Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! A day dedicated to celebrating love is like a soft kiss on the calendar reminding us to be kind. Not only do I adore the sentiment but every year I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with the aesthetic: cherubs, swans, doves, rubies, garnets, morganite, pearls, rose petals, candles, flower bouquets, heart shaped little candies, boxes of chocolates, and so many other beautiful visuals that set it apart from other holidays. The combined symbolism of Christianity in Saint Valentine and the ancient Greco Roman influence of cupid is also a unique concept to Valentine’s Day—a wonderful blend of cultures rarely intertwined in modern day.

To commemorate such a wonderful day, I’m going to be sharing red and pink favorites from my closet! If you follow me on social media, you might already have seen some of these pieces featured on my instagram but I thought that they deserved their own spotlight here too! I love to collect valentines inspired items from sparkling heart shaped jewelry to novelty handbags—a playful message that love can be carried wherever you go. Each piece is a stylish celebration of romance. These cupid approved outfit staples are not only celebratory, they’re sure to make you fall in love with seasonal style!

Dr. Martens Pink & Red Embroidered Shoes

I still remember the moment I first laid eyes on these hot pink leather lace ups on Vestiaire Collective. I felt an instant, unshakable pull—there was no way I could let them slip by. I snagged the pair as a preloved treasure, fortunately still in excellent condition, and the moment they arrived the sparkle of the tiny white sequin hearts perched on each toe made my heart race.

The sides are a burst of romance, hand embroidered with delicate rose bouquets and little hearts that whisper of careful craftsmanship, while the chunky, heavier soles give the shoes a solid, grounded feel that sets them apart from the feather light sneakers crowding the market. Wearing them is a bold, unapologetic statement—every step is a flash of playful elegance that turns heads and reminds me that a well curated second hand find can be far more captivating than anything brand new.

Estate Gold Pearl & Diamond Cupid Lariat Necklace

We all know that I love estate jewelry and this necklace is no exception. Purchased a few years ago from family friend and international jeweler, Anton, owner of Anton LTD, I just knew it was a statement piece when I saw it. If you shopped Anton’s shop regularly, you would know that his specialty is unique, rare, and one of a kind items. It’s for this very reason that my mother and I love his inventory.

Estate pieces are not only crafted with much more care than modern jewelry but are often made of finer materials as well. This lariat necklace features clusters of three natural white seed pearls along the delicate gold station chain. The dangling cupid is clutching a small diamond in the silver heart he’s holding adding to the value of this find! What I love about this necklace is that it’s simple and ornate at the same time.

Red Leather Heart Chain Moschino Bag

I found this adorable Love Moschino red leather handbag on Ebay! I bought it secondhand for around $80. The condition listed was “new with tags” and I can happily confirm that when this bag arrived, it was just as described! This price was a steal considering that new handbags from the Love Moschino line range from $150-$400 depending on the bag.

Made of red leather, it has gold handle ware and detailing. The gold chain double heart is accented with matching woven red leather throughout. This top handle bag can also be worn as a shoulder bag with a longer strap. I look for this bag to hold value and maybe even be worth more in the future as it features heart symbolism which is widely associated with Love Moschino which makes it sought after by collectors.

Silver Rhinestone Pave Heart Tennis Necklace

Tennis jewelry has been popular for over a hundred years—usually worn as tennis bracelets. This necklace was purchased by me from Amazon to go with an outfit that I was wearing to a valentine’s event inspired by old Hollywood. As you can see, this necklace is not only beautiful but completely glamourous. When I saw it, it instantly reminded me of something that an icon of stage and screen like Elizabeth Taylor would wear. When I tried it on, I could almost feel Liz’s approval!

This necklace is made of sterling silver. It’s strung together with white crystal rhinestone heart links all the way up to the clasp ensuring that your neck is perfectly shimmering. As a tennis necklace, it is shorter than a lot of other necklaces and hits right at the collar bone—only about a couple inches shorter than a choker would be. The pave stones ensure that each one sparkles with the changing light.

Pink and Pearl Beaded Aphrodite Bracelet Set

If you’re familiar with ancient mythos or the classics, you would know that Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and all things romance! Her son with Ares, the winged cherub Eros, is another name for Cupid who is his Roman counterpart in their mythology. There’s a lot of overlap between her symbolism and that of Valentine’s Day. It only makes sense to include my bracelet set!

These three beaded bracelets were found on Etsy from the shop, DesireesDesignss. Beaded bracelets have been trending again as a revival trend so I created a stack for myself with matching ones available in the shop at the time. They are beaded with classic Valentine’s colors: pink, red and white with pearl hearts for detailing. Both bracelets are double sided and say “Amour” and “Aphrodite.”

Victoria’s Secret Red Lace Bralet

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without Victoria’s Secret! Whether you prefer fragrances, silky pajamas, or lingerie, their brand is synonymous with self love just as much as it is with romance. Each year, it seems like the Christmas adverts have just calmed down before the angels are on the move again with new content especially for cupid! And the sales! Oh, the glorious sales! I just can’t help myself!

