Thus Christie's upcoming sales of sporting memorabilia and of items from the private collection of Princess Margaret should satisfy both . . . although men may be expected to attend the latter to buy pearls and gems for their loved ones.

Losing your shirt WITH the World Cup underway, Christies' Traditional Sports and World Cup memorabilia on June 27 will make headlines. Leading the sale will be the shirt worn by George Cohen during the World Cup final of 1966.

Cohen was part of the legendary English team which won the tournament that year.

He is currently a commentator for The Independent in London and led off his column this week by declaring "why I fear for England again" . However, he need not fear for the fate of his shirt at the Christie's sale since it is one of their highlights.

The shirt no longer belongs to him since he swapped it with Lothar Emmerich, winger on the defeated West German team in whose family possession it has remained until now. It has an estimate of 22,000- 30,000. The shirt wasn't the only World Cup memento that went out of Cohen's hands. Falling on hard times, he had to sell his World Cup medal. But happily his old club Fulham made sure it stayed close to him by paying 120,000 for it and putting it on display at its Craven Lodge grounds.

Cohen, who was born in London in 1939, won 37 caps for England between 1964 and 1967 and played in all six of England's matches in the 1966 World Cup. George Best described him as "the best full back I ever played against".

Another shirt attracting attention at this sale is a Martin Peters spare shirt from the 1966 World Cup final, with an estimate of 1,500- 2,200.

Indeed, shirts as part of football memorabilia can fetch high prices at auction. In September 2000, Geoff Hurst's red shirt from the same World Cup Final was sold at a Christie's sale for 148,000.

And in March 2002 Pele's shirt from the 1970 final achieved a world record price for a football shirt at auction when it sold for 237,000.

In the fast lane Another male-oriented auction will be Christie's sale featuring exceptional motor cars and automobilia.

It contains an extensive collection of Formula One photography and memorabilia from the late John Reeve, who was the official photographer and dedicated Formula One enthusiast.

His archive includes photographs of races from the 1960s onwards, from Formula One to endurance sports cars and cycle grand prix. There is a wealth of images featuring cars and drivers from the obscure to the legendary and many of the prints are signed by the drivers.

The sale comprises photographs, autographs, autographed driver's visors, correspondence, programmes, windshield sections, books and promotional posters, reflecting the rise and fall of legends such as Jackie Stewart, Nikki Lauda and Ayrton Sena. The car section highlights include a 1973 BMW 3.0 CSI 'Batmobile' (the original autobahn stormer) with an estimate of 82,000- 115,000, a 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 111 V12 Coupe with an estimate of 28,000- 37,000 and a 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom 11 Continental Sports Saloon with an estimate of 60,000. . .75,000.

Princess and the Bee Princess Margaret's relatives would appear not to be unduly sentimental about her possessions since some of her very personal jewellery, together with dedications to her from other royal persons, will go under the hammer on Tuesday, with estimates ranging from 150 to 750,000.

The royal dedications are many since she was the younger daughter of King George V1 and The Queen Mother and her grandparents were King George V and Queen Mary. An antique diamond riviere circa 1900, accompanied by three handwritten notes which were given to Margaret by her grandmother Queen Mary, has an estimate of 300,000. . . 450,000. A cherished five. . . row Art Deco pearl and diamond necklace which she wore when photographed by Cecil Beaton for her 19th and 21st birthday portraits also goes for sale for around 90,000 to 100,000.

Other personal items include a Victorian bee brooch with a note in Margaret's handwriting saying it is "almost the first bit of jewellery given to me".

An art deco bar brooch is personally annotated by Queen Mary, "For darling Margaret on her confirmation day from her loving Granny, may God bless you." (April 15, 1946).