on style, she rules

My husband is the most difficult person to surprise at Christmas. Whatever he wants, he just buys. He wanted some leather moccasins or closed shoes (not slippers) to wear around the house, so I bought some. Now he wants them without the fur lining. Any other options?

Secretly Annoyed Santa, Pok Fu Lam

The Dictator rules: Oh, boo hoo. It must be tough agonising over how to rid yourself of all that expendable income. Don't be dissuaded if the first thing they show you at Bally (shop 211, Times Square, Causeway Bay, tel: 2506 3312) is a pair lined with soft black wool (HK$2,199). They also carry suede-soled loafer-style house shoes with a classic Bally stripe across the toes in black or brown leather (HK$1,990). You'll find some men's leather house shoes at Church's (353, Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2918 1091). The ultra-soft Jason model comes in black pigskin with a beige suede sole (HK$1,300). A. Testoni (shop G33, G/F, Prince's Building, Central, tel: 2899 2216) has some nappa leather travel slippers (closed) that come folded inside a matching leather bag, also only in black (HK$3,280). If he'll accept slippers rather than shoes, try Bottega Veneta and Hermes. A cheap, simple solution would be those black fabric 'kung fu' shoes sold in most markets for less than HK$50, but we know better than to think he'd like those.

Instead of throwing a holiday party AND buying gifts for everyone, I'd like to invite my girlfriends to a spa. Do you know which spas do this sort of thing?

It's a Girl Thing, Central