With dating, you’ve got to give if you’re going to get. Penthouse Pet Lexie Karlsen tells us how a little investment can yield some big returns.
-By Jonathan Ages
LIVE LARGE
“A simple pair of cufflinks can look expensive. There’s also the old rule: Buy the best you can afford. You don’t need an $8,000 Rolex. An Omega is nice, and that’s not too much. Just steer away from the ones that look old man–ish. And don’t wear any cheap jewelry. You don’t want to be that guy wearing the gold rope chain.”
NOT JUST THE TIP
“A guy can look like he doesn’t have much money if he’s a cheap tipper. On the first date you should always tip, like, 20 percent—even if the service wasn’t that great. I’d be turned off by a really cheap guy. I’d probably blow him off a couple of times—you know, set up a date and then say I can’t make it. I’d torture him.”
QUICHE ISN’T KITSCH
“Brunch is a good time to go to a fancy
place without having to spend quite
as much money. The one big problem
is, it’s the middle of the day, so you’re
probably not gonna get laid.”
THE VINTAGE DATE
“I think art galleries or wine tastings are really good, inexpensive-yet upscale date ideas. People assume that people with money always drink and collect wine. I don’t care. I just drink cheap wine.”
RAID YOUR FRIDGE
“Picking up food and making a gourmet meal will score you major points for thoughtfulness while controlling the budget—she can’t order a $100 lobster. Pick up a $10 bottle of wine and say, ‘It was rated really highly by Wine Spectator.’ And display the food really well. Nice plates and even cheap glasses make things look classy.”
BROWNBAG THE BOOZE
“Bring-your-own-bottle restaurants make for an affordable, classy date. Just make sure to ask her beforehand what she likes to drink. I was on a date with this one guy who bought me a Cherry Coke and rum. It was this disgusting, white-trash drink!”
DITCH THE DIGGER
“It’s difficult to know when to ditch a gold digger. I guess it all depends on how badly you want to get laid. The golden rule is to get rid of her if she buys the most expensive thing on the menu, then barely touches it.”
