I will tell you an anecdote about a friend who is experienced in buying many groomsmen gifts. Lucille is known among our circle as “the lady behind the best groomsmen gifts.” April of this year, Andy and Mara tied the knot in a grandiose garden wedding. Mara asked Lucille to scour for several groomsmen gifts and gave her a certain range for budget. Two weeks before the occasion, Lucille practically left no stones unturned, and no store left unvisited for possible options. She came up with a magnificent list of her greatest ideas for groomsmen gifts: golf accessories, pocket knives, fishing articles, cigar and lighter accessories, personalized duffle bag, leather jacket, denim jacket, signature design windbreaker.

Lucille's personal secret is to experience the person she's giving the surprise to. In that way, she too might be hitting two birds with one stone if the guy is single. So she asked Mara to introduce her to Fred, Andy's best buddy since childhood. The two spent a whole evening with dinner in a classic-setting restaurant five miles away, went dancing in a club, and drove around the area just chatting. Lucille's mind was already cooking up some items that'll make great groomsmen gifts for men of Fred's type. She thought then, "Oh my, mission accomplished! I'm ready for groomsmen gifts masterpieces."

Lucille decided to narrow down her list of groomsmen gifts options to one that has something to do with music or something that Fred can wear. She had this notion that Fred is often on the go. Well, he is a digital nomad, being a blogging chemist who's frequently sent to places by his company. Finally, Lucille ended up buying Fred a signature windbreaker and a CD collection of Bruce Springsteen for his long drives. She was so sure of her groomsmen gifts that she wrapped them up in plain silver white paper with metallic ribbon and bow. Why she chose that wrapping she said was because she surmised that Fred appears to be fascinated with bright things. She got it when Fred pointed to a neon sign and said, How he loved a shirt with that color.

Proud of her groomsmen gifts, Lucille came to the wedding scene early bringing with her, her great finds. She was in for a big surprise when she spotted Fred leaning in a corner facing closely another guy who's equally good-looking as he is. Lucille came out frantically looking for Mara. She found her at her dressing room. That's when she learned that just last night Andy told her the truth about Fred's gender and lover. Just when her interest in him was gaining a foothold past her efforts of giving him great groomsmen gifts, she was astounded on how naïve she was of the clues: the bright colors, club scene, heavily decorated restaurants… Looking back, Lucille thinks she still has many things to learn about choosing great groomsmen gifts that are right for the person. And consequently she thinks she has to learn more in the men's department.