Chick Wit: Gift angst keeps on giving

It’s my first Christmas with my boyfriend, and choosing a gift for him is impossible. We’ve all heard the lament, what do you get the man who has everything? Well, my boyfriend is the man who needs everything.

He’s a musician and travels frequently. He’d be happy with his guitar and whatever clothes fit in a backpack. He doesn’t think much of material possessions.

Doesn’t he know the true meaning of Christmas?

I’ve heard him say he needs basics, like T-shirts, but if I get him a pack of Hanes, I’ll feel like his mom.

And while a man can give a woman lingerie, I can’t bring myself to present my boyfriend with “manties.”

I could splurge and get him some designer shirt, but that’s not his thing. He’s stylish, but not flashy. I actually like how he dresses. I don’t want to change him.

Don’t I know the true meaning of a relationship?

My girlfriends are easy to shop for because I can get them accessories – costume jewelry, a clutch purse, a hair straightener, the latest wonder mascara. We girls love accoutrements.

My boyfriend doesn’t even wear a watch, and he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing man-jewelry.

Sorry, Mother Mary, he’s not Italian.

A friend suggested I get him nice shaving cream, but my boyfriend doesn’t shave. His scruff ranges from grizzled to Gorton’s Fisherman.

Overpriced bath and body products are a nice girlfriendy gift, but I think they’d be lost on my boyfriend. He’s more of a Shampoo + Conditioner in One type. One time he was showering at my place and called out, “Is it OK if I use this Kiehl’s shampoo? I don’t want to use your nice stuff.”

Except that the Kiehl’s is dog shampoo. Pip comes before everyone. I buy my shampoo at CVS.

I tried looking online for inspiration, but that was a bust. I used to envy the “Gifts for Him” tab on websites when I had no Him. But now that I do, it turns out those gift lists don’t suit Him at all – my boyfriend, I mean.

They probably don’t suit Him either, but that’s only because He is the true meaning of Christmas.

For example, Brookstone recommends wireless TV headphones with a picture of a woman asleep on her man’s chest while he looks past her and watches television.

This holiday season, tell your loved one, “I know we’re over each other, just keep the volume down.”

The Sharper Image suggests an electric nose and ear hair trimmer.

I don’t think we’re “there” yet.

A site called ThinkGeek.com, which advertises gifts for “Smart Masses,” features a hammer with a bottle opener on the back – because drinking while wielding heavy tools is a really “smart” idea.

The stakes are higher when choosing a gift for a significant other than for a friend. A gift for a friend needs only to say: I thought you might like this. A gift for a boyfriend needs to say: I get you.

And if I get you the wrong gift, I don’t get you.

In my case, my boyfriend is so nice, if I got him something he didn’t like, he’d probably pretend to like it, which is even worse.

No faking.

We’ve been together long enough that we’re comfortable, but not so long that we’re done trying to impress each other. I still get dolled up to see him.

He has about another six months on that.

So I just want to give him a gift that is fun and cool, maybe a little sexy, but something useful, with a clever twist. I want to give him something that he wants now and that he’ll cherish for a long time.

Wait, are we still talking about gifts?

 

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Look for Francesca and Lisa’s new collection of humor essays, “Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim,” in stores now. You can write to Francesca at Francesca@francescaserritella.com.

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Wearing slippers to the theater, lingerie to the cinema – News VietNamNet

VietNamNet Bridge – This like-fabrication fact happens very often in Vietnam, which unfortunately is made by “famous” people.

 Model causes scandal at Hanoi Int’l Film Fest
Ministry issues draconian warning on ‘scandalous’ behaviour

Model Hong Que in the controversial dress.

The scandal made by a young model named Hong Que on the red carpet of the opening ceremony of the 2nd Hanoi International Film Festival in late November, is the latest scandal made by “celebrities” in Vietnam.

The film festival organizers might have forgot to make requirements of the outfits on its invitation letters to the opening ceremony (most of cultural and entertainment events in Vietnam are the same.) Perhaps the organizers simply thought that it is redundant to ask or guests to wear charming costumes to such a formal event.

However, for unwanted visitors who always try to take advantage of events to show off themselves as the above model did, even if the organizers set standards on the outfits, they would have been meaningless.

Attending an international film festival in Vietnam, foreign guests would want to see what is the most traditional and cultural identity, which is firstly reflected through the dress on the red carpet. However, the ao dai was selected by a few artists.

Actress Kim Hien in the ao dai.

In addition to the People’s Artist Nhu Quynh, who was always faithful to the traditional dress, only several Vietnamese actresses wore the ao dai at the festival, including People’s Artist Lan huong, young director Hoang Diep and actress Kim Hien.

While many Vietnamese female artists chose flashy and revealing dresses, the appearance of an Iranian actress – Taraneh Alidoosti, a member of the feature film jury, caught the eyes in a different way.

She always wore a headgear and discreet costumes. She absolutely did not use any trick to attract attention or “gnash her teeth” to suffer the cold in scanty dresses like many Vietnamese actresses, but Taraneh Alidoosti still looked beautiful and sexy.

Looking to China, actress Fan Bingbing always looked impressive at international film festivals, especially the Cannes Film Festival, with her traditional and Asian-styled outfits.

At the last Cannes Film Festival, she chose a long dress with the patterns on ceramic items of the Ming-Qing dynasties. Her jewelry and hair style were also very traditional. Her origin was revealed through her costumes.

Certainly, behind Bingbing is a team of stylists and well-known designers, but she herself was the one who decided what to wear.

Back to the Hanoi International Film Festival… It is believed male artists have no choice other than a tuxedo suit to big events, but it was not true.

Iranian actress Taraneh Alidoosti

At the closing ceremony of the festival, many people were surprised to see actor-director Vo Hoai Nam appearing in a cap.

Unfortunately, this type of dress is very common in Vietnam. Choosing the right outfit for events seems to be difficult for even those who are famous.

It is the personal right to choose what to wear but at big events, and for celebrities, their style has an influence on the public so they should be careful.

Two months ago, many guests who were invited to attend the launch of the America animated movie “Frankenweenie” (including many children) in Hanoi, were shocked when a quite-famous television host appeared in an odd outfit, with a dog.

A little girl asked her mother: “What kind of clothes does she wear, mum?” Other guests were also fed up with her costume, which looked like a sleepwear.

Actor-director Vo Hoai Nam in a cap

Showing personality in dress is good but the outfit must be suitable to the event and show the wearer’s respect to others.

Excluding Pop, Rock or Jazz shows, where the audience can dress comfortably, even at classical concerts, which imply stricter regulations on the costume, one can also see inappropriate outfits.  

Wearing slippers, shorts and T-shirt to the theater is no longer “strange.” Some people are also impolite to not turn off their cell phones during concerts.

All of these are no longer “poor aesthetics” but “poorly uncivilized”.

Hoang Vy

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