My sweet Valentine

Valentine’s Day is going to be here soon. And even if you don’t believe in it — think sweet, that’s the mantra. Indulge in handmade chocolates, buy diamonds, add the latest eyewear to your collection, complete your wardrobe with that elusive little black dress and help the economy! We go shopping to get you the latest deals and styles.

Black’s the new red

The little black dress or LBD, has been around forever and for good reason. Every figure and every skin tone looks good in it. If you don’t have one hanging in your closet already, you have our permission to go out and get one. Take a pick from lovely designs from Chanel, Fendi, Chloe, Dior or Versace.

In fact, our peek at Armani’s latest creations gives the impression that this style will linger on — lean dresses with tassel details and tight gowns with details like sequins and embroidery. Yves Saint Laurent’s strapless Poplin dress too promises to make you want to throw on a pair of stilettos, style your hair, and party with an effortlessly sexy look in place. Prices on request.

A tinge of red

With an LBD in your wardrobe, make sure that you have a tinge of red to go with it. Team up with a red Versace bag, a great style statement for a cocktail party, coupled with red stilletos that will surely get you attention. (When we say red, we mean a really sizzling and hot shade of the colour.) As a matter of fact, Versace’s Spring 2009 shoe collection is full of very cool blacks and whites with bright colours thrown in alongside some fabulous geometrics and zippers. Go for it. Prices start at Rs 10,000 and zoom upwards.

Bright bags

Bags too get brighter this season, perhaps in reaction to the dull winter weather, and the colours are as lovely as red and pink. Jimmy Choo’s Monna tote bag will definitely up your style quotient and while we are pretty sure we could live with fewer zippers, the neon pink bag looks cheerful enough for us to overlook these. Ah, well, prices are a little steep though, starting at Rs 30,000 and going to up to Rs 75,000.

Musical gift boxes

Jean Paul Gaultier adds a new twist to music boxes. This winter, Gaultier transforms his Classique, Le Male, Fleur Du Male and Gaultier fragrance gift boxes into music boxes. Simply open the drawer and the designer’s favourite tunes spill out: Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley (Classique Eau de Toilette and Classique Eau de Parfum gift boxes) and Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer (Gaultier, Le Male and Fleur du Male). The notes will carry you away, at just Rs 3,200.

Blush on

Valentine’s Day is just two weeks away and it’s hardly a surprise why beauty companies are in a frenzy about ribboning boxes and bringing out red lipstick shades. Whether it’s a new fairness sensation from Maybelline New York or mineral makeup kits from Body Shop, cosmetic companies know women need a little enticement.

Clinique’s latest makeup bag bundles a delightful set of foaming cleanser, Zero Gravity Repairwear Lift Firming cream, a compact with eyeshadow and powder blusher, a small mascara, a lip gloss, a lipstick and silvery lipstick case inside a silver cosmetics travel bag. Prices range between Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,500. Shimmer and steal the show.