Gifts for Valentine’s Day and beyond
The red flags of Valentine’s Day have been waving furiously. Drugstore displays are shackled with mounds of heart-shaped candy boxes and “hot stuff” coffee mugs. Vermont Teddy Bear’s provocative Big Hunka Love Bear ads loop every few minutes on CNN. Yet Feb. 14 still manages to hit with the surprise of Cupid’s arrow, sending hearts aflutter in a frenzied, eleventh-hour gift hunt.
While love can be blind, nothing undermines romance more than an obviously obligatory, last-ditch purchase. Which got us to thinking: Passion is anything but predictable. So why not get into the habit of expressing our most ardent sentiments more spontaneously and more often? And how better to spread the love than by supporting the local designers we crush on? So we devoted this guide to special pieces conjured up or handcrafted with thought and care right here in L.A. And there is something for everyone — the chic embrace of Saint Laurent’s oversized satin baseball jacket by Hedi Slimane to the natural beauty of Supply + Demand’s mismatched drop earrings with South Sea pearls and topaz from Kirsty Surian. But the ultimate indulgence just might be Timelapse, the edible fragrance cooked up by Ezra Woods and Alia Raza of Régime Des Fleurs that can be spritzed on pulse points, infused into cocktails or drizzled over ice cream. That’s one enticing love potion.
Rebecca Minkoff x Maggie Louise Confections box of nine milk and dark chocolates, $29 with a portion of proceeds benefiting non-profit organization Every Mother Counts, at Rebecca Minkoff in West Hollywood, (323) 451-7414, rebeccaminkoff.com
Clare V. leather Mon Amour coin clutch, $79 at Clare V. in West Hollywood, (323) 592-3115, clarev.com
Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane satin Classic Teddy jacket, $2,290 at Saint Laurent in Beverly Hills, (310) 271.5051, ysl.com
Régime Des Fleurs’s Timelapse edible perfume of natural flower and plant oils with notes of rose, jasmine and magnolia, $195 at Mohawk General Store in Silver Lake, (323) 669-1601, regimedesfleurs.com
LFrank handcrafted stretch silk charmeuse Gaia bralette with Chantilly lace trim and 18-karat gold hardware, $475 at LFrank in Venice, (310) 452-0771, lfrankjewelry.com
Supply + Demand handmade 14-karat yellow gold South Sea pearl drop earrings with pink and yellow topaz, $1,458, call (310) 804-1445 to order, supplydemandjewelry.com
Shiva Rose Celestial Rose body butter with rose essential oils, shea butter, grapeseed oil and nut oils, $60 at Dekor & Co. in Ojai, (805) 272-8675, shivarose.com
Parabellum handcrafted bison leather Slim Briefcase with suede interior and removable strap, $680 at Parabellum in Beverly Grove, (323) 852-0800, parabellum.la
Ben Medansky handcrafted ceramic Lustre pipe with 22-karat gold detailing, $180 at Kelly Wearstler in West Hollywood, (323) 895-7880, kellywearstler.com
Alexandra Von Furstenberg limited-edition acrylic Vortex vase, $1200 at Alexandra Von Furstenberg in West Hollywood, (310) 777-0253, avfhome.com
The Elder Statesman cashmere Woven Cutter Tee, $895 at The Elder Statesman in West Hollywood, (424) 288-4221, elder-statesman.com
Poketo’s Freeway coffee mug, $18 at Poketo at The Line Hotel and in downtown Los Angeles, (213) 537-0751, poketo.com
SALT acetate Winslett sunglasses with Polarized Lenses, $415 at Marc Michel Eyewear Studio in Pacific Palisades, (310) 230-4569, saltoptics.com
Pam & Gela cotton Safety Pin Broken Heart crewneck sweater, $250 at Elyse Walker in Pacific Palisades, (310) 230-8882, pamandgela.com
Superga xo Jennifer Meyer embroidered heart patterned sneakers, $149 at superga-usa.com
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