Kelsey Chapman
Jan 18, 2021
Getty Images/iStockphoto
We’ve given you jewelry and there’s always perfume (more of which you’ll find below!), but Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away and it’s time to give you the low-down on some more creative options inspired by traditional themes of the season.
Whether you’re working with an extravagant budget or can only throw down a few bucks this holiday, we’ve chosen plenty of gifts that are thoughtful, beautiful, and will mean the world to the lady in your life.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn a commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing, expert advice and our own research. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Love Cats 3D card
You can’t start Valentine’s Day off without a card, and our favorite card makers at Lovepop have a variety of options to help you choose the purr-fect one.
These pop-up cats are a cute contender for showcasing your love. Their adorable faces and petite paws perch delicately over the main body of the card as you open it, creating a precious surprise for whoever opens it. A separate note card lets you jot down your thoughts without marring the main event, and you can customize the card with your own message or photo for an additional $5 charge.
Lovepop
$13.00
Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Mini Discovery Set
Perfume is a classic gift to give on V Day, but it can be hard to narrow down the playing field when it comes to your lover’s favorite scent. This Maison Margiela multi-scent set contains a whopping 10 2mL bottles of fragrance that mimick special events in one’s life from a walk at the beach to browsing a flower market, all the way to rich experience of browsing books in a library. Buy for someone who can never seem to settle on a signature smell but loves to experiment with adventurous, comforting aromas.
Maison Margiela
$35.00
License 2 Play Inc Domo 9” Medium Plush Pink
Is your crush a little on the nerdy side? Try giving her (or him or them, this one works across the board) one of these stuffed pink Domo plushes.
Created after the Japanese broadcasting mascot, Domo’s influence has reached much further than the country’s boarders since its inception as an interstitial television character in 1998. The pink color and soft touch plus the cute heart embroidered under that gaping maw is both heartwarming and hilarious, ideal for that special someone who doesn’t want to take romance too seriously.
License 2 Play Inc
$19.29
Ellie Women’s Phoebe Marabou Mule
On the opposite end of the romance spectrum, we have this sexy and playful marabou mule for the seductress who loves to lounge in style. A slim kitten heel and outrageous feather trim are alluring and sensual, and come in four different colors to please folks of all boudoir style preferences.
Ellie
$31.99
Hope Scented Candle, 8 oz. / 225 g
We’ve already elaborated on how much we love the alluring scents of Hope Fragrances here, but we continue to be impressed by the brand’s commitment to charity by donating their net profits to the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF) to support groundbreaking depression research.
While we love their fragrances and highly recommend picking up a bottle of their citrusy new Sport scent or stunning Signature Gift Collection, we are dying to get our hands on one of these amazing candles that diffuses the gorgeous scent throughout the home for up to 55 hours of burn time. Its beautifully simple gold and white jar will look classy anywhere it sits, so gift to the person you love who likes a little splash of luxury and a deliciously aromatic atmosphere.
Hope Fragrances
$75.00
Wolf & Whistle Adrienne Red Lace Trim Slip Dress
Red lingerie is another must-have for the most romance-focused holiday, so something satiny and gorgeous is an obvious home run pick for gifting. Beautiful thin straps and suggestive off-the-shoulder detailing are complemented by stretch lace edges and a subtly fitted body, guaranteeing its wearer will feel lush and beautiful once they slip it on.
Wolf & Whistle
$49.00
Valentine’s Day Nail Polish Collection in Cupid’s Beau
For a great under $10 option, this silver-flecked coral shellac will delight manicure lovers who love a quality polish with interesting tones and details. Buy for a lover, a friend, or anyone who likes a pop of color on their fingertips. Bonus: It will transition beautifully into summer and beyond for year-round wearability.
Essie
$9.00
Pocket Book of Romantic Poetry (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)
Nothing says romance quite like a good poem, so why not gift your beloved a whole book of the verses on exactly that? At just $8 and with such a stunning facade, this is sure to impress the literary-minded love in your life.
Barnes & Noble
$8.00
Lipstick Beaded Wall Art
Sure, it goes with the Valentine’s theme of lips, roses, pink, red, et al, but this beaded work of art’s year-round appeal cannot be denied.
Each linen canvas is hand-beaded in collaboration between Jonathan Adler and an artisanal workshop in India, and it takes nearly 100 hours to create. It weighs a hefty 10 pounds, so its luxe look and feel will surely wow whomever you choose to bestow it upon.
Jonathan Adler
$895.00
Gemstone Decor Hair Hoop
As one happy customer reports, this blinged-out headband is on-trend and “Perfect to pop on any outfit.” Oversized acrylic gems forms intricate abstract floral patterns in bold jewel tones, and the black satin of the main piece will go with any hair color and outfit. At just $6, pair this with a handful of the other affordable items here and create a whole basket of goodies for under $25.
