Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman, but March 8 is not one of those occasions. This time it’s hard for him – and fun for her. Even the smartest men get themselves into a blind panic trying to find their other half a suitable token of their love. So, what can a poor boy do when this unfavorable prospect is staring him in the face? Get one of the presents listed below.

1. Lingerie

As you might have guessed, the most beautiful lingerie in the world comes from France, and many a woman’s secret weapon is sexy lingerie from French and Italian designers, such as Millesa, Nina Ricci, Christian Dior, Cotton Club and Roberto Cavalli. So, stop by the Dikaya Orkhideya boutique, where you’ll find sexy corsets, erotic lace bodysuits and sweet sleepwear for your beloved.

2. Perfume

Another tried, tested and true gift is perfume. But don’t get something boring or cheap; pick out one of this season’s hottest perfumes. A few good names are Comme des Garcons (No. 2 and No. 71), anything by Diptyque, Yves Saint Laurent’s Nu or Giorgio Armani’s new Sensi.

3. Flowers

If perfume and lingerie sound to cliched, hail the beginning of spring and give her a bouquet of narcissi, tulips or snowdrops, all available in the Sady Salvadora flower boutique. Or, a delicious and original alternative to fresh flowers is an edible candy bouquet. She’ll be surprised!

4. Stuffed animal

If you’re looking for funny presents, pay a visit to Detsky Mir. Women won’t be able to resist the funky stuffed bears, monkeys, tigers and puppies on offer there.

5. Jewelry

Instead of choosing something cheap, why not go for the best – whatever the price? Go straight to the Pomellato boutique and look no further than their gold ring shaped like a VW Beetle. And, to make sure it doesn’t get lost among the trinkets scattered over her shelves, have it packed in a velvet box, available in an array of colors. And the semi-precious stone rings in Pomellato are actually just as fancy and chic as their precious counterparts.

6. Chocolate

March 8 is a special day, which is a good excuse for a full-on eating session. Buy chocolate at Le Gateau cafe and give it as the sweetest present to your favorite lady. And don’t forget to mention that chocolate is high in cocoa and low in sugar, to quell any feelings of guilt.

7. Spa treatment

When buying presents, you don’t need general ideas, you need specifics. And the hardest women to please are those who you’re in a long-term relationship with. They’ve seen it all before – so you have to splice together the imaginative and the useful. How about a Day Spa at Guerlain Beauty Studio? Their six-hour program is amazing, and includes a manicure, pedicure, body and soul cleansing, Jacuzzi and a stint in a tanning salon, plus lunch.

8. A good book

If your lady is into reading and traveling, a good pick is the "Le Petit Fute" suede-covered city guide, featuring Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and New York. The guide is pocket-sized and has a listing of the best restaurants, hotels, shops and museums in each city. So, even if you don’t have the time to go to Portugal with her, at least you will be sure she won’t get lost in a strange land.

9. Dance lessons

Throw her off-guard and sweep her off her feet with an unexpected rendezvous at… Dance School Duncan. To become more active in each other's lives, you might need to take a Latin dancing lesson. But watch out: You could get addicted to the inflammatory rhythms of cha cha cha, rumba and samba in just a couple of hours.

10. Romantic getaway

And, finally, if you’ve got them, ship the kids off to the grandparents, pack your bags and revisit an old destination that never disappoints you. A weekend of uninterrupted bliss at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club is a well-deserved break both of you need.

LOCATIONS:

Pomellatto

10 Petrovka Ul Smolensky Passazh Metro: Kuznetsky Most Tel: 924-2955

Le Gateau

23 Tverskaya Ul. Metro: Pushkinskaya Tel: 937-5678

Dikaya Orkhideya

9 Petrovsky Bulvar Metro: Pushkinskaya Tel: 209-9270

Mariott Avrora Royal

11/20 Petrovka Ul. Metro: Kuznetsky Most Tel: 937-1000

Detsky Mir

5 Teatralnaya Ploshchad Metro: Lubyanka Tel: 927-2007

Le Meredien Moscow Country Club

Nakhabino Village Tel: 926-5911

Sady Salvadora

25 Nikitsky Bulvar Metro: Pushkinskaya Tel: 290-6111

Candy Bouquet

20/13 Mal. Gruzinskaya Ul., Office 310 Metro: Belorusskaya Tel: 257-3441

Dance School Duncan

32/2 Leningradsky Prospekt, Sovietskaya Hotel Metro: Dynamo Tel: 960-2000