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The Next 50 Dates

can't buy me love?

shopping for jewels and a proposal — it's every girl's dream come true!

etting the Stage:
This proposal is perfect for those of you lucky fellas who have a lady who loves to shop — that's 99.9% of the guys out there. For once, her predilection for spending is going to work to your advantage. Tell her you want to spend the day shopping (hopefully that won't raise a red flag).

"Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century." — Mark Twain

Make sure you choose an area that has a jewelry store, like Tiffany, where she'll surely want to go in. Ask her if she were to pick out one, which would it be, and have her try it on just for kicks. Once she holds out her hand to show you, tell her it looks like it was made for her. And that in fact, this entire day really was made for her. Enter the violinist, the bouquet you brought earlier in the day, and you on your knee asking her to marry you with the engagement ring that you know she loves.

Bring the Kids:
Not this time.

Dress to Impress:
You won't be able to wear a suit and still maintain the element of surprise, so go for the next best thing — black slacks in a solid or pinstripe, black leather loafers, and a buttondown shirt in blue, gray, or even pink if you're brave.

You'll have to steer her in the right direction, but a black pencil skirt, tight cashmere sweater in a soft light pink, nude, or blue, and a highheeled shoes would be perfect. Be subtle though. The jig is up if you suddenly become an expert on women's fashion and start saying things to her like black pencil skirt!

Devil's in the Details:
Plan for a romantic lunch or dinner at a nearby restaurant. Request a semi-private table where the two of you can canoodle in comfort.

It's likely that any fine jewelry store will offer to supply you with glasses of champagne (it's got to be good for business). If not, bring a bottle of your own earlier in the day, and request they keep it on ice until just the right moment.