I don't need a valentine I need a valentino

Ah Saint Valentine, the brand ambassador of all things love and romance. Whether you love it or hate it, I couldn't let a public holiday go by without a blogpost to mark it but seeing as I'd rather have a valentino than a valentine (as my title explains), and I think couture comes above amore, I thought I'd provide you with some fashion inspiration. Whether it's date night or girls night then I've got you covered; however if you're planning a quiet night in then I can't help you - as you should know by now, I don't do casual.

 

 

Obviously because it's valentines day, I've used pink and red as my go-to colours for both outfits. I think if you're going out on a date then you're better to think pink - I chose this baby pink bodycon dress which I got for only £10 in the missguided summer sale! It is quite a tight and revealing dress and obviously if you're going to a nice restaurant then you want to look a little classier so I added this longline white blazer/jacket which was around £20 from primark and I love the 3/4 sleeves and soft tailored style - it wouldn't do much to fight off the cold though (let's face it, it is still February and therefore very cold) so I'd obviously wear a coat over the top of it. I carried on with the white and wore these strappy missguided heels (£24.99) and my stressed-but-well-dressed clutch bag (Zara). I finished with my rose gold Michael Kors watch, pink flower stud earrings and Bourjois rouge edition lipstick in shade 31. Also if you're wanting restaurant inspiration then I'd say go with Italian or Spanish - my favourites are Prezzo and La Tasca.

 

 

 

If like me, you're a single lady who thinks that valentines day is for going out drinking with your best girl friends then put your hands up (I swear the ways I manage to sneak in film and music references even amazes me sometimes). After all, it was the great Carrie Bradshaw who said 'maybe our girlfriends are our soul mates and guys are just people to have fun with'. So if you're date-free this February 14th then you can afford to sass up your outfit a little and add a splash of red. I started with a baby pink base again, this time in the form of these satin missguided shorts which I love because of the tulip shape. I matched them to this floral print racer crop which has such beautiful colours and was from miss selfridge for £12 - I love their racer crops because they just fit so nicely and they're so cheap. I balanced the outfit by finishing with caged heels (new look £27.99) which are probably the comfiest pair in my collection and they add a good dose of black to match my black heart (probably the reason I'm single; I don't get feelings, I get new clothes). I went with a slightly darker lipstick for this look - Twig by MAC - but a berry or bright red would've looked just as good. For anyone going out drinking on Saturday night, Revolution have a deal on their pitchers (aptly named 'big jug of love' and 'pitcher of passion') and The Bowery club in Nottingham are having a 50 shades of grey themed valentines night.

 

 

 

The perfect valentines day makeup obviously requires pink, which I added to lots of bronze shades to create a gorgeous rose gold smokey eye. If anyone is on the ball and has noticed that my outfit is neither of the two above in these photos, it's because this is also the makeup I did when I went out last night. You can see what I wore on my instagram @jenni_aimee - my mesh panelled halter neck bodysuit was from new look and my floral shorts were from Rihanna's first river island collection. Anyway, I started my eye makeup with Light bronze from my Lorac 1 palette as my base and then added A vow in Venice which is a gorgeous dark pink shade from my Sleek romance palette, through my crease. Then I went onto my Lorac 2 palette and used Cocoa round the outer corners and blended it together with the pink. I went back to my Lorac 1 palette and used the shade Nude in my inner corners and round my tear duct and then blended it along the inner parts of my lower lash line. Then on the outer half of my lower lash line, I added Marry in Monte Carlo (also from my romance palette). I finished with winged eyeliner, mascara and false lashes and then added some cheek contouring using my Seventeen define and conquer palette.

 

 

 

For those of you who are coupled up and struggling for a gift idea, I've put together a mini gift guide filled with things that any girl (or princess, like me) would love to receive. I've also tried to create a range of mini gesture-type-presents to full-on-spoilt-princess presents depending on how much you're planning to splash out. Oh and flowers are a given, pink peonies are my favourites (just like Blair Waldorf) but roses are the most popular among everyone else. Happy shopping! And happy valentines day of course.

1. Lindor strawberries and cream chocolates

2. Valentina perfume by Valentino

3. Lace applique bralet (found on pinterest)

4. YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks