The things that guys may not have, but definitely need to own.
Packages
...of socks! A package of White socks, black socks, underwear, and undershirts in the closet My mother used to say that it was more important to pack too many pairs of socks and underwear than outfits. This is true for so many reasons. The most obvious is that a guy can wear the same pair of jeans or shorts 3 days, but it's possible to change boxers and socks 2-3 times per day. Also, you never know when life will kick your ass and the simple things like washing the clothes just don't happen.
10 Movies that Girls Love
We all know that guys like to use the term “watch a movie” as code for getting a girl to come over to mess around. Some girls get it, but some don't. It's best to be prepared either way. So spend a little of your hard earned scratch and femme-up your movie collection. I'll get you started: Pretty Woman, Sixteen Candles, and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Even if watching them is as enjoyable as hearing cats mating at 4am, learn to love the predictable plots and romantic clichés.
Wine
When it comes to dating, it is possible that eventually a woman might end up at your place. Some women like beer, others like mixed drinks, but almost all of them can enjoy a nice glass of wine. This is where having a bit of a selection will be beneficial. Some girls like white wines, some like reds, and if you're lucky - maybe you'll bring home a white zin girl. Regardless, it's always handy to have wine on hand. Who knows? It may help ease the transition from watching a movie to “watching a movie”.
Here's a cheat sheet:
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Frog's Leap Chardonnay
Beringer White Zinfandel
Martin Scorsese Cabernet
Kendall Jackson Reserve Merlot
All of these are relatively easy to find, moderately priced, and palatable. They will also allow you to determine what you enjoy and give you a jumping off point for further exploration.
French Cuff Shirts and Cufflinks
Some guys can look good wearing a bath robe and pajamas to everything, but we can't all be Hugh Hefner. For the rest of us, we generally have to put some effort into our appearance. This doesn't mean to wear a suit everywhere. That says something totally different. Considering that there are many ways to dress up casual clothes, the best way is with a simple button-down shirt with French cuffs and cufflinks. The simpler, the better. The key is to remember that subtle accents rarely go unnoticed by women.
Belts Matching EVERY Pair of Leather Shoes
This should go without saying, but not everybody has received the memo. DON'T WEAR BLACK SHOES WITH A BROWN BELT or vice versa. This will make a guy stand out in the worst of ways. If you're going to branch out and buy some blue leather shoes, find a matching belt. If you can't find a matching belt, don't buy the shoes. It's one thing if you are going to see a punk band at a club and you want to break loose, but how often do you *really* do that? I'd be willing to bet that it's less than 10% of the time for 90% of the guys out there. Stick to the rule of matching the belt to the shoes, and the rest of your fashion sense should fall into place.
Feminine Bath Products
Never miss an opportunity to make a great impression with a woman whether it is in a public or a private setting. Most guys wouldn't think that having a nice body wash or soaps in a nice vanilla or lavender scent would be all that impressive. That's because most guys will wash their face, body, hair, and feet with the same bar of soap that their fathers used to use. They also don't place smelling or feeling clean as high on their list of priorities as women do. Keep in mind that when a woman is clean and smells fresh, it gives you another opportunity to let her know it.
A Urinal in the Garage
While this is aimed at the guys that own homes, it's something of a seed that all guys need to plant in their subconscious. Regardless of the narrowing of the gap in how each of the sexes are perceived, there are certain areas of a house that will always be for the “man” and the “woman” in the relationship. Here's a tip, the living room and bathroom that guests will see and spend the most time in are for women. The backyard and garage are the men's. The last thing a wife/girlfriend wants to see is her sweaty, grassy husband/boyfriend using the restroom closest to the garage. And they definitely don't want to hear from the neighbor that you were seen pissing on the side of the house. Spend the money, and put a urinal in the garage. It will save a lot of arguments and that's always a good thing.
A To-Do List
We can't always get what we want in life, that's a given. At the same time, it's easy to forget what we want out of life. We all had a dream of doing something awesome with our lives and for a lot of us, our everyday life squashed that. That doesn't have to be the case. That's why a To-Do list is so important. If you want to learn to play guitar, make a list of what you'd need to do it. If you want to visit every continent at some point in your life, write it down. Keep your list in a place that you can see it regularly. Also, update it. If you don't want to be an astronaut anymore, cross it off and add something that you want. Also, share your list with your friends. They are a big part of your support system and they will want to help you reach your goals. Maybe it's for purely altruistic reasons, maybe it's so you will reciprocate. Either way, you're crossing things off of your list.
A Hobby that None of Their Other Friends Enjoy
I fell into this rut a few years back. I played weekend soccer with a couple of guys from the office and I played golf with a couple of others. This meant that when I wasn't at work, I was hanging around people from work. It also meant that I wasn't branching out and meeting new people. If you find yourself in a similar situation, the best thing you can do is try something new that nobody else you know likes to do. Look at it this way, you'll either find something new that you enjoy and meet new people in the process, or you'll find something that you don't like and it won't matter either way. There are two things that all humans should never do: stop learning and stop meeting new people. Both give you an opportunity to find out more about yourself.
