Crazy Stupid Love — More Valentine’s Day Gifts That Will Drive Ladies Mad
With Valentine’s Day inching closer and closer, we know you’re probably fretting about what to get your mom, kids, co-workers, friends, and mates — and, of course, you’re likely dropping not-so-subtle hints about what you’d like to receive from your guy (or girl) on the special day. To help you out even further (and give you some specific treats to casually mention during your hint-dropping sessions), we’ve amassed yet another array of goodies that you’ll love to love. Check them out!
L’Occitane Cherry Princess Pearlescent Shower Cream, $20. Available at USA.Loccitane.com
This month, L’Occitane launched its new limited-edition Cherry Princess collection, which was inspired by princess Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Empress Josephine. Legend has it that Hortense was incredibly bashful and that any compliment would result in her blushing, the cheeks of her porcelain visage developing a light pink color. As a tribute to the fair princess, a cherry tree strain was given her name. Commonly found in the Luberon region of Provence, the Reine Hortense bears succulent cherries, the juice of which was extracted and incorporated into all of the products in the L’Occitane Cherry Princess collection. The scent of fresh cherries mingles with the illuminating aroma of grapefruit and lemon, providing the first impression, leading the way to a delicate bouquet of spring flowers at the fragrance’s heart. All of the products in the collection are delicious, but we’re particularly smitten with the shower cream, which has a lightweight consistency and a pearly pink color and which lathers up nicely, delicately cleansing the skin while also leaving behind the faintest floral-fruity aroma.
Nancy Gonzalez Knot Croc-Skin Clutch, $1950. Available at Saks.com
This honeysuckle pink clutch from the Colombian crocodile handbag queen, Nancy Gonzalez, will help you stir a teaspoon of sweetener into your style entrée — whether it’s a knife-pleated silk skirt and blouse ensemble or a slinky dress with a plunging neckline. Though two croc skin-covered nubs resemble a kiss-lock closure, these are purely ornamental, as the piece features a magnetic snap closure. Measuring 10″ in width, 5 1/2″ in height, and 1″ in depth, the clutch features suede lining, soft rounded corners, and a zippered interior pocket.
Vera Wang Set of 2 Duchesse Flutes, $125. Available at Macys.com
Whether you’re celebrating years of blissful marriage, savoring an unexpected rendezvous with a long-lost love, or toasting to the promise of a blossoming relationship, make the occasion all the more memorable with these Vera Wang-designed crystal champagne flutes. These 14″-tall Duchess Encore flutes feature a slim trumpet shape, a pale lilac tint, and a classic laser-cut pattern .
Josie Natori for Target Valentine’s Day Lace Plunge Bra, $19.99, and Valentine’s Day Lace Thong, $9.99. Available at Target.com
Put the granny panties away on the 14th, gals. Tap into your inner Playboy bunny and, after you disrobe, frolic around the room in a punchy pink lingerie set. These inexpensive pieces from designer Josie Natori’s line for Target are just the ticket. Start with the embroidered lace push-up bra, which features an underwire for support and adjustable elastic straps, then complete the look with the matching thong. Unlike the tired florals we see on most lace bras, the embroidery on these pieces features whimsical swirls and rounded fan-like shapes, giving them a unique aesthetic.
Pacifica Island Vanilla Take Me There Set, $18. Available at Pacifica.com
We’ve raved about the new Pacifica Island Vanilla Body Butter, how its creamy vanilla base is accentuated by sweet honey and fresh jasmine notes, then refreshed with a surge of white tea, and how natural moisturizers and skin conditioners like shea butter, mango butter, lavender extract, safflower seed oil, almond oil, and rose hip oil leave skin feeling silky smooth. But that’s just one of the many delights in the Take Me There Island Vanilla set. This travel-sized kit includes a 2.5 fl. oz. of the Island Vanilla Body Butter, along with a 0.33 fl.oz. tube of the Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On (made of essential oils and natural grain alcohol), and a full-sized tube of the brand new Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint. Those of you looking for a lip balm with just the slightest hint of hibiscus pink color will love the fatty acid-enriched Color Quench Moisture Lip Tint, which melts right onto your pout, providing some much-needed relief for chapped, dry, or flaky lips, and depositing a sheer veil of shimmering pink color to make those lips all the more alluring.
Tacori Rose Amethyst Over Pink Mother of Pearl Bracelet, $13,070. Available at Tacori.com
Any Hollywood siren would fall to her knees and beg for the chance to wear this stunning Tacori bracelet while sashaying down the red carpet. The ultra feminine bracelet features three rows of faceted pink amethyst stones layered over mother of pearl pieces that create a translucent, multi-deimensional, luminous peony pink shade when combined. Each layered stone boasts a square-like shape, but with rounder sides to again soften the look. A textured silver trim encircles each stone, all of which are set against an 18k pink gold backdrop.
