Old-Fashioned Dating

Every woman loves to think of herself as a 21st century girl. Today’s women are fearless and independent, and they don’t mind letting the world know.

There’s still, however, a huge part in every woman that wants an old-fashioned, stand-up man who can take care of her every need.

It’s important to know which rules you can resurrect from Ye Olde dating manuals, and which will just insult her; you certainly don’t want to insist that she has a chaperone or disrespect her by asking her parents’ permission before taking her out. There are, however, some tried-and-true, old-fashioned dating tricks that will make her swoon like a silver-screen starlet.

Read below for some old-fashioned dating tips that’ll help you become your date’s knight in shining armor.

Plan and pay for the evening

This is probably one of the most highly debated of all dating rules; paying for the date is so contentious precisely because it’s such an old-fashioned dating practice. A lot of women will make a faux effort to pick up the bill, but most still appreciate the gesture when a man pays.

Also, be sure to take control of making reservations and planning fun activities for the remainder of the outing. There’s little that’s worse than having the “what do you want to do” conversation on a first date or any date for that matter.

Just be careful: implementing this plan and coming off like Cary Grant instead of Cro-Magnom man can be tough. If she makes a suggestion, ask if it can be saved for the next night out, because you’ve made special plans for this one.

If you phrase it like that, you’ll maintain control of the evening while taking the responsibility off her and still showing her respect.

Pick her up

This is a true blast from the past, and an integral element to old-fashioned dating. You need to roll up in front of her house or apartment, get out of your car, knock on her door, and walk her to the car (don’t forget to open the car door for her too). Same goes for the end of the evening.

Once she’s cradled in the passenger seat of your car, she’ll feel like she’s been taken back to the good old days -- when a woman was really wooed. And she’ll really appreciate the gesture.

When you ask her out, don’t give her a choice. Just ask what time you ought to pick her up for your night out. The added bonus is that you can take care of parking fees and road tolls, letting her literally enjoy the ride. You’re also the automatic designated driver, so she can really relax.

Treat it like an occasion

Often lost on a new generation of more self-serving adults is the old-fashioned dating concept of a date being a special night out. This is a chance to get to know somebody you think is special and you want to show your best side. The first element to this is dressing the part. You don’t need to wear a tux, just be sure you’re dressed well. This is not a drinking night with your buds. Refresh your look and throw on a masculine scent (but not too much) before stepping out. She’ll definitely appreciate the effort.

Give her your jacket

This may be one of the hardest old-fashioned dating tips to pull off.

Don’t be lame. Giving her your jacket must be a smooth transition. So, if it’s not cold or rainy, don’t pass your jacket on. And the key to this is not asking if she’d like to wear it. If you do, she will likely be too embarrassed, shy or proud to accept, and instead will suffer in silence.

If you notice her shivering or if she mentions the cool night, just take off your coat and offer it to her when it’s almost at her shoulders. This way she’s still not obligated to take it, but is much more likely to accept.

This is a great move to bring into your modern-day repertoire for a couple of reasons. First is that she’s more comfortable and feels taken care of and you get to feel like a hero. The second is that it’s just so darn nice, and that’s an irresistible trait in a man.

Respect her old-fashioned side

If you’re going to show off your macho side, she may pull out her ponytail and poodle-skirt mannerisms too. If she waits for you to open the door, be sure to oblige and appreciate the chance to show off your superior manners.

When it comes down to what happens at the end of the date, don’t make any assumptions just because you’ve worked your buns off to give her a great time. If you’ve done your work, she’ll come to you when she’s ready. Just walk her to her door and tell her you’ve had a great time. Don’t get to close, but if she does, well it’s all up to you from there.

Follow up

Hardly anybody does this anymore, and that’s what makes it so great.

After a job interview, it’s good policy to give a call or send a note letting your prospective employer know that you enjoyed meeting them and hope to have a chance to see them again.

The same policy works in dating. The day after you’ve gone out, give her a call, a text or an e-mail letting her know that you had a wonderful time. Don’t ask for another night out yet, but let her know that you’re interested in seeing her again. Then give it some time and make your move.

