Valentinesday

Burberry Check Hearts Satchel, Handbag of the Day

Filed under: Handbags

The Burberry Check Hearts Satchel is a lovely Valentine's gift or seasonal accessory.

Whether it's given to you by your handsome lover or not, this satchel is a sweet, whimsical way to carry Burberry while love is in the air. Their traditional check pattern is adorned with soft, airy pink hearts and enclosed in sexy, deep red patent leather details. This "someone loves me" purse is 11"W X 7½"H X 6"D, has double handles and metal feet, and includes dangly heart charms -- which you can remove if that's just too much love.

While wearing any kind of "themed" accessory can be tricky, this bag makes embarrassment unlikely, as it is decidedly casual. The trouble with most holiday-wear is that it gives the impression of trying too hard. With a bag like this and a pair of jeans, no one will accuse you of making a spectacle of yourself or pushing the romance too far. Only on Valentine's Day itself (or when attending related events) should you pair this satchel with anything other than your most casual jeans or pants.

So, we love this, but encourage you to use it with caution.

The Burberry Check Hearts Satchel is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $650.00.

Tags: burberry, handbag of the day, HandbagOfTheDay, pink, valentines day, ValentinesDay

Conway Stewart Valentines Limited Edition Pen

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Writing Instruments

Conway Stewart has designed a pen just for Valentine's Day. The 'Valentines Limited Edition' is made of rich red resin and shining sterling silver with a large 18k gold nib. Carefully designed and balanced for smooth and effortless writing, the clean contemporary design is accented with small engravings of romantic Shakespearean love sonnets. The romance continues all through the packaging with a small book of sonnets, a calligraphic copy of the love Sonnets engraved on the pen, and a bottle of red ink all included in a pretty black satin-lined box. Limited to only 50 for $750.

Source

Tags: conway stewart, ConwayStewart, pen, valentine, valentines day, ValentinesDay, writing, writing instrument, WritingInstrument

Valentine's Day Treats From Bouchon Bakery

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

We've featured a bunch of sweet treats for Valentine's Day on this site already but you can never have too much love or too much sugar. Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery is featuring some festive new creations. Shown above are the Expression cookies, classic shortbread cookies covered with white chocolate yogurt glaze. Each is complete with favorite Valentine's Day messages in chocolate, including be mine, xoxo, kiss me and I love you! and they sell for $3.75 each. Other delicious temptations include Valentine Chocolate Boxes and Cupid Cupcakes which are heart shaped devil's food cake with a passion fruit caramel center and decorated with basket weave fondant for $6.50 each. Classic Linzer cookies get a heart shape for Valentines Day and a chocolate and passionfruit velour is a heart shaped chocolate crème with a passion fruit curd center, finished with chocolate-- a temptation that will run you $8.75.You can check out more mouthwatering images at Serious Eats or just go to Bouchon and get your own.

Tags: bouchon, bouchon bakery, BouchonBakery, chocolate, cookies, hearts, valentines, valentines day, ValentinesDay

Four Seasons Beverly Hills Offers Sexy Couples Massage

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas, Cosmetics and Fragrance

Treatment Room at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Spa

The newly renovated Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is offering a sexy massage for couples that could be the perfect way to give the object of your affections something you can share.

The Lover's Duet Couples Massage is a 60 or 90 minute treatment in a private suite for two. Champagne elixirs infused with dark chocolate and passionfruit will be given to you in your rose petal-adorned room as romantic music plays, lulling you and your honey into sweet relaxation. At the end of your massage, you'll be given bath salts and custom blended massage oil to take home.

If you'd like to know how to use that massage oil, you can have a 30 minute training session with one of the spa's leading massage therapists (for an additional $105). Now that's an everlasting Valentine's Day gift ($380-$90 without the massage training).

But wait. From February 12-14, your Valentine's Day indulgences can be even more comprehensive -- The Everlasting Valentine's Day package ($535) includes a cocktail and breakfast for two, accommodations, and a private meeting with custom perfume specialist Kedra Hart of Opus Oils' Jitterbug Perfume Parlour. Couples will be guided on an "aromatic journey" and create their very own fragrance, which will be given to them in the form of a 2 oz Eau de Parfum spray and a travel sized roll-on (formula will be kept on file, refills available).

Even if you don't normally splurge for Valentine's Day, don't you both deserve a little pampering? You could split the cost and get it for each other. Visit the website or call (310) 273-2222 to book an appointment.

Tags: Four Seasons, FourSeasons, Lost Angeles, LostAngeles, Massage, Sexy, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay

Sweet Treats to Send Your Sweetheart on Valentine's Day

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Holiday Guides

For those of you who want to send a delicious delicacy to the one you love on Valentine's Day there are some great mail order options. Whether you like cookies or chocolates there is something for everyone.

