future? A bottle of wine? Never. An autographed cd or something? Probably. But I'm a weirdo like that.

haha, thanks girl... and ya, u r kinda a weirdo, but the bottle of wine is a great idea too! i'm so not a wine person tho... what do i get? red, white, blue??? what r some good "brands"? i know my jeans, but i have no clue when it comes to wine!

lsubatgirl · Gucci

crystal wrote:

but the bottle of wine is a great idea too! i'm so not a wine person tho... what do i get? red, white, blue??? what r some good "brands"? i know my jeans, but i have no clue when it comes to wine!

I'm not all that good either with it and if you aren't a wine drinker then you might want to buy a bottle to try first. I think guys typically like red wines. I like white wine - any pinot grigio (sp?) is good for me. I got a really good bottle at Whole Foods but its at the bf's house right now. If you have a day or two I can have him look at the label and post it tonight for you.

I was watching Rachael Ray yesterday and she was suggesting people try pinot noir when starting to try out different red wines. that is an idea.

crystal · Kate Spade

lsubatgirl wrote:

If you have a day or two I can have him look at the label and post it tonight for you. I was watching Rachael Ray yesterday and she was suggesting people try pinot noir when starting to try out different red wines. that is an idea.

thanks LSU! that would be great... i will be seeing him friday so that's plenty of time!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

lsubatgirl- i agree, in my experience, guys like reds.

Pinot Noirs are a lighter, red wine, perfect for summer. it's my favorite kind of wine too!!! i'm not an expertise on wine, but i've tried a good amount, and some pricer bottles. i really like Keegan pinot noir. i also like Pinot Noirs harvested in the Russian River Valley. don't sweat it crystal, just go to a wine store, look for a bottle around the $20-$30, and if you still feel lost, ask for help. i do it all the time. just say, "i'm looking for a pinot noir, russian river valley (or whatever), and i would like to spend $20-$30."

that's how the bf and i have come across some really good wines, some of our favorites.

another gift i've given is Trentadue Chocolate Amore dessert wine. I've given that along with a promise of dessert at my favorite BYOB (or you can invite him for dessert at your place). just an FYI, dessert wines usually have a higher alcohol content, so if he's the kind of guy that you would want to get drunk and take advantage of....

good luck crystal. i think wine is the perfect gift.

lynnie · Chanel

My favorite red wine is Sangiovese- I'm not even sure what it is! I had a bottle at a restaurant that was SOOOO good- it was about $25 so maybe it would be like $18 at a wine store? Maybe I can walk past the bar today and post the brand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangiovese

For dessert white wines, I really like Sauternes- I tried it in France but they sell it here for around $18 a bottle too. It is really sweet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauternes

I know very little about wine, but those are two I know I like!

blubirde · Chanel

omg, crystal, I could talk about wines forevah!

Here's what I'm really digging right now: chilean pinot noirs - not sure entirely why they're so tasty but they are GOOD! just go to your local whole foods or central market (or grapevine, where you go to buy wine) and ask the "winey" there and they will give you some good suggestions. I always buy under $10 bottles so when I have to get something nicer I ask for advice and tips.

BV also makes a really great pinot noir - you should check out the winery sometime since you live in cali

I'm also seriously loving Budini's (Argentinian) Malbec - so freaking good! I just had a bottle Tuesday (not by myself obviously) and it was superb. Of course, all of those are under or around $10 so I'd still suggest asking a wine person at the store.

I forgot to say this earlier but I'd go for a pinot noir, too. It's a lighter red wine and, as a wine drinker, is more impressive to receive than a bottle of white or a cab-sauv. I personally love shiraz but I'm a serious wine drinker and not everyone likes to taste of it. Pinot noirs are a great starting point.