At a recent pre-drinks I was describing an incredible jumper I had seen in Urban Outfitters, when my boyfriend suddenly said to me “I’ll buy it for you for Valentine’s day.” I told him that it was expensive and unnecessary but then thought to myself how much I would prefer it to a clichéd teddy bear. Now of course I do not share the same mind-set of the entire female population so I decided to ask some of the lovely girls of Exeter university to see what it was girls truly wanted for the most romantic holiday of the year.
Is is always safe to go with the three S’s: Shiny, Smelly, and Sweet, or should guys be thinking outside the box?
I asked the girls, if given the choice, would they prefer a typical Valentine’s Day present (chocolate, teddies, flowers or heart shaped jewellery), or a less traditional type of gift like clothes, shoes or any jewellery other than heart-shaped! I also wondered whether they would prefer a lovely romantic evening with their Valentine or just the gift.
So, what was the verdict?
First Place: A lovely evening with FLOWERS
Roses are probably a safe bet here, as they are very typical of the holiday, however make sure you buy the right colour! RED says I LOVE YOU, whereas PINK or YELLOW are associated with FRIENDSHIP and WHITE with WEDDINGS. Also, some girls are just not rose fans so take the time to do a little research to find out what she likes! Lilies and tulips are always appreciated if you want to step away from the conventional.
Second Place: A lovely evening with NON-HEART SHAPED JEWELLERY
The cliché of Valentine’s day is that heart shaped necklace that EVERYONE has, so this year, buy something different. Opt for a simple design which can be worn over and over again. Price is not the most important thing, although we do not recommend buying your lady Primark’s finest! A necklace tends to be the safest bet: rings come with connotations of more serious moves and bracelets are hard to size and less personal. A beautiful necklace will mean a lot to any girl, especially if you took the time to choose it.
Third Place: Just a LOVELY EVENING
Her Campus Exeter is full of good ideas for a great Valentine’s evening! Check out http://www.hercampus.com/school/exeter/alternative-valentines-date-double-locks and http://www.hercampus.com/school/exeter/ultimate-valentine-s-debate-staying-vs-going-out for some inspiration! Remember, what we really want is for you to show us you care, rather than waving money around, so just make sure that whether you stay in or go out, you treat us well and show us you care.
So to all those Valentine’s day shoppers out there, we wish you the best of luck! And we promise, the thought really is what counts – just make sure you write a really good card.
Photo credits:
http://wallpapers-xs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/valentines-day-gifts.html
http://www.dvd-ppt-slideshow.com/blog/free-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-powerpoint-backgrounds-download/