We write about Dean & Deluca a lot here on Luxist in part because they consistently offer quality products for the discerning gourmand from various manufacturers around the world. Their offerings for Valentine's Day are no exception:

From Valerie Confections an artisinal confectioner in Los Angeles, come chocolates designated as Pour Elle and Pour Homme. Each box contains 3 large chocolate hearts and 8 small hearts with the "For Her" gift box having traces of edible rose petals and the "For Him" gift box is completed with caramel and toffee filled chocolates. Each set of 11 pieces retails for $30.00 a box.
Chocolat Moderne in New York city is represented with a red box filled with 12 hand painted chocolate hearts. The $36.00 box contains two each of six different flavors.
For those who like their sweets from France, the Pyramide des Tropiques from Francois Pralus, is a great choice for serious chocolate lovers who are more interested in the chocolate itself than cute Valentine wrapping. A stack of 10 individual bars each made with beans from a different part of the world and a 75% cocoa content for $12.00.
Eleni's specializes in selling hand iced cookies. There is an adorable box of pink and purple XO shaped cookies 18 for $50.00 If you go to Eleni's web-site there are just under 20 different designs from which you can pick the perfect option for your sweetie.

All of these purveyors have their own web-sites and it is up to you to decide whether you'd like to comparison shop quickly through Dean & Deluca or take your time and order individually from the different stores. Either way you will come away "smelling like roses" but "tasting like chocolate" a perfect combination for Valentine's Day.

Gallery: Sweet Treats For Valentine's Day

Tags: chocolates, cookies, Dean Deluca, DeanDeluca, elenis, heart, valentines day, ValentinesDay

Earn Brownie Points on Valentine's Day With This Sweet Gift

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Services

Earn Brownie Points on Valentine's Day With This Sweet Gift

Right after the winter holidays ended, the Valentine's Day promotions went up and I thought, good grief, already? But yes, already. You have just a few days left to get a special gift for that special someone. Here's an idea: gourmet brownies from Brownie Points. I received a gift from here a few years ago and remember just how luscious these chocolately creations were.

There are brownie gift boxes ($17.99 - $71.99) as well as individual brownies (only $3 each, but really, who can stop at just one?), in flavors such as cappuccino toffee fudge, chocolate caramel sea salt, butterscotch sensations, peanut butter passion, raspberry caramel fudge, and even classic double chocolate chunk. Up now on the site is the special Valentine's Day collection ($17.99 - $125.99), if you'd rather let Brownie Points help you choose a gift. Some items in this collection also feature popcorn and other candy confections.

I may place an order for myself tonight, and hit the gym, pre-emptively, tomorrow.

Tags: brownie, Brownie Points, BrowniePoints, brownies, chocolate, gifts, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay

Lily Lodge Flowers the Antidote to Boring Red Roses on Valentine's Day

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Tired of overpriced not particularly beautiful red roses that often don't even open for Valentine's Day? Maybe your significant other doesn't even like roses? One woman I know married the man who finally figured out her favorite flowers were tulips and showed up with a bouquet of her favorite flowers rather than roses on Valentine's Day. Regardless of the reason, there are options available for those who want to give truly beautiful flowers to that important person in your life.

Ariana Lambert Smeraldo the owner of Lily Lodge, a spectacular flower shop in Los Angeles, California is no stranger to designer style. She was appointed West Coast Director of Stores and Public Relations of Bottega Veneta in 1998. It is not surprising that her store offers so much more than just the run-of-the-mill red roses. Just like many grandmothers have whispered to their granddaughters over the years that the women who choose Bottega know that their own initials are enough, Lily Lodge offers up floral arrangements for those with quiet but exquisite taste. Ariana understands that a combination of beautiful raw materials, a trademark style and understated elegance will always be chic.

Gallery: Lily Lodge Flowers

Tags: antiques, bottega veneta, BottegaVeneta, flowers, roses, valentines day, ValentinesDay, vase, vases

Continue reading “Lily Lodge Flowers the Antidote to Boring Red Roses on Valentine's Day”

Hublot Big Bang Red Ladies Watch For St. Valentine's Day

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Valentine's day cometh, and watch brands are harassing men by releasing images of their upcoming "shopping in the name of love" day items. I mean, aren't men stressed out enough given the pressure of the fabricated romance day? A little bitterness here? Maybe. In white ceramic with red inserts and a red alligator and rubber strap, this Hublot Big Bang Red Ladies watch watch more than fits with cupid's ideal intent. The bright red dial with easy to read "military" style hands are part of the Big Bang style. Diamonds on the bezel and a "let's get it on tonight" look make this a vitality rich romance piece rather than the same old dull diamond earrings that get worn for a week before going in a drawer. I believe the movement here may be quartz, but don't let that fool you into thinking it is inexpensive. Several more days gentleman until your big "red" day.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: big bang, BigBang, diamonds, hublot, ladies, red, valentines day, ValentinesDay, watch

For Valentine's Day Tie Your Love Up In Pearls

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Some people have very romantic ideas about Valentine's Day. Notions that involve flowers, chocolates, a dinner at a fancy restaurant and love poems while others wishes are of a more carnal nature.

