Valentine’s Day gifts are tricky for one simple reason: Relationships are tough. When you’re in a spanking new relationship, expensive jewelry seems desperate and presumptuous. When you’re married, gas station roses don’t exactly speak to your consideration and forethought. Not to mention, one woman’s yummy box of chocolates is another woman’s diet nightmare. And, well, you get the point.
That’s where we come in. See, we’re in the business of making your (shopping) lives easier. So, if you’re not so adept at taking hints—or if the mere thought of cupid and company makes you queasy—we’ve got Valentine ideas gift for him and her. Not just for any him and her, mind you, but for new girlfriends, tech-loving boyfriends, bookish wives and on and on.
It’s a virtual smorgasbord of sweet nothings, and we encourage you to mix, match and choose freely from our buffet of thoughtful gifts. We can’t guarantee you a black and white movie kind of Valentine’s Day. But if you see something that you would absolutely L-O-V-E for yourself, we recommend forwarding this post to your sweetie—because nothing says “I love you” like a wink, a nudge and a helpful hint that squelches the fear of disappointing your Valentine.
Valentines for Her
1. For the Tough-Meets-Sweet Woman: Sometimes, giving a woman a ring for Valentine’s Day can cause serious confusion. Plus, what if your lady just isn’t that in to girlie jewelry? Enter the cuff. The hardware keeps it from being too precious while the pink keeps it feminine. Loop and Stud Bracelet in Fuschia, Rebecca Minkoff.
2. For the New Lady in Your Life: When you’re newly dating, Valentine’s Day is a little awkward—you want to give her something without going overboard. This Juicy Couture charm hits the perfect note between “just dating” and “this could be something.” Limited Edition “Be Mine” Charm, Juicy Couture.
3. For Your Frequent Shopper: If your paramour loves hitting up the grocery store or local farmer’s market for the freshest fare, she’ll adore this gorgeous shopping bag. It’s strong enough to carry all of her finds yet fashionable enough to serve as a weekend essential. Bon Mot Bon Shopper, Kate Spade.
4. For Your Forever Love: This is the affordable (less than $40!) all-in-one gift. The two pink necklaces—one a simple heart, the other an irresistible cherub—each hang from a perfectly pink thread and are presented on a card that allows you to record a 10-second love note. Two-Necklace Gift Card Set, Juicy Couture.
5. For the Glamor Girl: Listen very carefully, guys. Lingerie is tricky. You will want to buy something racy. Resist that urge. This is her gift—not yours. Don’t attempt to buy her a bra (finding the right cup size is an art, not a science). It’s best to go with one or two selections from this line of The Lacie Cheeky Panties from Victoria’s Secret. They’re pretty and frilly without being trashy, and that’s a good thing. Trust us. The Lacie Cheeky Panty, Victoria’s Secret.
6. For the Beautiful Bookworm: If she can’t resist a Jane Austen novel, she’ll find this new Penguin Classics line illustrated by Ruben Toledo so very thoughtful. The artfully designed cover makes this version of the classic feel new again, and the fact that you thought to buy it will make it feel oh-so-very special. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, Penguin Classics.
Valentines for Him
1. and 2. For the Man with a Sweet Tooth: If it’s too soon to meet his parents, it’s too soon for extravagant Valentine’s Day gifts. But if you’re looking to give him something sweet without spending a lot of dough (oh, the puns!), get creative with some sugar cookie dough and cookie cutters. Alphabet Cookie Cutter Set, Ateco; Heart Shape Cookie Cutters, Cuisipro.
3. Your Main Man: If you’re aiming to impress, we can’t think of a gift more worthy of showing off than this Armani watch. Round Chronograph Watch, Emporio Armani.
4. For Your “Can’t Keep My Hands Off Him” Guy: Buying underwear for a man sends a clear single—you want to see him in (and, ahem, out) of them. So choose your recipients wisely, ladies. This pair of Gap heart-print boxers were the most subdued, and hence the least silly, pair of Valentine-themed undies we found. Heart-Print Boxers, Gap.
5. For Your Crush (or the Man who Still Gives You Butterflies): We’ve never stopped swooning over the art of mixtape making. In the world of MP3s and iTunes, we’ve longed for the 90-minute mixes of our youth. Enter the Mixtape Memory Stick. You’ll have 128 megs of storage space to create the perfect playlist for your love. Plus, the whole thing is packaged to look like an old cassette tape with room to write out your list of tracks. Very retro, very heartfelt. Mixtape Memory Stick, ThinkGeek.
6. For Your Long-Distance Better Half: Missing your faraway love? Upgrade his chatting capability with a webcam that boasts HD-quality audio and video. (Also ideal for mamas’ boys who Skype with mother dearest on the regular.) Eyeball Professional Webcam and Mic, Blue Microphones.
