All you need is love 💘

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu

Valentine’s Day Fashion: Valentine's Day, traditionally a celebration steeped in hues of passionate reds, is a day dedicated to love, companionship, and all those fluttering emotions that make our hearts skip a beat. However, if the classic ruby tones don't quite resonate with your style or vibe, you’re not alone.

The vast expanse of the fashion world offers a myriad of alternatives, ensuring everyone can find their perfect ensemble to dazzle their partner or squad—because Valentine's isn't just for romantic love.

Enter fashion writer, Eve Rowlands with great outfit ideas from H&M which offers options beyond the stereotypical crimson palette. In a quest to uncover such treasures, she ventured into her local H&M and unearthed a treasure trove of non-red delights, curated to elevate your Valentine's experience.

Delve into sophistication with the draped jersey dress, its elegant asymmetrical silhouette promising both comfort and grace. Or indulge in bridal-inspired romance with the bouclé-knit bodycon, a vision of soft oyster tones perfect for the soon-to-be-wed.

For those craving a dash of denim-inspired chicness, the structured bandeau co-ord awaits, marrying glamour with laid-back ease in equal measure.

There were plenty of other options to light up your Valentine’s Day. So whether you're planning a romantic dinner for two or a cozy night with friends, there’s probably a cute and well-priced outfit to be found at H&M.

Beauty: As we anticipate the arrival of warmer days, a sense of rejuvenation fills the air, bringing with it a wave of exciting beauty trends for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Last year's copper revolution and monochromatic makeup revival gave way to a new wave of innovation, as seen on social media platforms, runways, and beyond. Here are eight captivating beauty trends set to define the spring/summer of 2024:

1. Pearlescent Skin: Embrace a fresh, radiant glow reminiscent of 18th-century portraits with a delicate pearlescent sheen adorning the high points of the face, offering an elegant and ornate touch to your makeup routine.

   

2. The Soft Sweep: The classic side parting makes a chic comeback, exuding relaxed elegance with hair gracefully swept over one shoulder, a style favored by celebrities for its feminine allure and effortless charm.

3. Maximalist Renaissance: Bid farewell to minimalism as vibrant colors take center stage, allowing for creative expression across lips, eyes, cheeks, brows, and lashes, encouraging a playful exploration of makeup artistry.

4. Jelly-Milk Nails: Embrace the natural beauty of bare-ish nails with a glossy, milky finish, offering a timeless and elegant manicure option perfect for any occasion.

5. Halo Curls: Say goodbye to blunt cuts as weightless, halo-esque curls take the spotlight, offering voluminous and regal hairstyles that celebrate texture and movement.

6. Apricot Everything: WGSN predicts apricot crush as the color of 2024, introducing a soft yet vibrant hue to blushers and lip colors, radiating a sunlit glow reminiscent of golden-hour evenings.

   

7. Return of the Vamp: Channel sultry sophistication with the return of vampy makeup, featuring contrast lip liners, smoky eyes, and cool-toned cheeks for a dramatic and alluring look.

8. Single Strands: Effortlessly chic and high fashion, single strands make a statement by framing the face asymmetrically, offering a sleek and practical hairstyle that exudes modern sophistication.

With these captivating beauty trends, prepare to elevate your spring/summer look and embrace a season filled with creativity, elegance, and self-expression.

💸 Investments Worth Watching 

Love is a big business generating over $70 billion in the US each year. And you best believe that cute bridesmaid dresses are a big part of that industry.

Birdy Grey a direct-to-consumer (DTC) bridal startup providing millennial bridal parties with aspirational gowns you won’t find anywhere else.

They’ve done quite well since their launch in 2017 and they recently raised $2.5 million in a recent funding round.

💪 What they do: They are a direct-to-consumer (DTC) bridal startup providing millennial bridal parties with aspirational gowns you won’t find anywhere else.

📅 Founded: 2017

🤑 Funding: $2.5 million in latest funding round

📖 Get Rec’d

Violeta by Isabel Allende

This novel may be set back in the day but there could be a lot of the story of Violeta that you can relate to.

Violeta, born in 1920 amidst the aftermath of the Great War and the onset of the Spanish flu, grows up with her five lively brothers. Her family survives the pandemic but falls victim to the Great Depression, forcing them into rural life. In a letter to her beloved, she recounts a life of love, loss, and resilience amid historic upheavals, from fights for women's rights to the grip of pandemics.

Through Isabel Allende's lens, Violeta's story becomes a poignant epic of strength and perseverance.

It’s an entrancing read that is hard to put down.

😋 MMM, Yummy! 

Need a few Valentine’s Day meal ideas to spice things up a bit? Look no further. We have 35 right here and one is sure to please.

• Linguine with Shrimp and Garlic Cream Sauce

• Steakhouse Steaks

• Prosciutto, Brie and Apricot Crostini

• Surf and Turf for 2