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Love is in the air! Or is it? February 14—that heart-laden day with a fanciful origin tale—can magnify the full spectrum of emotions in any relationship. But whether or not Valentine’s Day envelops your own heart in a rose-colored veil, symbols of love are inescapable this time of year.
While there’s hardly a need to go all out on a gift, small tokens of affection are always appreciated—no matter how long your love has been blooming. For those with a strong feel for the holiday, our Valentine’s Day gift guide has small and grand gestures alike to pin down their love. For those looking for inspiration beyond the beribboned drugstore chocolates and hard-to-nab dinner reservations, our edit here is filled with ideas that are equal parts cheeky wink and wonderfully charming. Let’s jump right in.
Instead of an overpriced pre-fixe dinner…
Forgo the 7 PM Resy alerts! If the way to their heart is through their belly, chef up at home with a pasta kit from Roscioli—your tesoro will be most excited, almost more so than if you surprised them with a round-trip ticket to Rome. (Just kidding, that would indeed be better.) Embroidered placemats from Misette set the table, while anything—water included!—tastes better when sipped out of a Sophie Lou Jacobsen totem glass.
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Instead of grocery store flowers...
We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with raiding Trader Joe’s fresh flower stand, but if you want a true show-stopping arrangement that will blow up the group chat, a flower delivery is the way to go. Most of these can be shipped with or without vases, ahead of time, or a mere 24 hours before, and sometimes with chocolates for a little extra treat.
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Instead of borrowing theirs…
Get yourself some sleepwear that’s chic and supremely comfy. Self-gifting is always in style.
Birkenstock x Tekla
striped shorts
Instead of another candle…
Scented matches!Incense sticks! Room spray! Your favorite plus-one might not live in a three-story townhouse on the Upper East Side, but that doesn’t mean their one-bedroom can’t smell like a home featured in an AD spread. These set a mood, and aren’t a fire hazard when you leave the kitchen unattended for… personal matters! A win.
Instead of second-guessing your relationship status…
No time like the present to lock it in.
Instead of an awkward couple’s massage…
Explore a new kind of intimacy with a sensual body stone and oil that you can put to good use long after the clock strikes midnight.
Damask rose and bergamot body oil
Instead of a Birkin…
Who knows when their Baby Birkin will arrive? Until that fateful call comes, your sweetheart can gaze longingly at the bag’s muse, Jane Birkin, all while shuffling through the house in a pair of fuzzy Birkenstocks. It’s called manifesting!
Instead of a coffee date...
Perfect for the newly-coupled, skip the queue and brew cortados for two at home with fresh beans from Partners, then serve them in artful cups sure to spark a lively conversation.
Instead of drugstore chocolates…
Spoil your sweet with treats almost as irresistible as they are, like cherries dipped in chocolate or matchsticks for your forever flame.
Instead of a trail of red roses on the floor…
Romantic movie gestures aside, these won’t require any tidying up but get the sentiment across all the same.
Instead of playing games…
Challenge your knight in shining armor to a game of speed chess—the melty pawns are made of chocolate, after all—or a round of hearts if three’s a crowd.
Instead of heart-shaped jewelry…
A set of heirloom-worthy earrings to remind them of your affection.
