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.
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