To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we give you a hand-picked selection of beautiful clothes, beauty products, jewellery and books
Nobuyoshi Araki on Climax Books
What could be more erotic than a Nobuyoshi Araki photo book? Cult online shop Climax Books is selling the Japanese photographer’s beautiful 2008 book Yami No Hana: Araki’s Jewelry and Flower, which sees Araki transfer his sensual disposition on to nature, with opulent, richly coloured still lifes of flowers set carefully among glittering jewellery and high heels.
Spring/Summer 2023 at Dover Street Market London
Twice a year, London’s legendary Dover Street Market closes its doors to reconfigure its space, erecting a wonderland of new installations, collections and immersive areas which together form what Rei Kawakubo once described as a “beautiful chaos”. This February sees a slew of exciting new offerings at the store, including self-confessed “workwear freak” Olly Shinder’s first ever collection, new treasures by Chopova Lowena, and those insane Noir Kei Ninomiya X Hunter wellies.
Burnham Pendant by Bleue Burnham
Jewellery’s rising star Bleue Burnham handmakes ornate pieces from his studio in London, crafting made-to-order jewellery from the finest materials inspired by our natural world. This particular pendant is inspired by a ring of Burnham’s grandmother, featuring a large, lab-created sapphire in its centre, set in an organic, textured silver pendant. “I’ve always been pretty easy about wearing any jewellery and have worn lots of women’s jewellery,” he told AnOther in 2021, “which I think is why my approach to design is perhaps a bit more relaxed.”
Serum by Aesop
Valentine’s Day is a fabulous excuse for some self love, and what better way to start than to take care of your skin? Aesop’s Lucent Facial Concentrate – a lightweight serum rich in Vitamin C – replenishes, hydrates and balances skin with its blend of moisturising and conditioning ingredients, which include rose petal. Stock up for the cold months ahead.
Loewe x Studio Ghibli at Selfridges
Bringing to life Studio Ghibli’s beloved 2004 cult classic Howl’s Moving Castle in exquisitely considered detail, the artisans at Loewe introduce the third (and final) collaboration with the Japanese animation studio. Going out with a bang, the vibrant new capsule collection embodies pieces that proudly feature beloved characters – Sophie, Howl, fire demon Calcifer – as well as backdrops from the film. “The message is one of uplifting connections. Crafting fantasies to create alternative realities and see the world in a different way,” Jonathan Anderson said of the collaboration.
Glow Drops by Dr Barbara Sturm
Dr Barbara Sturm holds the recipes for any self-love beauty therapies. Founded in science, and with an ethos grounded in credible innovation from years of testing, the cult-favoured Glow Drops are a vital part of any morning skincare routine. Apply like a serum before moisturiser and SPF, and its Polygonum Bistorta Root acts as an anti-ager, while Wild Rose Extract refines pores and Hyaluronic Acid acts as a long-lasting moisturiser, refreshing the skin even throughout the chilly February months. Sans maquillage or otherwise, the result forms a stunning, healthy glow bound to get people asking – how do they do it?
Acne Studios
Swedish brand’s Acne Studios knack for crafting a twisted fantasy has grown ostensibly more kitsch over the past few collections. This charming cotton tee, with its Y2K-feeling rhinestone calligraphy reading ‘For Better For Worse’ across the chest, could equally come across as ironic as it does endearing. Keeping romance alive can be an arduous feat, but a T-shirt emblazoned with some delicious words of adoration are sure to elicit at least a faint heart flutter.