Sex Date Ideas

Doing something different with your lover is the first step to making sex more interesting and exciting. Traditionally, a date is based on a romantic concept, and you might get lucky if you do it right. But when you are already in a relationship, being romantic just to get sex is a little past its expiration date. Being sexually creative is one of the most important ingredients in a successful relationship, so why not plan a creative date that is specifically for sex? It will, after all, provide something new and exciting, not to mention a raunchy boost.

Here are six sex date ideas that are sure to steam up your love life. Granted, you might not be up for all the ideas that are presented here; feel free to dream up something hot for you and your lover. Your lover will appreciate it, and it may well prompt more erotic adventures.

Visit a private dancer

Visit a classy strip club together and get a private dance as a couple. This is a fairly effortless sex date, but it can be very erotic to have a sultry creature dancing and writhing while the two of you sit and watch in the magic little booth with the velvet, mirrors and vanilla scents. Choose your venue carefully, since there is nothing less sexy than turning up at a sleazy, badly run joint. The larger strip clubs usually have more dancers with well-choreographed stage shows, whereas the slummy pole bars typically cycle single moms who are past their prime through three-song performances. You could also try to take your sex date to a peep show or a porn theater, but these places tend to be sleazy and not very female-friendly.

Eat an arousing dinner

A dinner chock-full of aphrodisiacs can make for an excellent sex date. Select sexy ingredients, such as champagne, oysters, avocado, asparagus, and anything phallic. Keep your fare light, as you don’t want to send all your blood to your stomach instead of other important places. Instead of simply feeding each other with your fingers, you could opt to make an appealing platter out of yourself. Simply get naked and place the delicious feast over your torso, and remember to strategically place some of the food. Dessert is often great on a "body plate" (yours or hers), and can involve warm chocolate sauce, strawberries, melon, and whipped cream. Sex and food have always gone hand in hand since both are about sensations, tastes, textures, and smells. As part of the preparations for you sex-date feast, remember to help the ambiance with scents, such as authentic ylang-ylang, rose or sandalwood essential oils that are known to have a sexually stimulating effect.

Play dirty games

No one said that your sex date can’t be a play date. Unfortunately, there is a true shortage of fantastic sex games for couples in the world, but there are some that will never go out of fashion. Combining your favorite card game with stripping is always fun and can be a blast for beginners. Other games available are sexual card games, dice games and board games.

Board games are typically more involved and take longer, leading to a steamy night of passion instead of a quick bump and grind. Monogamy, which won Adult Game of the Year, is a fun and interesting lover’s game. The Kama Sutra Game will add depth to your lovemaking and relationship, as well as fun and eroticism. In addition to a number of online resources, Hugh de Beer’s book, 269 Amazing Sex Games, offers many titillating, fun and pleasing ways to get your nasty on.

Shop for sex toys

Find a boutique sex store with a bit of atmosphere and a decent range of products and take your missy there. A sex date that involves finding sex toys is fun, and nothing builds more erotic anticipation than the idea of going home afterward to stick this or that in there or here. What you can shop for on your sex date is virtually limitless: You can purchase toys, lingerie or sexy outfits. You can even do a sex shop crawl, which is akin to bar-hopping and, therefore, involves going in to a number of different shops to take a look around. It will surely make you laugh, and sex will definitely be on both your minds as you drive home -- if you make it that far.

Go skinny-dipping

Sharing a night out in the elements is fun and you can make it as sexy or romantic as you please when you strip and dip. Choose your location well and the atmosphere will take care of the eroticism. Don’t have any decent beaches, rivers or lakes at your disposal? Simply find a beautiful location with no one else around -- perhaps a wilderness park or a rest stop with a view -- and make the most of it. Useful props are wine, food and a blanket. It goes without saying, but watch out for the police -- no one wants to get charged with indecent exposure or lewd behavior.

Have a porn night

Having a porn night, in which you watch movies, read erotic literature or look at erotic photography/images, can make for a very stimulating sex date. To ensure that you both get a little of what you like, it’s a good idea to choose one or two movies each. Good erotic literature is hard to find, but worth the search. Sexy short stories are good because you can read them to each other without sending your lover to sleep. Adult magazines or bookstores will also have a range. Erotic images are sometimes nice, but sleaze may not turn her on so choose carefully. Beautiful photography books, like black-and-white erotic art nudes, are great coffee table fixtures, and have the added benefit of accosting your lover's eyes with pages filled with lovely bodies.