you should be a good brother and tell him to not follow the thousands of others with that wheel combination. if anything, i'd search tirerack, find a design you like, and contact some companies to see what designs they have in the works that may semi-match.
thank god you didn't say you wanted gunmetal konig 8-spokes, those are even worse than the black/chrome lips..
edit: (god i love being an insomniac) here's a good looking wheel from tirerack, although "good looking" is different to everyone..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3..._bcl_ci3_l.jpg