Shein
$6.00
Tudor Rose Velvet Scarf
For a more high-end accessory, try this rich red velvet scarf from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s store emblazoned with golden Tudor roses.
Representing peace and unity, this five-petal rose is a national emblem of England came into being when Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York in 1486 and subsequently ascended the throne as King Henry VII. This move united two warring houses and could be gifted romantically to a partner with whom you want to build a stronger future–or it could just be something pretty to wear that staves off a chill.
The Met Store
$128.00
Babycakes Multi-Treat Maker
Now for something with a bit more practicality: an adorable kitchen gadget!
This tiny treat maker bakes donuts, cupcakes, or cake pops on your countertop without the mess of mutiple large pans, a ton of grease, or any of the other hassles that come along with traditional baking. It’s ideal for one or two people who just want a quick sweet treat, and the red color makes it nicely gift-able for your Valentine. Whip up a batch dreamy pink bite-size goodies to give along with the maker itself, and watch your baked goods-loving lover grow heart eyes on the spot.
Babycakes
$45.26
Ooh La Rouge Perfume 3.4 oz and Lip Gloss 0.21 oz
We’ve written about this delicious, indulgent scent before, but we want to bring it back for Valentine’s Day because the bottle, the scent, and the bonus lip gloss are an absolutely divine gift for any gal who loves a little luxury.
Christian Siriano
$85.00
Totally Pink Deluxe “Cassandra” Dressing Gown
Are you kidding me?
This is the most opulent, stunning, breathtaking, gorgeous, feminine, angelic, lovely, wonderful…. you get the point. A pink and puffy boudoir couture dream, this D’Lish robe is fit for nothing less than a queen, so gift it to the crown jewel of your life and you may never see the doghouse again.
Boudoir by D’Lish
$499.00
Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Velvet Matte Lip Colour Lipstick
$90 for a lipstick? Yeah, it’s pretty ridiculous. But it’s also just so pretty. You’re paying for the name and packaging as much as the stunning rouge inside, so pony up the cash for this vanity piece for your luxe-loving sweetie and watch her delight in the pure frivolity of it all.
Christian Louboutin
$90.00
Spafinder Gift Card
With thousands of locations available through the service and a huge array of products available online, Spafinder is the perfect place to gift your lady the gift of relaxation in whichever form she finds fit from massages to manicures. See the website for more details, but rest assured she’ll find something here to tickle her fancy.
Spafinder
$0.00
4’ Big Hunka Love® Bear with Bow Tie and Roses
Not all teddy bears are made equal, so why not go with the biggest, cutest, and softest around?
This four foot plush is a handsome fella, squishy and two-toned while he clutches a sweet bouquet that will never wilt and presents them dressed in his most formal red bow tie. This bear doubles as a body pillow and perfect place to nap, so give your love the gift of snuggles even when you’re not around to provide.
Vermont Teddy Bear
$104.99
Yours truly 3d mailbox
Kate Spade bags are a natural pick to please any classy lady, and this cute, kitschy take on the love letter mailbox as a purse is downright precious. It comes in a compact but still useful size, is constructed of fine Italian leather, and has some of the cutest details we’ve ever seen on a luxury bag–just look at that “letter” cardholder that tucks into the front pocket!
Kate Spade
$348.00
Black Preserved Roses - Small Square Black Box
There has never been a more perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your goth (or just darkly inclined) GF than a box of black roses suspended in post-mortem animation for up to a year’s time.
These roses were picked at the height of their beauty then dipped in an all-natural preservative before being artfully arranged in this gold embossed box that can have a personal message of up to 200 characters included. Pair with a book of gothic fiction such as this one for the ultimate tragically romantic gift.
Le Jardin Infini
$59.00
Cherubino Cameo Ring
Cameos are an eternally stylish accessory for anyone who loves a bit of Victorian flair, and this one featuring a tiny cherub fits the Valentine’s Day theme to a tee.
“This hand-carved Porcelain Cameo depicts a Cherub holding grapes - symbolizing fertility and prosperity - and it's bezel-set in a hand-engraved 14 kt Gold Over Sterling Silver frame,” as the maker describes, so make sure to take notes in order to give a detailed description of its wonderful meaning while slipping onto your sweetheart’s hand.
Vintouch Italy
$219.00
The Seasonal Plan
If our previous flower selection was a little too dark for your lover’s taste, try gifting this year-long subscription through which they’ll receive a seasonal bouquet curated to reflect the brightest and most beautiful stems of the quarter. Classic and Luxe plans are also available at varying price points, but we think the $75 a bouquet option seems like the most valuable that will get you a gorgeous delivery without breaking the bank entirely.
Urban Stems
$75.00
Return to Tiffany® Love Classic Teddy Bear
Yes, it’s completely outrageous and overpriced, but it’s Tiffany! Need we say more?
Tiffany & Co
$700.00
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