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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at NYU chapter.

While Godiva chocolate dipped strawberries and a bouquet of flowers are definitely every girl’s best friend, there’s no harm in getting creative with presents – especially when it comes to searching for someone you’ve already had the pleasure of buying presents for many, many times before. Whether you’re looking to surprise your friends with a little love this year, or looking for to spruce it up with a special someone, these gifts will be sure to be a hit among the ladies.

 

 (#1) – In these adorable pajama sets from Forever 21, she’ll wake up feeling darn cute (a rarity when it comes to bed head).

 (#2) – If your gal loves to run and hit the gym, let her do so in style with these girly water bottles from Victoria’s Secret, complete with the matching Nike Free-Runs. Who doesn’t love a pop of color?

(#3)- You can never, ever go wrong with jewelry. However, avoid being cliché with these unique stackable rings from Catbird NYC and galaxy inspired earrings from #NylonShop — your girl deserves something out of this world.

(#4)-  Brighten up her morning with this cheery coffee mug from Pier1. Or if she’s a tea drinker, these decorative cups from Anthropologie are equally as endearing.

(#5)- If your girl loves making a statement, these Lolita sunnies from #NylonShop will be perfect for her. Not to mention, they’re way too appropriately cute given the holiday at hand.

(#6)- The best way to make her boring history class better? These patterned Kate Spade notebooks.

(#7)- There’s nothing wrong with flaunting some NYC pride – especially in the form of a trendy Brandy Meville phone case. Not from the area? The other dazzlingly adorned case from Topshop will have her more attached to her phone than Twitter does.

(#8)- So basically, it’s Valentine’s Day, and I think it’s safe to say we all want soft, kissable lips, and I can vouch for this tinted Sugar lip treatment from Sephora.

(#9)- Please, do not step foot in Hallmark. CatBird NYC has a variety of hand painted cards that are 10x less sappy and 10x prettier.

(#10)- The Urban Decay Naked 3 eyeshadow pallet has been sought after by every girl in town since its release, so get your hands on it before it sells out at Sephora for like, the millionth time.

(#11)- Kate Spade makes a wallet suitable for any type of girl – whether she loves neon pink or black leather. My personal favorite just happens to be this polka dot pattern, because it makes my empty wallet just a little bit less depressing.

(#12)- If your girl is a certified “yogi” (one who frequently attends yoga, and probably obsesses over how “totally zen it makes her”), this hot pink yoga mat and sports bra from Victoria’s Secret will make her the most coveted downward-dogger in the studio.

(#13)- Don’t judge a book by its cover…..OK, maybe just this once. These fancy hard cover classics from Barnes and Nobles are essentially the reason I started reading Tolstoy. Nothing wrong with being educated and elegant, the way I see it. 

 

There’s an old myth that guys are impossible to shop for – and let me say it first: it isn’t true! Sure, there may be a less variety of things we would feel inclined to buy our dudes, but that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel. For my male Valentine’s Day gift guide I kept everything simple and safe, but definitely all worth coveting.

(#1)- Ever walked into Forever 21 and left with about ten bags of affordable dresses and lacey tights? You’re in luck, because now you can get the same gratification by shopping for your guy in their men’s department (minus the lacey tights, of course).

(#2)- This Art of Shaving razor is the Chanel N°5 of men’s beauty – pricey, but worth it when it comes to luxury looks. If you have some spare cash, the shaving cream is an even better addition.

(#3)- Okay, so socks are kind of a cop out.  But considering they’re from Topman (Topshop’s male line), it has to mean they’re trendy, right?

(#4)- If your dude is a total bro and spends more time on the basketball court, rink, or field than he does with you (sigh), new athletic gear is always a good bet. If you know a certain piece of equipment he would die to have (i.e the super cool soccer ball above), head over to Sport’s Authority. Otherwise, this Nike duffle bag is a convenient necessity for any locker-room living guy.

(#5)- When buying cologne, it’s more of a win-win for both of you: he gets to smell great, and you get to bask in it. Opt out of the prepubescent days of Axe Body Spray and indulge in this smooth (and seductive) mature YSL cologne instead.

(#6)- Guys can never have too many boxers, and American Eagle is the perfect place to get high quality pairs with fun patterns.

(#7)- Because there’s nothing sexier than a guy in a plain tee (thanks, Topman).

(#8)- Every guy has a pair of tennis shoes or sneakers that he wears 24/7. They’re most likely, okay definitely, beat up and worn down. Buy him a new pair of suede Nikes or canvas Ralph Laurens – they’ll for sure be different than any shoe he’s owned before.

(#9)- Quality headphones are hard to come by, so your dude will definitely thank you for these Bose sports. Not only do they produce awesome sound, but they come in cool colors as well.

(#10)- Ugg moccasins = heaven for your feet. Enough said.

(#11)- If there’s one thing I am absolutely, positively sure about: every guy loves to chow down at his favorite restaurant. Therefore, you will most likely be a saint in his eyes if you happen to get him 10 lunches worth there (read: buy a gift card). 

Madison is a current Gallatin junior pursuing a concentration in Magazine Journalism and a minor in Nutrition. Besides obsessing over french bulldogs, peanut butter, and books, she aspires to be an editor someday. The city serves as her limitless inspiration, and you can most likely spot her in the park either writing away or leafing through magazines. She is currently the campus correspondent for Her Campus NYU and has previously interned and written for Bustle.com, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and NYLON. She believes in freshly baked cookies and never taking herself too seriously. Except when it comes to her career, of course.  "Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein 
Stephanie is in the class of 2014 at New York University studying Journalism and Dramatic Writing. She is currently a production intern at NBC News, after previously interning at ABC News. In addition to being the Campus Correspondent for Her Campus NYU, she is also an entertainment and lifestyle blogger for Seventeen Magazine and a contributing writer for USA TODAY and The Huffington Post, as well as a member of the MTV Insights team. Stephanie loves Broadway and performing in musical theatre, as well as shopping, singing, and playing the piano. Follow her NYC adventures on Twitter at @StephanieJBeach.