There has often been a correlation between the stores that sell intimate products and the seedier neighborhoods of any given town. Kiki de Montparnasse has always made sure that sexy and sensual does not have to mean low end and trashy. The flagship stores are located in New York's SoHo on Greene Street and in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue and feature beautiful lingerie, jewelry and other objects of desire. The Las Vegas store located at Crystals in the MGM CityCenter is slightly more steamy, as befits sin city, with a Couples Dressing Room and Portrait Booth so customers can turn elegant shopping into foreplay. The company also features a well designed web-site which sells their products.

If you'd like to have a naughty Valentine's Day but still want to do it in luxury and style there are several products from Kiki de Montparnasse that might pique your interest. One is the Pearl Restraints, ten feet of strung pearls handmade by the craftsmen of E.R. Butler & Co. Each strand is finished with metal signature loops, can be worn as a necklace or full body jewelry, or just pull the pearls through the metal loops to create very fancy restraint cuffs. This item is a Kiki exclusive and sells for $2,400. They also offer regulation handcuffs covered in 24k gold with the key on a separate gold chain for $350.

If you'd like to invest in something a little tamer, they carry a large selection of body oils, scented candles and pretty lingerie including panties with a satin heart on the rear.

Gallery: Kiki de Montparnasse For Valentine's Day

Tags: handcuffs, kiki de montparnasse, KikiDeMontparnasse, Pearl, pearls, romance, sensual, soho, valentines day, ValentinesDay

"The Best of Beef & The Beauty of Barolo" With Chef Michael Lomanaco, February 9

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Services

A few months ago New York's famed Time Warner Center opened a new culinary club, Circle of Taste, free to join.

COT has just announced its first ticketed event -- "The Best of Beef & The Beauty of Barolo" -- a dinner to be hosted within Porter House New York's wine cellar by Chef Michael Lomanaco (shown) and Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn. All the wines will be a selection of highly-sought-after and difficult-to-acquire Barolo wines produced in limited quantities.

Erpacrife Nebbiolo Metrodo Tradicionale

Bollito Misto
Tender poached filet mignon, cotechino sausage and salsa verde
La Querciola Barolo Donna Bianca 2004 'cru Costa di Rose'

Brasato al Barolo
Homemade Pappardelle Pasta, Braised Beef Short Ribs
Scarzello Barolo 2004 'cru Sarmassa'

Arrosto di Costata
Roasted Dry Aged Prime Rib of Beef
Cascina Ebreo, Torbido VDT 2001 'Novello di Monforte'

Dessert - Torta al cioccolato alle pere
Pears with mascarpone and chocolate
Ca'de' Mandorli, Brachetto d'Acqui 2008

Dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $175 per person, and the multi-course tasting menu is all-inclusive. COT members may reserve two seats. Perhaps get an early start to the Valentine's Day weekend!

Tags: beef, Circle of Taste, CircleOfTaste, food, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, Time Warner Center, TimeWarnerCenter, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, wine

How Much Will We Be Spending On Valentine's Day?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

You might think that a weekend Valentine's Day might be good news for retailers but that's not the case according to IBISWorld which has predicted that spending on jewelry, candy and flowers will be down because men often buy their Valentine's Day gifts during the work week. Because the holiday falls on the weekend this year men may not feel the pressure to shop and may instead opt for the dinner out. That's good news for restaurants who are hoping to see good sales over the entire weekend because President's Day is also the following Monday. This could also be good news for hotels and inns which may see an uptick in romantic weekend bookings.

The IBISWorld Survey says that consumers are predicted to spend about $1.3 billion on jewelry for Valentine's Day, that number is 4.6 percent lower than what was spent last year. Total spending should work out to around $17.6 billion, 3.3 percent higher than last year. Another report, this one from the National Retail Federation, says couples will spend an average of $63.34 on gifts for each other which is a bit down from last year's average of $67.22. The National Retail Federation also delivers the dull news that personal and practical gifts like sweaters will trump sexier options like jewelry. The survey does show that consumers are planning to spend more on small gifts for friends and family. Men surveyed still plan to spend more than women, as usual the prediction for male spending is about double what women expect to spend.

Some companies are turning to Twitter to drum up Valentine's Day interest. We've seen Twitter-only hotel deals and a sweet tweets contest from Macy's. California Blooms is offering a Twitter contest that could win you a year of roses. American Greetings is giving away gift cards in a 'Follow the Love' Twitter contest.

