Valentine woes – not a worry!

So here it is again, Valentines, the biggest commercial fraud history has ever witnessed. And this time there is no Valentine present. I was under the impression that the biggest present ever would be here, but oh no, life had another plan in store. So I need to dedicate some time today to a) find a little something for my loved one  and b) plan for the evening.

I’m not really known for my creative Valentine gifts. I recall giving Reinout last year a potpourri of some red and pink artifacts, like a red bath-bomb and chocolate wrapped in red paper with the text “I love you” on it. How unique! I’m even worse when it comes to writing cards. I try to be witty, or say something sweet but it always comes out sugar-coated and sentimental.

The best Valentine present is in fact the classic one; Red roses and a small box of luxury chocolates. It’s perfect for many reasons; it oozes style and sophistication; it’s not too expensive (1 rose and a small box of 9 pieces is enough) and it can be combined with many other things depending on the love interest, intentions and wallet. How about some sexy lingerie from la Perla or Aubade or a diamond ring accompanied by a proposal? Another item I have never had the fortune of receiving is a pair of diamond earrings. Like the ones below here….hint for a particular reader

For men it’s a bit more tricky. Underwear doesn’t have the same cache, and jewellery just looks cheap on a man. Books are perfect, as they are so individual and shows a level of interest in the receiving subject. But what do men really want?

I’m not the one for making long lists but here are some top 5 ones I could think of for Him and Her…

Monsieur
1.    One rose (for the night stand)
2.   Chocolate (my husband has a sweet tooth)
3.   Aftershave … here are my favourite brands…Creed (try Imperial), Canali Style, Baldessarini by Hugo Boss, Maestrale by Profumi di Pantelleria or Etro Shaal Nur. If you really want to splash out on something amazingly good, then try Amouage Lyric. I let the reviews speak for themselves.
4.    Books (if your man is a book lover). I would recommend any book by John Connolly, or why not try Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy.
5.    Gadgets, it’s probably what he REALLY wants but as we women are so disconnected with reality we have no clue on what to get. The Apple store knows the answer, so it doesn’t have to be that difficult. A sure hit is Apple TV, which manages your whole media library on your flatscreen (music, youtube, images…) and the best thing is it will keep him busy for hours!

Madame

1.    Roses, but preferably a whole bunch of them and then the really long, thick ones. Trying a different colour like pink or greenish white shows some aptitude for boldness and creativity.
2.     A small box (we don’t want to gain weight) of Belgian chocolate is perfect
3.    Diamonds are a girl’s best friend (not for nothing). A diamond necklace or earrings will be most humbly appreciated. Ring is for the proposal.
4.    Scented candles, preferably from Diptyque
5.    Lingerie… La Perla, Agent Provocateur, Aubade, Lise Charmel…

I’m set, off for some shopping later.

Enjoy this video from Alesha Dixon, to put you in a fab Valentine mood…