Love, Chloe Purse Spray, $95. Available at Saks.com
If you favor powdery soft scents, you’ll adore the Love, Chloé scent, which blends a bouquet of light orange blossom, iris, lilac, hyacinth, and wisteria blossom notes with wispy powdery musk, talc, and rice powder notes. This fragrance is now available in purse spray size. Packaged in a sleek, minimalist, flask-like golden metal bottle with the words “Love, Chloé” etched along the bottom of the front panel, the Love, Chloé Purse Spray comes with 3 0.34 fl. oz. fragrance bottles so you can refill as needed.
Rebecca Taylor Ikat Tee, $245. Available at RebeccaTaylor.com
This loose-fitting 100% silk blouse features an indigo-colored, ikat-style heart pattern, as well as a raw-edged scoopneck, a rounded hemline, and shirred shoulders.
Edmundo Castillo Wow Pump 110, $765. Available at Pink Tartan (170 Bedford Road, 3rd Floor, Toronto). Email info@pinktartan.com to order.
Enjoy a “Lady in Red” moment and dance cheek-to-cheek with your main squeeze while wearing these scarlet red pumps from Edmundo Castillo. From their sky-high and rail-thin stiletto heel to their pointed toe and V-shaped, low-cut vamp, which allows you to reveal an extra amount of flesh and toe cleavage, these shoes are hotter than a Ghost chili pepper.
Anna Sheffield Bridal & Commitment Jewelry’s Oval Rosette Ruby Ring with White Diamonds, $9500. Available at Bridal.AnnaSheffield.com
Every kiss does not begin with Kay — particularly if the woman whose hand in marriage is being sought has champagne tastes and cashmere dreams. Pop the question with a ring that really, well, pops, like this oval-shaped engagement ring from New York City-based designer Anna Sheffield. The unique piece features a faceted ruby at its center, with a band of white diamonds encrusted along its periphery.
Pure Romance Bed of Roses, $17. Available at PureRomance.com
Rose petals are synonymous with seduction — just think of the plethora of scenes in which Lester Burnham, Kevin Spacey‘s American Beauty character, fantasized about finding the Lolita-esque Angela (played by Mena Suvari) covered in red rose petals. On a practical level, however, sprinkling roses all over the bed can be a messy ordeal — first, there’s the cost factor (you’ll need way more than a handful of roses to cover a mattress or leave a trail to the bedroom); second, there’s the hassle of cleaning up once the intimate escapade has concluded (not to mention taking out any stains left by the petals); and third, there are the pangs of guilt over wasting a bouquet that could’ve potentially infused joy into a room for a week-long stretch. Fortunately, Pure Romance masterminded this clever mood-setting kit, which takes the hassle out of your foreplay-conducive plans.
The Pure Romance Bed of Roses kit includes 100 scented silk rose petals, four tea light candles, and two invitation cards which you can fill out depending on the amorous activity you planned with your beloved. The faux petals are a sanguine red color that exudes sensuality and feature all the puckering and veiny lines you’d find on real rose petals — plus, they’re so soft, you can run them against the skin in tender caressing motions.
The best part: these aren’t for one-time use. You can spray them with a rose-scented perfume if their scent ebbs away, hand wash them in a lingerie bag, air dry them, and store them in a pouch for future use.
Heart-Shaped Whisk, $10. Available at JCPenney.com
Whip up a breakfast omelet or get ready to bake some cupcakes with this darling whisk, which features red, light pink, and white silicone-coated wires bent and placed so as to create a heart shape. A red cushioned handle, meanwhile, completes the lovestruck effect while providing a solid grip. With this handy tool, you’ll have solid proof that your secret ingredient is love.
Apple & Bee Lovebird Red Tote, $37. Available at AppleandBee.com
This eco-friendly, machine-washable, cotton canvas tote blurs the line between country chic and hipster cool with its cheeky but irresistibly disarming print, consisting of coupled-up lovebirds facing each other and seemingly pressing their beaks together for an avian smooch. My favorite detail: the white heart-shaped wings on some of the lovebirds.
Topshop Glitter Heart Tee, $36. Available at Topshop.com
This trendy, 100% cotton, heather gray T-shirt features a glittery golden heart design along the chest area, with gradient tones ranging from yellow gold at the top of the heart to a luminous, candle-light glow along its pointed tip.
Rebelle by Rihanna Eau de Parfum Spray, $59 for 3.4 fl. oz. bottle. Available at department stores nationwide like Macys.com
Pop icon Rihanna’s sophomore fragrance release, Rebelle by Rihanna, retains the feminine and romantic elements of her Reb’l Fleur scent while incorporating some bold and defiant notes that speak to her risk-taking on-stage persona. The Rebelle by Rihanna fragrance bottle bears more than a slight resemblance to that of its predecessor, boasting the exact same silhouette but, this time around, the “ribbon” wrapped around the vessel is a matte red color as opposed to the black shade of the Reb’l Fleur ribbon trim.
