I've had women I've been with - but that were not my girlfriend - buy me meals, small presents (music, plants, DVDs, small art, flowers, beauty products, chocolates, kitchen gadgets, etc.) expensive gifts (watch, painting, suede jacket, lamp, espresso machine.)
But I'm also very upfront that I want a strong, independent woman in my life. I'm not looking for someone who wants to be bought and paid for. In fact, I won't stand for someone who expects me to pay for everything all the time. Who knows, maybe that's the result when you're honest about these things - the pendulum swings the other way?
As far as looks: some of these women were what I would call universally beautiful, others would be considered average or girl-next-door. Most were successful and well-off and far more liberal and progressive in their thoughts; some were barely scraping by, but wanted to be in a relationship of equals.