The season of love is here! I always enjoy Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to shower all your loved ones with thoughtful gifts - and perhaps a little sparkle. Whether you're shopping for your soulmate, your best friend, or your mama, I recommend thinking beyond the chocolates and flowers and opting for something a little more personal. (Unless of course, they happen to love chocolate - then go for it!)
When it comes to jewelry, here are my suggestions about how to personalize your Valentine’s Day gifts.
Move Beyond Pink and Heart-Shaped Jewelry
There’s nothing inherently wrong with heart shapes (I’ve designed one myself, which I love), but for Valentine’s Day specifically they can come off as a little overdone. The same goes for pinks and reds - and I love pinks and reds. Remember, you’re shopping for a person, not a day, so think about what they like to wear for the other 364 days of the year. If that’s pink, great, but if their wardrobe favors blues or yellows, opt for that instead.
Birthstone colors are also a great way to personalize a gift. Gifting someone a piece of jewelry in their birthstone color lets them know that you thought ahead and were shopping specifically with them in mind. Which brings me to my next suggestion….
Think About Symbolism
Birthstones are a great way to add symbolic meaning to a piece of jewelry, and there are so many creative ways to use them. A bracelet with a birthstone for each of your children, you and your sweetheart’s birthstones, or even opting for the stones for significant moments in your relationship are all sweet ways to tell stories with jewelry.
You can also use numbers to add symbolism, like adding one stone for each year you’ve been together. When you think creatively, the possibilities are endless.
Choose Classic Pieces
The best gift is one that can be worn over and over, so there’s no going wrong with the classics. I love pearls for a traditional gift that’s a little different from the standard Valentine’s Day fare. Pearl jewelry never goes out of style and there are many options beyond the standard pearl necklace. (My Pearl Collection takes a modern spin on the classic, honoring the natural origins of pearls with organic oyster-shell designs.)
I also love simple staple pieces that can be layered and stacked to express your loved one’s unique personality. It’s not just the piece that’s personal, it’s how you wear it!
Build Collections Over Time
While we’re on the subject of layering and stacking, let’s talk about building collections over time. A one-off gift is great, but a gift that can be built upon over time is even better. Maybe your loved one is in the process of creating her capsule Jewelry Box, with basic pieces that can be mixed and matched for a variety of occasions. You can be thoughtful about making sure that all the pieces you buy go well together, giving her more opportunities to play with jewelry.
It can also be fun to gift variations on a single piece, like a stack of bangles that grows over time. Each one represents a different memory or moment in your life together. When it comes to gifting jewelry, a whole collection truly is greater than the sum of its parts.
Gift an Experience!
When all else fails, let her pick what she loves! Letting your sweetheart choose her own gift doesn’t have to be the lazy way out. It can be an incredibly thoughtful gift when you give her a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My in-person shopping and design experiences are opportunities to make her feel pampered and create a memory that will last a lifetime. I also offer design sessions virtually via Zoom or completely self-guided through my fun KBCE tool. She will have a great time and you can feel confident knowing she got exactly what she wanted this Valentine’s Day!
Of course, these tips don’t only apply to February 14th. Personalization is important for any holiday, birthday, or special occasion. Whatever you can dream up, Kristen Baird® Jewelry is here to help!