In terms of the fragrance itself, Rebelle by Rihanna features plum, strawberry, and ginger notes that create a mouth-watering feel; a romantic but savory heart consisting of vanilla orchid, heliotrope, and cacao absolute notes; and a unique mixture of base notes, with musk, coffee, patchouli, and amber yielding a woody but warm, carnal, and even slightly spicy effect.
I actually much prefer Rebelle to Reb’l Fleur since the former fragrance’s composition is much more robust and the notes so eclectic. That being said, you’ll mainly notice the plum and vanilla notes, which work sensationally well together, with the cacao and coffee notes adding a bit of a kick.
1979 You Are My Milky Way Tee in Purple, $58. Available at 1979Couture.com
Every time I look at this T-shirt, I think of the movie Addicted To Love, in which a small-town astronomer (played by Matthew Broderick) pines after his school teacher ex-girlfriend (Kelly Preston) who, upon relocating to New York City, promptly ended their long-term relationship. Throughout the film, Broderick’s character, Sam, is dubbed the “Milky Way Man” — hence the mental connection between the romantic comedy and the tee design above. Bottom line: when you give somebody this punk-flavored cropped tee, you’re telling them they mean more than the world to you, that their existence is at the very center of your galaxy.
Pull-In Coquelicot Isa Bra, $39.99, and Coquelicot Boxer, $34.99. Available at Pull-In.com
Timex Originals Modern Easy Reader, $65. Available at Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com
Ah, spring: the time for flings, flowers, and a feverish burst of color. Take a mind-over-matter approach and celebrate spring a few months early with this playful Timex watch, which features perky purple, orange, yellow, sky blue, and pink lines at each hour marker spot on the pearl white dial, as well as on the hour, minute, and second hands. Sporty but chic, the water-resistant timepiece features a white, glossy patent leather strap and a stainless steel case measuring 38mm in diameter.
TOMS Shoes Valentine Women’s Classic, $54. Available at TOMS.com
Like all of TOMS classic slip-on shoes, these feature a puckered toe, tonal stitching along the vamp, an elastic “V” detail for maximum comfort, a classic suede insole to provide the necessary cushioning, and a Latex arch insert. Available for a limited time online only, this particular design features pink hearts atop a light heather gray backdrop and a chic pink-and-white striped lining.
Desigual by L Clutch, $69. Available at Desigual.com
Known for its artsy, mixed media, collage-like designs, Desigual ventures into Eros territory with this elongated, pyramid-shaped clutch, which features a watercolor-esque rose design on one side, graffiti-style blotches and lettering, and a surreal backdrop made of blurred and overlapping imagery. Moss green sides and a golden metal hinged frame complete the Boho chic clutch.
Coach Love Letter Multi Mix Key Ring, $58. Available at Coach.com
Whimsical and quaint, this key ring features several symbols of love in the form of enamel-filled metal charms: kissable red lips, a pink heart with the Coach emblem in silver cursive lettering, a metal letter envelope with a pink heart stamp along the back flap, and a mirrored diamond stone. The charms dangle from a metal link chain which is itself attached to a split key ring.
Nissa Jewelry Nusa Small Necklace, $168. Available at NissaJewelry.com
Add a coquettish but decidedly urban vibe to any outfit with Nissa’s exotic Nusa Small Necklace, which features a recycled antique brass chain measuring 17″ in length and a 3″-wide, boomerang-shaped, stingray leather pendant detail.
Hello Kitty Love Bandit iPhone 4 Case, $30. Available at select Sanrio boutiques.
Hello Kitty has a rap sheet? Believe it! The fun-loving feline has been stealing hearts for decades and, well, now she’s being forced to do the time. We don’t think the punishment fits the crime and, apparently, neither does she — which is why she’s still hoarding hugs and kisses from the inside, swimming in a pile of hearts while clad in a Jailhouse Rock-style, black-and-white striped prison uniform, a burglar’s mask over her eyes and a skull cap atop her head. Show your support for the love bandit with this new iPhone 4 case, available at select Sanrio stores.
Little MissMatched Heart Design Knee High Socks, $21. Available at QVC.com
Do you buy little trinkets for your kids on Valentine’s Day? If so, any tween would appreciate this collection of Little MissMatched knee-high socks, which includes two 3-pack sets: one featuring socks with an all-over striped heart pattern and the other featuring socks with the phrases “Be Mine” spelled out in candy hearts along their back. Each of the 3-packs includes socks with similar colors and yet no two are identical so that, when worn together, they look deliberately off-kilter and adorably silly.
