SUNDAY BITES 009
Valentine’s Day: Choose Your Player
Valentine’s Day. You can pretend not to care, but at some point, you’ll have a take. Are you soft-launching a situationship? Overcompensating with an Aman trip? Laughing through exhaustion while your kid eats all the good chocolate?
Wherever you land, we’ve mapped it out—pop culture references, product picks, and just the right amount of judgment. Pick your player, lean in, or ignore the whole thing entirely. Either works.
1. The ‘Soft-Launch’ Valentine
A date that’s ambiguous enough to maintain plausible deniability.
Drinkware: Maison Balzac coupe glasses for a “just one martini” moment.
Jewelry: THE Sophie Bille Brahe pearl necklace —quiet luxury but with a flirty wink.
Scent: D.S. & Durga ‘I Don’t Know What’—the perfume equivalent of an ellipsis in a text. ( try THIS ONE for a pheromone boost, which is also great for layering )
Book on the table: ‘Modern Love’ by Daniel Jones—casually left open on a page about commitment issues.
Lipstick: Violette_FR BisouBalm in Bêtise—a sheer matte tint with the perfect bouche mordue effect, like you’ve just been kissed (or about to be).
Want something even more noncommittal? Add a limited-edition Saint Laurent cigarette case for aesthetic purposes only.
2. The ‘We’re Overcompensating’ Couple
Because nothing says “we’re fine” like a well-curated Valentine’s flex.
Restaurant: Hotel Costes in Paris, Chiltern Firehouse in London, or Carbone in NYC.
Lingerie: Carine Gilson silk slip—just impractical enough.
Experience Gift: A stay at Aman (or at least a Trudon candle from the lobby).
Chocolate: Flamingo Estate chocolate box—because supermarket chocolate is for people who don’t love each other.
Wellness Boost: Moon Juice Sex Dust—because nothing says “we’re totally in sync” like adaptogenic aphrodisiacs.
3. The ‘Main Character’ Soloist
Valentine’s Day is just another day to look devastatingly chic alone.
Lipstick: Hermès Rouge Casaque Matte—a statement red for delivering devastating one-liners between sips of your martini, as if your life were directed by Sofia Coppola.
Book for the handbag: Joan Didion’s ‘Play It As It Lays’—read dramatically over a Negroni.
Fashion Moment: Ludovic de Saint Sernin leather coat ( on sale)—for dramatic departures from places.
Jewelry: Aurate waterfall earrings( VDLF30 for 30% off)—statement energy.
Perfume: Frederique Malle ‘French Lover ’—mysterious but intentional.
Shoes: Saint Laurent leopard ballet flats—effortless, like she ‘just threw them on.’
4. The ‘Realist Romantic’
For the couple who prioritize vibe over theatrics.
Playlist: Sade’s Love Deluxe on vinyl—romantic without trying too hard, just like you two.
Bath Ritual: Flamingo Estate Body Wash and Body Oil —because the best love language is leaving each other alone in the tub.
Dinner at home: Fresh Pastificio del Colle Striped Ribbon Pasta served in GINORI 1735 plates.
Matching Pajamas: Schostal x Alex Mill Striped Long Sleeve Pajama Set—for a high-low mix of cozy and chic.
Gift Exchange: Assouline’s ‘Tuscany Marvel’ book—subtle future trip suggestion.
5. The ‘We’re Just Doing This for the Kids’ Parents
They haven’t slept in a year, but the spirit is there.
For the Kids: A Bobo Choses heart-print sweater—cool enough for their friends to approve.
For the Parents: Loewe’s ‘Scent of Marihuana’ candle—because sometimes you need the placebo effect.
Chocolate (For Them, Not the Kids): Lavoratti 1938 Chocolate Bookshop Collection
PJs for the Collapse: Gap Cotton Set ( HIS & HERS )—not sexy, but efficient.
Sleep Aid: Vitruvi Sleep Essential Oil Blend. —because real romance is eight uninterrupted hours.
The Last-Minute Gift Exchange: ETUHOME Board —because at this point, your love language is replacing the sad, warped cutting board that’s seen too much.
6. The ‘Unhinged Wildcard’ Valentine
For those who love recklessly, plan nothing, and wake up wondering what just happened.
For the One Who Should’ve Gone Home: Baccarat Crystal Shot Glasses—because a “quick drink” turned into bottle service, and now you’re toasting to someone’s new tattoo.
Impulse Purchases You won’t Regret Tomorrow: Bvlgari Toi et Moi ring —because love fades, but fine jewelry holds its value.
Late-Night Chaos Control: Apple AirTag 4-Pack ( plus a cheeky charm to carry them)—for your keys, your dignity, and whoever went missing in the Uber split.
Disguise for the Morning After: RAY-BAN Wayfarer sunglasses—because you refuse to make eye contact with anyone until at least 3 PM.
Damage Control Kit: Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier + Ubeauty The Super Hydrator —because your skin and electrolyte levels are equally depleted.
Post-Debauchery Recovery Meal: Caviar —because even bad decisions deserve a bougie breakfast.
7. The ‘Single Mom Who’s Laughing Through the Exhaustion’ Valentine
For the mom whose love language is sarcasm, caffeine, and five uninterrupted minutes alone.
The Morning Lifeline: Tiffany’s china coffe cups—because your love story is with caffeine at this point.
The Self-Gift That Requires No Thought: Element Eight Peptide Cream —because if you can’t get eight hours of sleep, you can at least fake it.
The Bag That Holds It All Together (Literally, Not Emotionally): L.L. Bean Boat & Tote —because irony is the only thing holding you up at this point.
The Book You Pretend You Have Time to Read: The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins—because at this stage, your entire philosophy is “go ahead, do whatever, just don’t involve me
The ‘I’m Too Tired to Lace Things’ Shoes: Bombas Slides —because if they require effort, they’re not happening.
Besos,
Victoria
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