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Love it or hate it, V-day is just around the corner. Girls are eagerly eyeing their calendars in excited anticipation, whilst boys are starting to panic as images of last-minute dashes to jewellery, flower and chocolate boutiques torment them (that is, of course, unless they are basking in the bliss of forgetfulness.)
We’ve all heard practically everything there is to know about Valentine’s Day, about how it is just another cog in the machine of consumerism and that its origins are somewhat dubiously linked to a Christian martyr by the name of Valentine. However this year, it seems that things will be a little different from the usual fanfare–and for the better.
With the global recession spreading from Shanghai to Vancouver, fewer people are going to be finding themselves in the mood for splashing out on an expensive meal, extravagant bunches of roses or bracelets dripping in sparkles. We’re all still trying to adjust to the uncomfortable mechanics of the New Economy, where bling is most definitely out and brown paper bags are the new staple. This spells good news for Love, because perhaps at last it will be able to loosen itself from the clutches of Money. In the past, all too readily did we succumb to the myth that the more expensive a gift is, the more our other half loves us.
But now that we are being forced to cut back on spending, we are finally applying our brains to our wallets. Which means we may have to make do with one rose instead of twenty-four, or a home-cooked meal instead of dinner at Nobu. But it also means that Love will be celebrated for what it truly is, rather than for the lavish trimmings it is too-readily decked up in.
So it is in this spirit that Chic Today has gathered a handful of inspiring gift ideas that will celebrate the strength of your relationship, not that of your spending power. And girls, if he should happen to forget, remember that tantrums are so Old Economy. Because true love doesn’t buckle under the weight of a forgotten calendar date.
1. A short course on Love at The School of Life
London’s School of Life is by far one of the city’s most revolutionary concepts. Founded by the former curator of public programmes at the Tate, Sophie Howarth, this unique nook offers visitors the opportunity to learn how to live life in more fulfilling ways. With the help of luminaries such as Martin Parr, Alain de Botton and Geoff Dyer, The School of Life seeks to turn conventions upside down and inside out. We promise that it is nothing like you have ever seen or experienced before, so make sure you book your place at their upcoming course on Love, where you will explore questions as varied as ‘How important is sex?’ and ‘How can love be made to last?’
2. The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm
If you are expecting this book to be a series of self-help lessons, then steer well clear of it. Written by German psychologist, psychoanalyst and philosopher Erich Fromm, this short book rationally breaks down love as a way of teaching our minds to understand and listen to what our hearts are saying. A piece of writing that you will surely dip into throughout your life, this beautiful book is perfect not only for couples, but also for friends, parents and siblings.
3. Overdose on Pampering
Seeing that this year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday, there should be no work-related meetings, appointments or deadlines to interrupt the day. So indulge in a few hours together where you both switch off your phones and BlackBerrys and simply concentrate on each other. Whether it is a surprise breakfast in bed, a warm bath together, or watching a DVD under the duvet with a mug of hot chocolate, treat your love to some healthy pampering.
4. Love Across the Miles
Not all of us will be lucky enough to be spending the day with our other half, so bridge the gap slightly by surprising them with a Valentine’s Day wake-up call. Alternatively, send them a jar filled with miniature envelopes containing countless of short messages which are to be opened day by day. Created by Kind Notes, lovers can send each other romantic notes in a gloriously Romeo-and-Julietesque manner.
5. Kisses and Nutella
What more could you possibly want?
