When it comes to art of giving, a gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We've all had encounters from receiving end. We all have stories to tell. If you don't, you will, just give it time.

Mine started early. My grandmother, having survived Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar. Buying clothes for her grandkids meant getting everything 3 or 4 sizes too big so we could "grow into it". We endured our baggy clothes, with sleeves and pant legs rolled up, until we were finally big enough to wear them with dignity. By which time we'd more or less destroyed them.  

Then there's my husband. Heaven forbid I should try to give man a Polo shirt with an uneven hemline. Polos are usually made longer in back to help them stay "tucked", but hubby goes un-tucked -- always. He shuns any shirt that breaks his rule, no matter how subtly. For an otherwise easy-going guy, it's almost perverse.

If you must give clothes this season, there's one giftee on your list sure to look great in any outfit you buy him. He'll wear your gift with pride and appreciation, head held high and tail wagging. 

That's right, your dog. Or your best friend's dog. It's so easy it's almost a no-brainer. 

Dogs love any kind of attention you lavish on them. So, Spike will wear his outfit - whether it's cute or ridiculous - as soon as he sees how happy it makes his owner. Fido will eat up all that extra attention he gets from strangers. And Fifi might even learn to Vogue for camera. 

Clothes shopping for dogs is a lot like clothes shopping for babies. Unless you're going for practicality, cuteness is bottom line. And it's easy to accomplish, given that any dog wearing clothes looks pretty darned cute. 

Choices in dog clothes range from winter sweaters to football jerseys and summer tees. You can get a set of flannel PJ's for bedtime or a terry robe for after bath. There's even an entire line of Harley clothes for dogs, complete with leather cap and studded collar. Dog costumes made for parties and holidays are just too cute for words. 

If you really want your gift to be a hit with admirers, accessorize. Try a designer dog collar and maybe a cool pair of sunglasses--they make them just for dogs. And I recently heard that leg warmers are making a come back. 

Have you ever had one of those slow-motioned moments when you know you just did something really unintelligent? Well, ton of bricks hit me right before that door slammed. My stomach sunk and I looked at my babe who was staring back at me through a slightly tinted window with those wide, bright blue eyes waiting for me to make next move. Thank goodness windows were cracked and more thanks and goodness that it was a cool Autumn day. But what to do next flooded my head and my heart began to race. Yes, my first thought was that nifty little yellow tow-truck, but how long would it take to reach me? There must be something else I could do, maybe try a little brute strength. I positioned my forearms between doorjamb and cracked window as if I would miraculously pry it open...fruitless. Then, I journeyed to back hoping that trunk would not be locked in conjunction with rest of doors...to no avail. It was a terrible moment. Though I was in family-friendly environment of my older son's swim lessons, I had to face that fact that I would have to acknowledge my glaring blunder in front of all other kids, parents and teachers who would be observing this whole ordeal unfold.

I rushed to owner's side, who rushed to her office to phone for help. She immediately called her roadside service. Sensibility began to seap back into my head as I noticed panic rushing into hers. I asked for a wire hanger. Yes, I realized that today's lock tops are not as easily accessible as flat-disk shaped tops of yesteryear, but why not give it a try. I hustled back to my car and unraveled and retwisted and folded and molded that hanger into a handy widget and fished it down into my car. I weedled it around middle of lock at most subtle indention. I was able to hook and yank it with a mighty jerk. The locks went up, alarm went off and I opened my door and reached down to my back floor mat to grab those auspicious keys. Roadside was cancelled, I have a new and improved relationship with my son's swimming instructors and hopefully I have learned that some distractions are to be taken very seriously.