Tags: twitter, valentines day, valentines day dinner, valentines day gifts, ValentinesDay, ValentinesDayDinner, ValentinesDayGifts

The Versace Wish List

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Timepieces / Watches

Versace is launching a microsite for Valentine's Day this year. The Versace Wish List makes it easy for you to register for Valentine gifts, just like you might when you're getting married or having a baby (or getting a divorce, see Debenhams Creates Divorce Registry).

They've picked 12 new and spectacular items "for Him and Her" for you to choose from, making your job blissfully simple: just decide what you like best, add it to your wishlist, then share your wishlist with everyone you know (and perhaps some people you don't -- couldn't hurt).

We chose the Versace Eon Women's Watch (Rose gold plated stainless steel encloses a white mother-of-pearl dial with diamonds on the indexes. The outer rotating ring is decorated on one side with a 'Clous de Paris' pattern, and on the other with an engraved Versace logo. Available with rose gold plated metal sphere bracelet or a diamond set case with a smooth satin strap.) for our list, as well as a sexy pair of shoes, a snakeskin bag and a little black clutch with glass stones. What? They're for different occasions.

The microsite is made extra-special with the help of actual boutique managers. You can leave little notes for them about your item (Do you want it engraved? Need a specific size?), and they will work with whomever receives and purchases from your list to ensure you get exactly what you want. After all, Valentine's Day only comes once per year.

To spread a little more love, Versace will be donating $10 to Haiti Disaster Relief for the first 500 lists shared -- you don't even have to buy anything.

So get shopping!

Tags: registry, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, Versace, wishlist

Sweet Spa Experiences For Valentine's Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Valentine's Day tradition calls for flowers and chocolates but spa treatments incorporating sugar, chocolate and other sweets is another more modern option. A variety of spas and centers are offering very tempting options for extra luxurious pampering.

The Medical Spa at Nova in Ashburn, VA (just outside of D.C.) is featuring several exclusive spa packages for Valentine's Day including the "scrumptious" Sweet & Savory Body Scrub Package ($90). Nova's invigorating brown sugar body scrub includes Mediterranean lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, and lemon petigrain essential oils with brown sugar and a steam shower and sauna with chocolates and a rose on check out. The Girl's Best Friend Package offers a merlot bath, spa lunch, glass of champagne, a diamond radiance facial and a box of chocolate and a rose all for $250.

Check out more sweet spa experiences in the gallery below.

Gallery: Valentine's Day Sweet Spa Treatments

Tags: medical spa at nova, MedicalSpaAtNova, spa experiences, spa treatments, SpaExperiences, SpaTreatments, valentines day, ValentinesDay

Seven His and Hers Recommendations for Valentine's Day: A Box of Chocolates and a Box of Cigars

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Dining

Of course, you don't have to stick to the gender stereotypes on this one. Men do enjoy chocolate, and I've met more than a handful of ladies who are happy to cut and light a double corona. So, feel free to mix and match as you see fit. You'll have all the tools you'll need to make the best choices, thanks to chocolate and cigar recommendations from Vin Lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club.

Some of the selections aren't surprising, according to Lee. "Obvious choices are the fine selections from Godiva, Lindt and Ghiradelli, but we thought we'd suggest some exotic chocolate indulgences you might not be aware of." He continues, "Chocolatiers can now be reached from anywhere around the globe. Our advisers did an exhaustive search, and the choices prove it was well worth it."

Let's start with eight chocolate recommendations that are sure to make your evening fantastic.

Tags: burlwood, cao, chocolate, chocolates, cigar, cigars, crumbs, Crumbs Bake Shop, CrumbsBakeShop, ghirardelli, gift, gifts, godiva, GodivaChocolate, GraycliffHotel, lindt, lindt chocolate, LindtChocolate, LindtLindorTruffles, Romeo and Juliet, romeo y julieta, RomeoAndJuliet, RomeoYJulieta, tatuaje, tatuajes, valentine, valentines, valentines day, valentines-day, ValentinesDay

Continue reading “Seven His and Hers Recommendations for Valentine's Day: A Box of Chocolates and a Box of Cigars”

Twitter-Only Valentine's Day Specials

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Lux Tips

Technology can enhance your love life. Just ask anyone whose ever had text sex. (Phone sex is so old millennium.) Twitter, on the other hand, can do more than excite, it can land you deals on Valentine's Day hotel packages.

In the coming weeks, several hotels and resorts plan to release romance packages and other specials exclusively to the Twittisphere. The savings range from an $800 off three nights at Florida's five-star ONE Bal Harbour resort to a 25 percent reduction at the gorgeous Rock Resorts' The Landings St. Lucia (pictured). Your sweetheart never needs to know.

Here are four Valentine's Day specials and how to track them down on Twitter:

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