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Sunday, February 02, 2003

By LaMont Jones, Post-Gazette Fashion Editor

Giving the right Valentine's Day gift is a function of both the heart and the head. It requires love, but also some thought and planning.

The "right" gift is right only in that it is selected and presented with the intent of pleasing the recipient. Thus, there can be more than one gift that will say, "I love you" or "Be mine."

Although there are no rules, there are some simple guidelines for when you make gift choices.

Men, don't buy her cookware, housekeeping items or things you'd use more than she would. Examples: Cast-iron skillets, vacuum cleaners and Sony PlayStations.

Women, don't buy him tools or lawn-care or outdoor equipment. Examples: Ratchet sets and snow-blowers.

If you trust economic forecasts -- yes, we know they can be as unreliable as weather predictions -- the gift-giving for Feb. 14, like this past Christmas, is likely to lean toward the traditional side.

Like a wedding (we're talking to you now, male readers), Valentine's Day is pretty much all about her, so gifts for women will be our focus. For female readers, we offer a few gift ideas for him.

Flowers, chocolate, fragrance and jewelry rank among the traditional gifts for women on Valentine's Day. But aim to give the tried and true an unexpected new twist.

A dozen roses, a large house plant or a bouquet of fresh flowers is nice. But so is a chic red vase containing bamboo stalks planted in a bed of smooth black river stones ($48, http://redenvelope.com). Bamboo is low-maintenance and in some Asian cultures, it is believed to bring happiness, health and wealth.

A box of assorted chocolates is a sweet treat. But so are Godiva's array of rich, tantalizing truffles in a rose-patterned, velvet and satin keepsake box ($42 at Monroeville and Ross Park malls and Pittsburgh International Airport). The Chocolate Moose (732 Filbert St., Shadyside) stocks those decadent Belgian truffles that have celebrities on waiting lists in Beverly Hills.

A sensational fragrance can remind her of you every time she wears it. One of her favorites, or a classic in the same family, is nice. But you can make yourself unforgettable with a hit with an occasion-appropriate name such as Joy, Romance, Sentiment, Angel, Baby Doll or Happy Heart, Clinique's fresh new variation on Happy with notes of cucumber, wild carrot flower, sandalwood and mountain air ($36.50 at Kaufmann's, Lazarus, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and Pittsburgh International Airport).

A charm bracelet or locket may be warmly received. But what could be more timely than a special timepiece? Among stylish new luxury designs are Baume & Mercier's Hampton Spirit wide-face styles with alligator straps ($2,350 at Orr's, 5857 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill), Christian Dior's Riva Sparkling sporty luxury model with diamonds ($3,195 at dior.com) and Bulgari's Diagano wristwatch in brushed 18-karat white or yellow gold with a red crocodile band ($6,200 to $9,300 at Saks and Hardy & Hayes, One Oxford Centre, Downtown).

Gold is the precious metal of the moment, and there's a treasure trove of beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other accessories at local jewelry and department stores and online destinations such as goldavenue.com.

Because their lives are often so busy and stressful, most women would welcome a pampering gift. Treat that special one to a trip to a spa or, if your budget is smaller, shower her with indulgent products she can use in the privacy of home.

Quality and affordable bath and body products are available everywhere you turn, such as the Elixir of Love No. 1 Gift Set (Caswell-Massey, Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown); True Blue Spa Marvelous Manicure and Perfect Pedicure sets (Bath & Body Works); Love Stuff peppermint-citrus soaps, bath salts and massage oils (http://www.indigowild.com); and Sunshine Spa's Organic Brown Sugar Scrub and herbal bath and body oils (various health food stores).

If you want to venture off the beaten path for gifts for guys, go for something fun or practical. Think high-tech toys and useful gadgets.

One of the most popular electronic items on the market is Casio's EX-S2 digital camera, which stores 110 pictures and, at the size of a credit card, is the smallest digital camera in the world ($299 at Sharper Image, William Penn Place, Downtown).

The executive type might appreciate a stylish new leather attache or a sleek pen set. For the Dapper Dan, consider a gift certificate to his favorite clothing store. If he's happy-go-lucky, Old Navy, GapBody and Avon have whimsical boxer shorts with kissing hearts, little devils and striped motifs ($5.50-$16.50).

If he's really into looking good, he might like a L'Occitane shave set ($42 at Weisshouse, 5511 Walnut St., Shadyside) or the "Love His Skin" set by Anthony Logistics for Men ($43 at anthony.com).

Is he a traveler? Take him on a romantic excursion to a local hotel. Some offer special Valentine's deals. The Hyatt Regency at the airport, for example, is offering a package that includes dinner at its Olive Press restaurant, a champagne toast and a one-bedroom suite overnight ($271 per couple).

If you're approaching Valentine's Day with dread, you have the wrong attitude. Consider it another opportunity to let your sweetheart, or even just a friend or acquaintance, know that he or she matters beyond birthdays and the year-end holidays.