Preparing for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is one of those awesome holidays that a lot of people get sorta huffy about. I can’t really talk… this is going to be my seventh Valentine’s Day with Jake (uh, what.) and I don’t really have a whole lot to be bitter about in the relationship category. BUT I think Valentine’s Day can be awesome for everyone. You don’t need to go on a romantic date to enjoy the day. Working in a school, I see young kids all the time thrive in the candy filled, pink/red themed holiday. It’s not just about being in a relationship – it’s about celebrating the people you love! ANNNNND wearing pink. Because that’s, naturally, important to me.

If you’re looking to get into the spirit of things, I’ve put together an assortment of Valentine’s Day themed items. Not a gift guide – but clothing that will get you into the lovey-doveyness of the day to come!

To start, I am HERE FOR these exclusive Valentine’s Day Jack Rogers. I mean, they are a combination of my two favorite shades of pink in the form of my #1 sandal. I wear Jack Rogers throughout the entirety of the warmer months, and have more pairs than a person should own. But, I am here for this color combination, and I find it really tempting not to buy a pair to wear on the special day…although, I’m in New England, so who knows what the weather will be…

If you’re going for more casual for the holiday, I love this pink Madewell Tee. How cute would this look with a french tuck and a denim jacket? Throw on a neck scarf and you’ll look cuter than cute. Sometimes, a subtle amount of color is just right, but a soft cotton tee shirt is always a good way to go to do just that. You can dress it up or down, and you’ll have just the right amount of pink to celebrate the day in style!

Again, going casual here, but this is a J.Crew best seller! I’ve been eyeing this Polartec half zip fleece for months and months. I like items like this a little looser on me, so I would definitely order a large. This pink blush would pair perfectly with some rolled up skinny jeans and my new favorite J. Crew New Balance sneaks. I even love the darker hot pink you can spot on the back of the zipper – so subtle but a really nice to touch to this pull over! Stylish, comfortable and super festive!

I know I lean more on the pink end for this pink/red themed holiday (Minty PINK, you guys!), but I love the deep burgundy of this ribbed mock neck from J.Crew. I have this in white, and I wear it all the time with my denim jumper. It also looks great with just a black vest. Super simple, but very put together. Plus, a mock neck is always really flattering – I wear mock necks all the time these days!

How utterly charming is this Lola Gal Meets Glam Jacket?! You can purchase the matching dress, or simply buy the jacket and pair with jeans. I adore the poppy print, and I just find the look of the jacket/jeans to be such a perfect combination of both classic and modern. However, if you’re attending a fancy event, the jacket and dress combo is the way to go! I’ve been wanting a Gal Meets Glam jacket or dress since she opened the line. At the moment, it’s just too expensive, but I will most definitely be investing in a piece when the time is right!

Now, if you live in a colder climate (or unpredictable climate, like me…) you might be wanting a festive pair of boot socks! I wear these L.L. Bean cotton crew socks with my bean boots all the time. They are the perfect weight, not too heavy, and they look so cute rolled over a pair of leggings! I always love to have a pop of color or pattern with my socks – these would be the perfect pair for Valentine’s Day!

Those L.L. Bean socks would pair perfectly with some shiny new Hunter rain boots – in PINK. I hate how much I want these, to be honest. As always with Hunter, if you do purchase these, make sure you size up if you’re a half size. I just love the shiny gloss finish, and I can’t imagine how cute the whole outfit would look if Valentine’s Day were a rainy day. Plus, even if it’s not, it’s an adorable look. Someone buy them so I don’t?

If you’re looking for something a little more flirty and fun, this V-neck camisole from J.Crew is perfect for a night out or nice dinner date, paired with some black jeans, denim jacket and possibly an adorable neck scarf. (I have trouble going full on night out, if you know what I mean.) Of course, you could always sub out that neck scarf for a necklace. I either like to go on full on statement necklace or extremely delicate necklace with a top like this. There is no in-between! This top could be styled so many ways, it’s such a great staple for any closet.

This preppy KJP skirt would pair perfectly with some tights and booties. Tuck in a white long sleeve shirt, or thin sweater, and you got a look. I love this pleated skirt and think it would make the perfect outfit for a Valentine’s themed work day or date! This literally reminds me of the types of skirts I used to put on my American Girl dolls and I don’t even care – I think it’s, as KJP puts its, just darling!

I gotta tell ya, I own three J.Crew blazers (navy, black and beige) but, wow, now I need a red one. This blazer is an outstanding color. It’s hot and bold – plus, this blazer has a nice bit of stretch to it, so you don’t feel restricted all day. This would be such a stunner walking into work – a blazer like this brings confidence, and festiveness, to Valentine’s Day! I would pair with skinny jeans, heels, and hint of red lipstick.

Jake got me these Sperry Westport Penny Loafers for Valentine’s Day last year in the classic tan. I wear them all the time in the warm weather, and they’ve held up really well! I am so fond of this blush color, and think it would look so cute! Fair warning: They run extremely small. I had to go up a whole size, and I don’t think I have ever worn an 8 in any other shoe ever. I’m typically one of those standard size seven wearers. However, they break in really nicely, and are a great addition to any shoe collection – I just love them!

 

I am lovinggg this royal red Kate Spade bag. The bow with the tassel ends tying the whole thing together is just such a lovely detail. I adore my Kate Spade bag, and it’s my go-t0 bag from everything to a nice dinner to errands around town. This one has a nice zipper pocket down the middle – perfect for storing anything from your phone to loose change. There’s an optional shoulder strap, which I always opt to use with a bag like this. I just find it to be more comfortable to carry around when I have the option of throwing a bag over my shoulder! Overall, this bag is a win win and, obviously, super perfect for Valentine’s Day!

I am all about stripes stripes stripes stripes. Red and white stripes? Even better. You can’t get more classic and nautical than a top like this – and it’s look will last you well into the summer months. I like the vented sides and relaxed fit of this long sleeve Old Navy tee – plus, it’s only $14! A red and white striped boat neck tee is a must have for any New Englander’s closet. You can’t go wrong with a top like this on Valentine’s Day!

There’s is nothing better than a long cardigan. It’s warm, cozy, slimming, and the definition of “casual cute.” This Chunky Mix-Knit Cardigan sweater from Gap has gorgeous textured sleeves! This would be so perfect over a white or navy top with jeans and booties. I love the ribbed cuffs at the end of the sleeves – all in all, a perfect sweater and a cute addition to your holiday outfit!

I love supporting Etsy Shops – and I couldn’t resist adding this Gold Ring with Ruby heart’s! This is the type of small detail I love adding to an outfit. It goes perfectly with the Valentine’s Day theme, but it’s also extremely unique and something you can wear all the time. Supporting small businesses is really important to me, and it’s always nice to find sweet, ethically made, pieces such as this!

Spending Valentine’s Day at the gym??? In all seriousness, I have found very few leggings that come close to comparing to my Nike ones. Although I do very little working out in my leggings (Have you SEEN my athleisure post?) I found my Nike pair to be extremely comfortable and breathable compared to other bands. Pair this with a white sports bra, and you’re ready to hit the gym in Valentine’s Day style. 

I just recently bought this coat for myself (You can see photos here), and I am absolutely head over heels for it. I had been eyeing this coat for over a year, and I’m so grateful and took the plunge to buy it while it was on sale. This coat is the color is the perfect shade of pink, and it’s extremely warm! I’ve been wearing it daily since I bought it a couple of weeks ago, and I can tell you I truly have zero regrets about the purchase. If you can snag it, I highly recommend trying to buy it while you still can!

 

What do you like to do for Valentine’s Day??