This red lace bralet is unlined for comfort and is a favorite of mine through spring and summer for it’s lightness. It has easily adjustable straps and mesh lining on the sides to ensure comfort. The red lace design is classic and will never go out of fashion. With bralets making a comeback in recent years, it’s the stylish staple that just keeps giving.

Vintage Estate Silver Rose Quartz Heart Meander Pendant

Rose quartz is one of the most widely recognized natural gemstones associated with love. This includes all love, not simply romantic. Worn for centuries to promote peaceful, fulfilling, and deep connections, it’s no wonder how this necklace ended up in my jewelry box! Among many new age crystal collectors, it remains a popular pick. Of course, it’s pretty too which always helps!

This vintage pendant was purchased from Etsy as an estate piece and a beautiful present for me. It features a large natural rose quartz heart encased in sterling silver. The Greek key design stamped into the frame of the necklace is called “meander” and it symbolizes eternity in Greco Roman art, culture, and history. To me, this necklace means eternal love and I’m happy to have it in my possession.

Kate Spade Blush Pink Velvet Heart Clutch

Another find on Vestiaire Collective, this clutch was the first item I ever acquired from the designer, Kate Spade. Known for dressing the flirty everyday modern woman, this handbag did not let me down! Trend setting and visually interesting, it caught my eye and I couldn’t look away. I bought it preloved in excellent condition and fell in love with the Kate Spade brand as a result!

Above all things, this clutch is cute. It features a wallet interior with the option to wear it as a small handbag with the additional strap. The pale pink color of the bag makes the the accent hearts stand out all the more. My favorite feature of this bag is how the textures of the leather and velvet hearts look together. There’s just something so aesthetically interesting and unique about it this combination. Even if I didn’t know that it was from a major label, that’s the kind of design feature that would give it away.

Vintage Estate Gold Diamond Pave Heart Ring

As Marilyn Monroe once said, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend!”. My valentine’s day collection wouldn’t be complete without some diamonds! This ring was gifted to me a couple valentine’s days ago and it’s one of my favorites! Many people aren’t fond of pave jewelry because of the stone size but this cut is less about carat weight and more about creating a certain type of sparkle that can only be achieved with several smaller stones.

This vintage estate piece was found on Etsy—my top recommendation for estate jewelry if you’re in the market. It is a solid 10k gold ring with a braided border. The heart shaped center is home to natural pave white diamonds. This ring was purchased from Westgate Jewels, a shop that specializes in unique estate items.

Gold Pearl Venus Coin Dangle Pendant

Like Aphrodite, the Roman goddess Venus is the deity of love, beauty, prosperity, victory, and empire. Venus is the mother of cupid and widely associated with all holidays revolving around the area that she rules—love! Also, in astrology, Venus is the planet that rules love, beauty, and relationships making her all the more important to remember on the day devoted to love. In Latin, the name Venus is linked to the words love and venerate which literally means “to adore.”

This necklace was purchased from Etsy as a gift last valentine’s day. It features a golden pendant of the goddess Venus’ visage in the style of ancient Greco Roman coinage. In the ancient world, coins were worn as good luck. The necklace also features a drop pearl—a gemstone also associated with Venus, love, and relationships.

Victoria’s Secret Red & Pink Striped Slippers

These slippers are the second Victoria’s Secret item on the list but they are no less comfortable or essential to a pampered Valentine’s Day. Stripes have been a brand staple of Victoria’s Secret since it hit mainstream popularity in the early to mid 2000’s when they launched their PINK line for a younger demographic of women. While it’s not difficult to find items sold by VS with their iconic stripes, they do remain popular, highly sought after, and priced accordingly.

The slippers that I got are made of pink and red stripped satin. They feature ample padding for a heavenly feel and came with their own matching drawstring storage bag. These slippers also feature two large black sequin bow details on either toe for a little twinkle under the stars. Not only are they classic, they are a holiday favorite.

Versace Eros Pour Femme Parfume

As I mentioned above, Eros is one of the love gods from Greek mythology that is associated with Valentine’s Day. Depicted as a winged cherub with a quiver full of arrows to shoot into the unsuspecting hearts of mortals, he is now the face of a fragrance line by Versace. Inspired by mythology since the brand’s birth, Versace originally created this intoxicating fragrance line for men but later added a women’s alternative in 2014. This is my signature fragrance and favorite perfume.

Described as a “floral woody” scent, it features top notes like Sicilian lemon, pomegranate, Calabrian bergamot. The heart of this perfume combines lemon flower, jasmine sambac, and peony with a base of sandalwood, ambroxan, and musk. This perfume lasts for hours and has the most luxurious smell. You can read more of the specifics about it here if you’re interested.

Sterling Silver Mother of Pearl Heart Necklace

Both pearl gemstones and silver have long since been connected to love and pure relationships. I saw this pearl pendant on Etsy and was later surprised to receive it as a present! What I liked about it was that the mother of pearl heart has small cracks imitating the scars left behind after heart break and yet it’s still intact.

The long beaded chain features small white pearls and silver beads all the way to the lobster clasp at the neck. The mother of pearl heart is large and fully bordered in sterling silver. The delicacy of this necklace’s design hides the weight of the heart which is heavy enough to require a thick chain that won’t break easily.

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