Congratulations– you made it past the Holiday frenzy! In November, you do the whole Thanksgiving thing. Thanksgiving means spending time with your beloved family and friends, but also includes seeing those random relatives that are somehow always charged up and ready to debate politics at the drop of a hat. Thanksgiving also means having to roast a turkey so it’s cooked thoroughly (you don’t want to give your whole family food poisoning), but also not overcooking it so it’s still juicy and tender. It’s a holiday that is definitely a juggling act at times. But less than two weeks later, December comes and you get bombarded with Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanza overload. Suddenly Thanksgiving looks easy as pie (haha–get it?!). The entire month of December you spend baking cookies for your kids’ teachers, attending your in-laws awkward holiday gatherings, and shelling out hard-earned money to buy gifts for everyone. It’s no wonder that at the end of December, you are exhausted and focused on recharging. But fella, I’m here to remind you that Valentine’s Day is February 14th and will be here before you know it. Here’s a Gentleman’s Guide to Valentine’s Day.

Don’t Forget Valentine’s Day

Rule #1 of Valentine’s Day is not forgetting it! Mark your calendars, set an alert on your iPhone— whatever it takes! You don’t want to be the guy who realizes on February 15th that he forgot. If you have a special someone in your life, they are going to feel like you don’t care about them. By just remembering Valentine’s Day, you have already won half the battle.

Plan Something Special

If you have a special someone in your life, plan something special! Whisk them away to a nice little wining and dining at Parc Restaurant (don’t forget to make a reservation on OpenTable), take them ice skating at City Hall’s Dilworth Park (The Rothman Orthopedic Skating Rink is open until the end of February and is offering a Free in February deal), or catch a showing of a cheesy rom com at the Ritz!

Gift Something Special

Depending on how serious your Valentine is, you might want to also get a nice gift for them. Jewelry, chocolates, flowers, and stuffed animals are some Valentine’s Day staples.

Dress Up

My last piece of advice in this Gentleman’s Guide to Valentine’s Day is to freshen up your look a little. I mean you don’t have to go crazy, but putting in a little effort goes a long way. Especially if your special someone likes to get spruced up and puts in the whole nine yards, you don’t want to look like a slob next to her or him.

Our team of Image Consultants at Henry A. Davidsen can help you nail your look for Valentine’s Day. We can create apparel that is custom made for your body and your Valentine’s Day plans! And for the fellows who don’t have a special someone in their life at the moment, we can create a power suit for your bachelor lifestyle. Plan ahead though since custom perfection can’t be expected overnight.