Valentine’s Day gift ideas from Alice Made This
We all know that Valentine’s Day falls on the 14th February, but why do we celebrate it in the first place? Is it just a commercial occasion or is there a more meaningful story behind it? Is it a day to be loved or loathed? Whatever your personal views on this annual celebration of romance, we have pulled together some key information about its history and some top tips to get it right, including luxury Valentine’s Day gift suggestions from the team here at Alice Made This.
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DO'S AND DON'TS
Do be thoughtful. Valentine’s Day can often be cheesy but, cynicism aside, it can also be a day to show someone that you really care. Even the smallest, thoughtful gesture can go a long way.
Don’t be cliché. It can be so easy to resort to the last-minute bunch of flowers from the petrol station on the way home from work, but is that really the way you want to express yourself?
Do plan. Valentine’s Day is busy, busy, busy. If you are planning on hitting the town, make a reservation at your favourite spot in advance to avoid disappointment. You don’t want to be wandering around trying to find a space!
Don’t panic. Valentine’s Day should be fun! As long as you are together and laughing your way through the day, you will be all set for a lovely time.
Do buy a gift that they will really like. Stuffed teddy bears are cute, but does your partner really need it? Why not take a look at some of our Valentine’s Day gift ideas below to find something that they’ll want to keep for longer than the 15th February.
THE HISTORY OF VALENTINES DAY
There are lots of myths and folk tales associated with Valentine’s Day and its origins. In Ancient Rome for example the 14th February was part of a pagan fertility festival called Lupercalia where young men whipped young women to try and improve their fertility. As well as this, a Christian known as Valentine of Terni was apparently imprisoned, tortured and beheaded in Rome for his Christianity by the order of a Roman prefect called Placid Furius. According to legend, he died on 14 February. Another Christian, Valentine of Rome, was apparently arrested for giving aid to prisoners. While in jail, he is said to have converted his jailer by healing his blind daughter's sight. He is said to have fallen in love with the daughter, signing off a note to her with “From your Valentine”.
Another popular association with the occasion is Geoffrey Chaucer and his Parliament of Fowls, thought to be the first place that Valentine’s Day was linked to romantic love. Celebrating the engagement of Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia, he wrote: “For this was on St. Valentine's Day/ When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.” Shakespeare also mentions the day in Hamlet during Ophelia’s lament: “To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, /All in the morning betime, /And I a maid at your window, /To be your Valentine.”
These are just a couple of places where Valentine’s Day appears and is celebrated throughout the ages, joining a whole host of theories and ideas about where it stems from. As it stands today, the twentieth century saw the holiday develop into a more commercialised entity, with greetings cards and gift giving becoming popular, but how do you find the right gift for that special someone?
LUXURY VALENTINE'S GIFTS
Finding the right Valentine’s gift for him or for her can be a difficult task. It can be hard to find something contemporary and thoughtful, without being cliché or predictable. At Alice Made This, we have a collection of luxury Valentine’s gifts that not only look refined, but will become a staple of your loved one’s smart and casual wardrobes for years to come. Chocolates and flowers get eaten and fade, but a precise accessory or a minimalist piece of jewellery is designed to last and be cherished. Here are just some of our Valentine’s gift ideas, for him and for her.
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS FOR HER
Statement necklaces
Treat your loved one to a statement necklace this Valentine’s Day. Available in gold, silver and rose gold, our geometric pendants look as beautiful dressed up with a date-night dress as they do dressed down with a t-shirt and jeans A Valentine’s present for her that she can wear day in and day out.
Grace silver necklace . Esme gold necklace . Ava rose gold necklace . Eden silver necklace . Juno rose gold necklace . Nola gold necklace . Hope silver necklace
Stacking rings
Looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift for her? Our collection of rings can be elegantly stacked and layered, creating beautiful material plays and texture combinations, or worn individually to offer a simple statement. A luxury Valentine’s gift that will have her thinking of you every day.
Anning silver ring . Kitson silver ring . Tio gold ring . Tio silver ring . Kitson rose gold ring . Mia rose gold ring. Kiston silver ring . Tio silver ring
Bracelets for her
Our collection of women’s bracelets offers something for every style and occasion. Choose the material and graphic profile to suit your loved one and give her a Valentine’s present that she’ll really love.
Oscar silver bracelet . Anning silver bracelet . Lapworth silver, rose gold and gold bracelets . Anning silver and gold bracelets . Oscar silver bracelet
Elegant earrings
A pair of elegant earrings can often be the making of a great outfit. From our circle designs to more graphic or minimal earrings, these Valentine’s gifts are perfect for a casual day date as much as for a romantic night out.
Kitson earrings . Mia earrings . Tio earrings
VALENTINE'S DAY GIFTS FOR HIM
Classic cufflinks
Browse our collection of classic cufflinks for a timeless Valentine’s present for him. Perfect for the office or dressed up for date-night, your special someone will love the minimalist designs of our refined pieces.
Dawson copper cufflinks . Austin brass cufflinks . Erno silver cufflinks, blasted . Alexander copper cufflinks
Bracelets for men
Searching for a contemporary Valentine’s day gift for him? Choose something unique and let him express his personality with one of our men’s bracelets. They look great styled with formal wear or dressed down for a more casual look.
Bancroft P4, P2 and B2 mens cuff bracelets . Bancroft M4 mens cuff bracelet . Anning copper mens cuff bracelet . Lapworth brass mens cuff bracelet . Harland silver mens cuff bracelet
Men’s rings
Available in gold and silver, our men’s rings are the ideal gift for that special person. Perfect for casual day wear, a smart accessory or worn as a unique wedding band, our rings are a refined Valentine’s present for him.
Bancroft P2 mens silver ring . Bancroft P4 and M4 gold rings . Bancroft P4, P2 and M2 mens silver rings . Bancroft B2 mens silver ring
Lapel pins
Our lapel pins look as wonderful on the lapel of a blazer as they do on a beautiful piece of knitwear A versatile Valentine’s present for him that provides the finishing touch to any outfit.
William yellow pin . Augustine rose gold pin . Alvar rhodium pin . James gold pin . Marmaduke silver pin
For more Valentine’s Day gifts for him and for her, browse our full collection of men’s accessories and women’s jewellery.
