Sound the love klaxon: we’re less than a month away from Valentine’s Day.
Cupid is hunting for targets, florists have ordered in reams of silk ribbon, and the countdown to Valentine’s Day is officially on.
Marking February 14 in any vaguely affectionate way can be a divisive topic; some passionately (and vocally) reject the notion of making an effort on one single day, while others counter the anti-love club with grand gestures, raising their game in honour of the day of dedication.
It doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can swerve giant clichés and still hand over a lovely token of affection that will raise a smile or cement your place in their heart.
The thing to remember? Valentine’s Day is not a holiday for practical giving. It's for lust, for indulging craving. For spoiling! Passion. Possibly via the medium of sparkling jewels or silly-money skincare. The heart wants what it wants.
A note on those aforementioned clichés: If you must go down the hearts route, look for brands that already use the shape in their wares. Think Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garçons, Tiffany & Co., Ami Paris. This way, you’ll: 1) hit the brief, 2) ensure it can continue to be loved long after mid-February, and 3) convey the right sentiment, equalling a triple-hit of Cupid’s bow.
You already know about the cards, chocs and flowers (and if you don’t, you’ll find the best over on Standard Shopping). For gift-giving inspo that doesn’t come with a side of ick, I’ve pulled together an edit of the coolest and most coveted ideas out there.
Let the gift matchmaking commence.
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Bella Freud Love Letter Jumper
Great quality knitwear never goes amiss as a present, especially when it's from Bella Freud. The label has released its Valentine's Day capsule which includes this 100 per cent merino wool knit in scarlet or ivory, emblazoned with the words 'Love Letter'. Cute doesn't cover it.
Buy now £355.00, Bella Freud
Jimmy Choo Drawstring Mini Top Handle Satin Shoulder Bag
Jimmy Choo may have made its name in footwear, but its accessories give reason to pause too. New this season is this macaron drawstring bag, finished with ruby red ribbons and a crystal-studded top handle. Made for date night dressing.
Buy now £495.00, Selfridges
Commune Seymour Body Kit
True, body care isn’t the most pulse-racing Valentine’s Day gift to give. Unless you're talking Commune, in which case, my BPM is going off the charts.
As cool as it is pricey, the independent brand is the perfect pick for beauty buffs who know their stuff. This set consists of 750ml bottles of Seymour body wash and lotion, each housed in refillable pumps to curb wastage and keep your bathroom looking hotel-level chic.
Lavish, indulgent, home-grown. Obsessed.
Buy now £150.00, Liberty
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are poised to set audiences alight with a fresh film adaptation of Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, released in cinemas on February 13. With the iconic romance back in the spotlight, a decorative reprint of the book could be a timely and romantic gesture.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Ottoman Hands Evil Eye earrings
With roots that stretch back to ancient Mesopotamia, evil eye jewellery is still worn in the Med and Middle East, believed to ward off, for lack of a better term, death stares and haters.
Ottoman Hands’ take on the style is rendered in 14ct solid gold with a sapphire centre framed by clear diamonds. Small enough to wear on their own or as part of a curated ear stack, they’ll dazzle and defend.
Buy now £425.00, Ottoman Hands
TEKLA Striped Hooded Cotton Robe
This brand was the first name that tripped off the lips of colleagues when I did a spot poll for ultimate Valentine’s Day gifts. And for good reason.
Danish homewares brand Tekla has the celebrity seal of approval (Harry Styles and Alexa Chung are just two notable fans among legions) thanks to its supremely cosy wares, which include this striped cotton robe.
Serve first thing in the morning with breakfast in bed.
Buy now £200.00, Selfridges
Discotheque Lola at the Coat Check candle
Another woman? On Valentine’s Day? If it were anyone but Lola, there might be a kicking off in the pipeline.
Fragrance brand Discotheque, master of time travel by scent, nails vibey New York in the early Nineties with this candle, packed with sweet, spicy and woody notes that evoke a hedonistic night out.
Buy now £54.00, Discotheque
27 87 Per Se fragrance
I tried this fragrance at the end of 2025, and fell headfirst for the clean yet energetic-feeling notes from the first spritz. There are floral notes here, contrasting with clean aldehydes, bamboo, pepper and musk, which all come together to smell like clean, sunwarmed linen laundry with a touch of soapiness. Honestly, the freshness is intoxicating. A winning alternative if your beloved isn’t one for heavy florals.
Buy now £250.00, Selfridges
Tilly Sveaas Gold Moi + Toi Signet Ring
For those who like their jewels as bold as their declaration of love, Tilly Sveaas’s Moi + Toi signet ring is the antithesis of dainty filigree. It comes in gold or silver options with four sizes available to ensure the perfect fit.
Buy now £160.00, Tilly Sveaas
Stella McCartney Vegan Plush-Lined Slippers
Super soft and cosy, these Italian-made slippers are handcrafted from vegan leather and lined with plush teddy fabric to warm cold toes.
Buy now £550.00, Stella McCartney
Laurent Perrier Cuvé Rosé Brut Champagne 75cl
No romantic celebration is complete without a bottle of bubbly — especially the pink kind. Laurent Perrier’s wonderfully fragrant and fresh Cuvée Rosé Brut Champagne will bring the taste of France to your table, and if anyone knows how to do romance, it’s our friends across the Channel.
