KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — It’s often said that it’s easy for girls to romantically please guys: just turn up naked. While there’s no disputing that this tried-and-true method works, it’s good to occasionally put a little more thought beyond just taking off a trench coat.
Besides, guys can be easily distracted away when things become routine and repetitious — especially the ones who are inclined to turn on the Xbox or rewatch Game of Thrones at the first opportunity. Here are a few ideas for what gifts women can get for their geek boyfriends come Valentine’s Day.
Game of Thrones boardgame
This makes a great gift because (1) it brings to life the most-talked about fantasy series since Lord of The Rings; (2) helps him live out his fantasy of being an all-powerful conqueror of the mythical land of Westeros (or Tyrion Lannister), and (3) it’ll literally provide plenty of foreplay as you figure out how to play the damn game to begin with. (see video here)
You just can’t lose. Order a set from specialist shops like the Boardgame Depot for RM150.
Cufflinks on Etsy
Cufflinks are one of the few accessories through which men — Mr T aside — are allowed to express their personalities. Much like how necklaces and earrings need to fall in line with a woman’s persona and fashion taste, cufflinks for the geek need to be chosen carefully; balancing between being kitschy and playful without looking cheap.
Etsy is a great resource for such nerd-cred cufflinks. Among the choices he’d likely fall for are this Star Trek copper ‘links (unless he’s a Star Wars fan) (US$19.80 or RM60); Captain America-inspired ‘links (US$16.80), or this silver Steampunk-themed pair, which was made from the internal mechanism of a Russian watch (US$68).
Artwork
For many guys, the “art” that decorates his bachelor pad is usually confined to either tearaway posters from Maxim or FHM mags, (b) vintage movie posters (Star Wars or any Tarantino movie), or (c) dirt stains from five years ago. The Web has dozens of online shops that sell prints of pop-culture based artwork — two of which come to mind.
Modhero by RoganJosh
The first is from New York-based digital artist Josh Siegel, who goes by the monikers RoganJosh or modhero. Josh’s artwork features minimalist interpretations of superhero drawings, mixed in with Saul Bass’s penchant for iconography. Art prints go from US$19 onwards, and if you’re undecided about which pieces to buy from his online shop, you can’t go wrong with the Justice League trifecta of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
La-La Land Posters
For the music and pop-culture geek, check out what La-La Land Posters have in store. The man behind the artwork is Kii Arens, who designs the posters for shows at The Hollywood Bowl, including Radiohead, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Blondie, and other iconic popstars that have graced the Bowl. His online store offers limited-edition signed lithograph reprints for under US$50, providing a great conversation starter for any office or home.
