He always looks perfectly put together. He can be in a t-shirt and jeans or heading out to a black-tie event. His hair never has a bad day. His nails are clean and buffed. His clothes are perfectly pressed and exquisitely coordinated. He smells like flowers and spice. Is he gay? No, he's new metrosexual man.

As many of you know by now, term "metrosexual" was coined by a journalist (and gay man) named Mark Simpson, to describe a new kind of urban male who is straight, but in touch with his feminine side and not afraid to show it. Essentially, metrosexuals are guys who take on behaviors and show an interest in things that have traditionally belonged in female domain.

You may have a metrosexual brother, male friend or boyfriend (ex). These are guys you can shop till you drop with. They can discuss fashion, will notice your great new shoes, buy their grooming products from same places you do and have no qualms about having a manicure, pedicure or facial. You can actually TALK to these guys about something other than sports, cars and other traditionally male interests. These are guys you can take to opera, symphony and ballet. The perfect man, right? Depends on whom you talk to.

Let's step back a minute and look at where and how of existence of metrosexual man. Simply put, he is a by-product of feminism and changing roles and related expectations of women. As women have moved into (previously) male dominated environments and roles, it has caused a shift in male-female balance. Women are now active participants in industry, politics and professions- to name a few. However, as they have left their old jobs as homemakers and full-time domestic caregivers, they left a lot of empty space to be filled. Childcare providers and domestic cleaning industry could provide some of this. The problem was all "other" stuff women had always done.

Men were therefore called upon to contribute more to raising of children, housework, cooking, shopping, etc. Their sons were being exposed a new role model, a dad who took on jobs and chores that had traditionally belonged to mom. Young boys themselves were also being tapped to do housework and help with siblings, exposing them to a new way of being a male in our society. Women had become more independent and financially and professionally successful. Men had become more domestic and had to soften their style as they moved into more traditionally feminine roles.

Any man can master fine art of greeting card selection if he's willing to follow a bit of female advice.

1. Know occasion. If it's her birthday, buy a birthday card. She won't appreciate a one-size-fits-all-occasions card on her anniversary either. All greeting card displays are organized by occasion. By reading category signs, you can go directly to "Birthdays", "Anniversaries" or any other particular category, saving precious time. It works just like beer case at supermarket...domestics and imports each have their own section.

2. Know woman. This is a do-able task, even for men in new relationships. Pay attention when she opens gift cards and shows them to you. File her reaction in that "stuff-I-gotta-remember" area... right there between "all babies are beautiful" and "fuchsia is not pink". If you've just met woman and absolutely don't have a clue about her tastes, choose a very generic card, but always include a handwritten note to personalize it. Women treasure greeting cards like men treasure power tools and hang on to them forever.

3. Never, ever... also for your "stuff-I-gotta-remember" file... buy a card that mentions age of woman or makes any reference to her age. It's an across-the-board given that women in general don't appreciate sentiments of this type. Nor do they find humor in greeting cards that make any reference to weight issues.

Avoid these types of greeting cards however appropriate you may think they are for occasion. Remember, you're buying a card for a woman here. Think of a greeting card for her just like she thinks of shoes. Just because they fit doesn't mean she'll enjoy wearing them. If you have any doubts, just look in her closet...her most favorite pair of shoes may be a size too small, but she feels like a million dollars when she wears them.

Greeting Cards to avoid like plague:

Themes making reference to cooking mishaps... so she set off fire sprinklers, she was trying to make your favorite meal. This includes no fire trucks, smoking food, or blackened ovens.