How to Shop for a Husband: A Consumer Guide to Getting a Great Buy on a Guy Book

Acknowledgments XI

Introduction 1

Part I What to Shop For 5

Rule #1 Don't Choose a Man by his Shoes-And Don't be Crazy Picky 9

Rule #2 Trade in Being Picky for Being Choosy 18

Rule #3 Don't Settle When you Shop... but be Willing to Compromise 25

Rule #4 Choosy Shoppers Choose... a Guy With Good Guts 35

Rule #5 Be Sure to Check under The Hood and Buy a Model with a Powerful Engine 41

Rule #6 Look for a Garment-Oops, we Mean a Guy-who will Withstand the Test of Time: Seek Out a Little Black Dress Among Men 45

Rule #7 Be Sure to Use the Mirror in the Dressing Room: Learn the Mirror-Image Rule 54

Rule #8 Search for GUI: Good User Interface 60

Rule #9 Listen to the Real Experts When Deciding on the Options 63

Rule #10 Know a Guy's History-Is he a Marrier or a Player or, Worst of All, Both? 74

Rule #11 After-Purchase Repairs and Alterations: Know When the Hems can be Altered and Sleeves Taken Up 77

Rule #12 Look for the Right Fit: Must he be One-Of-A-Kind Or can You Go With Ready-To-Wear? 80

Part II Where and How to Shop 85

Rule #1 Shop Online-It Works! 87

Rule #2 Be a bricks-and-mortar dater 104

Rule #3 Speed Dating is the Way to Go 109

Rule #4 Word of Mouth: Persistence Pays 113

Rule #5 Find Out Where the Boys are 119

Rule #6 Professional Matchmakers and Matchmaking Services May (Or May Not) be Worth Your While 124

Rule #7 It's Good to Shop Alone 131

Rule #8 Your Mother and Your Friends May Not Be on Your Side 134

Rule #9 Sorry, But ... You May Need to Repackage (Yourself, That Is!) 136

Rule #10 Get Shrunk-Yes, in the Head! 143

Rule #11 Don't Let the Last Seven Pounds, or Any Other Lame Excuse, Hold You Back 147

Part III How to Close the Deal 153

Rule #1 Make Sure You've Done Your Research 155

Rule #2 Remember to Read the Labels Before You Put Him in the Wash 161

Rule #3 Dump These Guys 164

Rule #4 Don't Fall for These Scams 169

Rule #5 Let Him Think He's Doing the Shopping 174

Rule #6 Check the Expiration Date 181

Rule #7 If You Want to Walk the Walk (Down the Aisle, That is), Be Sure to Have "The Talk" 187

Rule #8 The Fine Art of Closing the Deal 193

Conclusion ... Or, How to Enjoy Your Purchase! 201

The How to Shop for a Husband Dating Glossary 207