Valentine’s Day is for Lovers…of Beauty
A small box of decorative foil wrapped chocolates and a couple of elegant roses are such a simple but beautiful way to lift the gloom of midwinter.
Surprise surprise, I love a holiday for its aesthetic value.
Valentine’s day is perfectly posed right in the dead of winter— seemingly at the halfway point between Christmas and Spring. Dreaded by singles, perceived by many as a “hallmark” or “commercial” holiday, and capitalized upon by big box stores for the selling of cheap gifts and carts with pithy sentiments. But as with many things, it is what you make of it, and if you hate Valentine’s Day for any of the above reasons, I do think that you’re missing out.
At the heart of it, I believe that Valentine’s Day is ultimately a feminine holiday (not to let the men in our lives off the hook). The color palette of rose tones, light blushes, and deep sensual reds. Flowers. Chocolate. Heart shaped things. Even the idea of finding beautiful ways to express love to others seems to be something us women are particularly good at.
Valentine’s day is a holiday that is just pretty for the sake of being pretty- but with the added benefit of of a “love” theme, so we get to share said beautiful things with others.
Freeze dried strawberries look like hearts atop the frosting of a cake.
These expressions of love can be romantic, or they can just be expressed to those close to us who we love— sisters, children, family, friends, etc.
One of my favorite Valentine’s memories— if not my favorite— is shopping in downtown Philadelphia with one of my best friends. She encouraged me to buy a Dior lipstick, and we happily walked out of Sephora with our designer lipsticks and towards the nearest bar for a glass of champagne.
I still have my Dior lipstick and think of her every time I wear it, and cherish the memories of friendship associated with this day.
Baby pink roses resting on top of a vintage Victoria’s Secret nightgown. I make sure to stock the shop with plenty of feminine lingerie pieces this time of year.
Winter can have it’s own beauty and comforts but by mid February the cold and bleak tends to start lingering a bit. I find this time of year a good opportunity to create beauty in my own life and share it with others. Whether it’s baking something beautiful, sending flowers to a friend, or making a lovely meal for the family to celebrate, I love it all.
A vintage lace collar looks like a delicate paper Valentine. Available in the shop.