As with all these things, presentation is key, so why not upgrade to the limited edition ribboned jacket bottle for a few pounds more (£85.99)?
Buy now £82.00, Waitrose
Completedworks Butter Gold Plated Necklace
The butter obsession that started in 2025 has spread into 2026. First, it was the adoption of flavoured varieties and culinary experimentation with beurre noisette (burned butter). Then, the fashion set adopted butter yellow as the shade of spring and summer.
Now, jewellers have sunk their teeth into the obsession. Completedworks’ sculpted floral necklace may be forged from recycled brass, but its curves look like someone’s cut into a fresh pat with a butter knife.
Towards the fastening near the nape, you’ll find the word butter in script. I love the way it’s almost hidden, waiting to be found.
Buy now £445.00, Completedworks
BURGA x Thomas Lelu May We Always phone case
From Smythson to Burga, artist and illustrator Thomas Lelu is spreading his irreverent and playful style over all the things we love. His new collection with the phone accessory brand puts the handwritten scrawl he’s famous for over everything from handset cases (iPhones, Samsung and Google Pixel) and laptop covers to portable batteries.
Buy now £45.95, BURGA
Meri Pink Cocktail Glasses Set of Two
Proving a sweet gesture needn’t bankrupt you in the process, Oliver Bonas’s homeware selection to the rescue. These pink and red cocktail glasses make a fine vehicle for a special V-Day toast. Best presented alongside a bottle of their favourite plonk.
Buy now £16.50, Oliver Bonas
Issey Miyake Solar Violet EDT
If you like clean, fresh scents, Issey Miyake's Solar Violet won't fail to delight. The EDT sparkles with juicy hints of pear and iris smelling like they've been picked in warm sunshine. It's a lot like the (sadly) discontinued CLEAN Classic Fresh Laundry with a subtle floral edge.
Buy now £82.00, The Perfume Shop
Mulberry Small Amberley Small Classic Grain Leather Satchel Bag, Black
If the key to her heart is through small leather goods, Mulberry is an excellent port of call. This small Amberley is made from grain leather and and can be worn crossbody, leaving hands free for coffee, flowers, or whatever the day brings her. Available in six other colours.
Buy now £795.00, Mulberry
Not Another Bill Silver Fortune Cookie
Got an important question to ask? A silly joke to share? The security code to your house? Whatever your next step, deliver it in cute, quirky style with this stainless steel fortune cookie, which comes with two slips of paper to fill as you wish.
Buy now £30.00, Not Another Bill
GANNI Tapestry Nano Heart Bag
Sweet without being twee, her heart will leap at the sight of GANNI’s tapestry finished bag.
Buy now £225.00, GANNI
RANAVAT Kansa Wand
Gua sha isn’t the only face sculpting ritual that comes with its own tools. South Asian brand Ranavat champions ayurveda practices, championing this copper and tin wand designed to use across the face to energise, balance and smooth.
Buy now £70.00, Space NK
Drowsy Breakfast at Drowsy Silk Eye Mask
New mums, insomniacs or light sleepers — no matter the sleep concern, the solution is at hand.
The luxe Drowsy eye mask offers a complete blackout of external light and has a sophisticated and sumptuously soft silk construction. It has a thick band for added comfort and puts next to no pressure on the face.
Buy now £79.00, Amazon
Anya Hindmarch Anya Brands Love Hearts Charm
A label characterised by a trifecta of hallmarks — personalisation, organisation, and an inherent sense of play — Anya Hindmarch is on course to steal hearts with this charming trinket.
Part of the Anya Brands collection, it sees an open tube of Love Hearts suspended on a keyring clasp with incredible attention to detail.
Give alone as a sweet treat or, if you’re at the right stage, add a special set of keys to herald a landmark moment.
Buy now £175.00, Liberty
Officine Universelle Buly Superfine Water
A superfine toner for your superfine S.O, from one of the finest Parisian skincare brands to boot.
Buy now £44.00, Officine Universelle Buly
Everyman cinema vouchers
A gift card may save your skin as an 11th hour gift, but let's be honest: it's not always the most exciting thing to 'unwrap'. Unless, that is, you're a huge cinema buff and the voucher in question is for a branch of Everyman.
The equivalent of turning left on an aircraft, Everyman nails the cinema experience at a time when attendance at rival picture houses is on the decline. With comfy seats, legroom galore and a drinks and dining menu that spans next-level movie snacks to a full-on dinner, gifting a voucher is second only to buying them a membership.
Available via post or email from £30 and up.
Buy now £30.00, Everyman
National Art Pass
If they love a lazy Saturday stroll through a gallery or museum they will be spoilt for choice using the National Art pass.
With over 240 museums and historic sites to select from they can save 50 per cent on major exhibitions and still have money left over to buy lunch or a fancy art book for their coffee table.
Buy now £62.25, Art Fund
Jo Vodka The Bohemian
From one of the most discerning noses in fragrance comes this vodka, made from 100 per cent British wheat. Jo Malone CBE's booze venture bears many of the hallmarks of her colognes — square bottle, rounded topper, and, in The Bohemian expression, a sensorial experience with juicy citrus notes. Perfect for martinis.
Buy now £49.99, Jo Vodka
