Jewelry & Undies I Love/Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
/Stuff to buy yourself because, really, you're the best.
Listen, I know it’s very chic to be anti-Valentine’s day, or eye-rolly or whatever, but honestly! I kind of love it. I love the corniness, I love how stores decorate everything pink, I can’t wait to make cards for my kids’ classmates and for them to come home with their own box full of store-bought cartoon Valentines. As long as you can accept it as the third campiest day of the year (after Halloween and Christmas) and not, like, a failure to the world if you’re single, it’s great. Who doesn’t love love! What’s not to love!
I have gotten a lot of requests for what to gift on Valentine’s day. My thought on this is - it’s a totally made-up holiday. Gestures are nice, but unless you’re Beyonce, it’s probably not a bank-busting holiday. Which is also nice! The pressure is off. Still, it’s a good time to throw a subtle hint at your partner for a token you wouldn’t mind receiving, or buying them something, or if you need an excuse to buy yourself something stupid that you just love but can’t otherwise justify, to go for it. After all, a piece of jewelry could be your Valentine, right? I guess?
Anywhoodle, here are some picks for hints, or self gifts, and at the end a few things I’d consider getting my husband if he wasn’t anti-stuff and just so minimalist it’s a joke.
Jewelry hints that won’t make your partner hate you.
So first, I’ve been on and on about this brand Dorsey, and my necklace that I wear almost every day lately. I love that necklace, but truly, the whole assortment is pretty great. The premise is essential jewelry items but done in lab-grown gems instead of diamonds (white sapphires instead of diamonds), and fabricated into super high quality jewelry. It’s great for travel, it’s bang for your buck, it’s treat yourself to the max.
1. This is kind of hard to see here (look here) but it’s a super traditional style station necklace. It’s mega sparkly, very beautiful, and high-impact, but also isn’t insane to send a hint for, at $230.
2. I cannot tell you how many DM’s I get about tennis bracelets. I also love them! But something about a really youthful gal with a gigantic diamond tennis bracelet sometimes feels a bit….eehhhhh to me. You know? You know. So, that said, I love this one, which is a lot of look, but you won’t lose your mind if you lose it in the club. Or on the playground. Whatever. It’s just a much more modern approach in general, in my opinion. $240
3. Ditto here, but times ten. $310
4. And lastly, the one I wear! I also get a billion questions about what length mine is - it’s the 16”, and it’s perfect. I love it so much. $550
Underwear that *might* make your partner hate you.
Ok, so, look. I’m all for a sexy spider lady costume in theory, but honestly, lately, all I want are big, soft, 100% cotton 90s style underwear. I’ve joked about my full-coverage Jockeys before, but I’m actually not at all joking! I bought a 6-pack of these, and they are so comfortable, I can’t imagine why everyone doesn’t also own them. Aside from the fact that they’re baggy, thick, and hideous. I think I got mine a couple sizes too big because they are REALLY saggy, hahahaha, and I really love them. Honestly they’re so thick and so big they could kind of double as shorts.
But on a larger scale, I think there’s really something to going back to the all-cotton underwear of the past. I’ve been wanting string bikini styles in cotton lately too, and while they’re not *sexy* in the traditional sense, I think they can make you feel really great, and what’s sexier than that! And I know this French-cut concept has been around, but primarily in thong iterations. I’m talking full-coverage, baby. Your butt is hugged.
1. Very classic. Very hot. These + a white tee + the Dorsey necklace? Killer. They come in a million colors, and some up to size 3XL, but I prefer the heather grey. Knickey, $17.
2. A slightly more alluring version of what I own and love, I’d size down in these. But they have the same classic throwback appeal as New Balance dad sneakers, especially with the little fabric logo tag. You can’t help but feel like a hot bitch when you wear them. And! 100% cotton. Jockey, $40/6.
3. I’m sorry - navy string bikini in lightweight 100% cotton and a portion of proceeds goes to benefit organizations supporting sexual and reproductive health? Ok!!!!!!! I actually have a few pairs from this brand, and they are excellent. (Also their kids things are great, great, great - and then this tank!) Anyway, the underwear are Oddobody, $24.
4. You can’t tell here but these are a very sweet pointelle-knit with a very sweet lace trim, and an even sweeter little bow. Aww… Cou Cou, $92/3.
5. And last, these are SO CUTE, and SO COMFORTABLE, but size down. I love them. And yes, $48 is a lot to spend on one pair of underwear, BUT the brand also makes matching cardigans and camis, so you can have a full set and feel really silly and hot when you’re just rolling around in your bed a little stoned. Rosette, $48.
