MEN - they so often can't seem to get anything right, especially when it comes to buying presents for the women in their lives. Now that St Valentine's Day is looming, many will be at their wit's end trying to figure out a present that is both romantic and original.

That is why Harvey Nichols in Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, has this year introduced its Valentine's Day Master Class for the nervous suitor. During this half-day class and for the price of Euro680, men are given one-on-one tutoring on everything from preparing an amazing dinner for their partner and dressing for the day, to giving a massage and picking the perfect present.

"This is the kind of package that will often appeal to men who are planning to propose to their girlfriend on Valentine's Day and who want everything to be absolutely perfect, " said Dee Breen, spokeswoman for Harvey Nichols. "No detail is left out and there is even a champagne dinner for two included so that the couple can come back at a later date for a meal in our restaurant."

The class starts off with a one-on-one consultation with the Harvey Nichols Restaurant's head chef, Thomas Haughton. Here, the suitors are brought through a choice of three-course menus they can choose to prepare for their partner. With starters such as crab rillete and mains such as panfried sea bass with confit fennel, sauce vierge and black olive tapenade, it is essential that the man knows what kind of food his partner likes to eat.

"The food sounds complicated on the menu, but it's incredibly simple and tasty and we prepare 90% of it for them, " explained Haughton. "What they need to do is warm up certain things and present them in the right way. Presentation is everything, so we go through that thoroughly."

So thoroughly, in fact, that suitors are given diagrams showing them how to put the food together. If necessary, Harvey Nichols' crockery is loaned out to them for the night, and personalised menus with the lovers' names can be made. Nothing should go wrong with such detailed instructions, but Haughton is on call if an emergency occurs in the kitchen.

"Not all, but most of the men coming in here wouldn't have much of a clue about how to put a dish together, so we go through it with them as long as they need it, " he said. "The food is then delivered out to their house, as well as a chocolate fondue machine, if they want it."

After their chef class, customers are treated to an Elemis facial in the store to get them looking their best, before being given tips on how to massage their partner. Once relaxation time is over, it's time to shop.

"A lot of men are afraid to shop for their partner and really appreciate being given some help and advice on what the best present for her might be, " said personal shopper, Suzanne O'Leary. "The more information they can give about their partner's size, her taste and the kind of clothes she tends to wear, the better."

It's debatable which is worse - buying lingerie for your partner that is a size too big or a size too small. Either way, the memory is hard to eradicate.

Marks and Spencer has also jumped on the personal shopping-for-men bandwagon with their Stocking Fellas - male staff trained in the art of guiding men through the pitfalls of buying lingerie for their partner.

The Harvey Nichols package also includes flowers from their Bloom Bar florist. Suitors can choose an exquisite vase shaped as a Prada bag filled with red roses, a bowl of lilies or a bouquet of their own choice. These are then home-delivered with the food.

"Valentine's Day can be a daunting experience, " said O'Leary. "We're here to rescue men from their despair."

EAT YOURSELF IN CHOCOLATE ANYONE?

If your partner has a taste for chocolate, why not commission a Bespoke Chocolate Sculpture of them? Sculpted by award-winning chocolatier Paul Wayne Gregory, these need to be ordered a month in advance, but there's always next year. Price on request from Harvey Nichols.

Or you could shun consumerism and embrace charity instead. Give your boy- or girlfriend a beehive in Uganda instead, as part of Bothar's Valentine's Day appeal. Price: ¤50.

Think your partner could do with a lift? Both the Harley Medical Group and Advanced Cosmetic Surgery offer gift vouchers in units of ¤50 and ¤100. Of course they won't be offended that you think they could do with some liposuction? Or there's the old reliable Cadbury's Roses at ¤12.49.