Great books if you just want to stay home alone and fuck off.
I love to read. My dream Sunday is just me in bed, alone, with the windows open, reading and dozing and not speaking a single word to anyone all day. If I didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s feelings, it’s also how I’d like to spend my Valentine’s day. I read a lot, so here are some of my favorite books of all time if you just want to stay home and wear your giant underwear and eat Pirate’s Booty in bed. Are these picks cliche? Maybe! But they’re also genuine. Also, this is not a comprehensive list of my favorite books, kind of just the first few that popped to mind/the ones that made the biggest impressions lately. To save space I’m also not going to get too much into each one.
1. Everyone I’ve recommended this book to loves it. Very Americana, but beautifully written. If you like Jonathan Franzen you’ll probably love this. I’ve read it three times. The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach.
2. Trigger Warning with this one, wow it is so brutal, but it is the most brilliantly written book, there were so many parts where I felt like I couldn’t read another word but also I couldn’t put it down. I really don’t know what to say about this one, it’s horrible and wonderful. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara.
3. HILARIOUS! I loved it. My Year of Rest and Relaxation, by Ottessa Moshfegh.
4. Oooooo everyone’s reading this book right now and THEY SHOULD. It’s a great read, bu totally heartbreaking. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin.
5. I un-ironically love John Irving novels, and this was my favorite. All about prep school (most of his novels are), wrestling (most of his novels are), sexual and gender identity, and Americana (most of his novels are). I love everything I’ve ever read of his, but this one is heaven. In One Person, by John Irving.
6. I tried to read this a few times, but I couldn’t get into it, but then I got into it and I really got into it. All consuming! A great story! Massively enjoyable, though sad. Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett.
7. Everyone read this two summers ago, and if you haven’t YOU MUST. It is strange, and funny, and sad, weird, surreal, brilliant! I gobbled it up. Luster, by Raven Leilani.
8. Ok to be fair I just started this, but I already love it. I love writing that’s just straightforward and concise. I don’t like anything flowery, I like to read the way people speak and think and this is that. Also A Little Life was that - SO FUCKING DARK, but very casual about it? Anyway, I think this book is also going to be very, very sad, but I like sad books! The Rabbit Hutch, by Tess Gunty.
9. Ok now I’m realizing the degree to which I like sad books because, wow, this one is HARD TO READ. About a Scottish boy’s devastatingly alcoholic mother. Wow it is really good. Shuggie Bain, by Douglas Stuart.
Gifts for a man.
Or for yourself.
So you could give a man any of those books (though, like I said, most are sad), or you could give him something kind of sweet and corny and generic, because it’s only Valentine’s Day, to be honest, you could give someone a shitty box of chocolates in a mega tacky box from, like, CVS, and it would be great and kind of ironic and cool! But if you don’t want to do that, and you need to buy for a man, here are some ideas.
1. Nothing says “I more than like you!” better than extra-soft slippers. I have these, and I’m crazy about them. LL Bean, $99.
2. A perfect sweatshirt! Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! And! It comes up to size 3XL. I want one. Gap, $50.
3. Sunspel makes terrific T-shirts, so soft and great quality - I think they make a really great gift for someone who lives in the basics. Sunspel, $90.
4. This is mega-foolproof. Soft little felted wool hoodie! Looks better than a real sweatshirt hoodie, but is still very comfortable and great. Everlane, $130.
5. What is sillier than REALLY EXPENSIVE SOCKS! These are a cashmere blend, so not as fussy as cashmere, but just as soft. Pantherella, $138/3.
6. Maybe a bomber jacket is a weird gift, but this is a great bomber jacket and anyone would be lucky to have it! It’s thick wool so it will keep you warm, too. Alex Mill, $395.
7. Sillier than really expensive socks? A really expensive beanie. The Row, $590.
8. This Bode jacket is a dream. It is insanely beautiful and special, and yes, it’s over $2,000 but if you have the money and have the person, what could be better. Oh wait! It has matching pants. Bode, $2,098.
That’s it! Just feel good and hot and silly, nothing is real, everything is fun.
I love you!
Your friend,
Laurel
*Some of these are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase I might earn a commission - which I appreciate!
Any interest in sharing more items for men (husband)? Would love your guidance.
Hiiiii where is your chain from, the one where you have the multiple charms?? Love!!!