PLUS SALMA HAYEK, TOM HANKS AND OTHER STARS SAY SWEET THINGS ABOUT CHOCOLATE

Gifts
Valentine’s Day is all
about pampering,
whether it’s your
sweetie or yourself
I BY LIZA HERZ
things |
Valentine’s Day is a bit like a conga
line at a party. If you don’t join in,
you look like a wet blanket, and if
you do, you may look rather foolish (all
those tacky cards, cheap red lace). That
said, how can we quibble with a holiday
that centres on chocolate, champagne
and the odd wispy bit of lingerie?
After our pitiful attempts at New Year’s
gym attendance and writing long lists of
resolutions about sit-ups and fibre intake,
we should reward ourselves with the
spoils of the season. And for us, that
means shopping.
For the most part, February is fashion’s
No Man’s Land. Yes, the “resort” collections
are now in stores, and if you’re lucky
enough to be heading to an island those
bikinis and caftans are worth checking
out. But if you’re not going anywhere
this February, let Valentine’s offer a
little relief from the doldrums of winter.
The colour red, while signifying all
things amorous, can also work as a
wonderful counterpoint to seasonal
dreariness. Also, red is our national
colour. During this Olympic month,
while you may not be hillside in Turin for
the luge event, you can at least sip your
Starbucks while wearing a turtleneck
sweater from Hbc’s Team Canada line.
And not to worry — the sweater is cleverly
edged with bands of white to make even
the least athletic among us look svelte.
See? We can even turn watching the
Winter Games into a rationalization for
buying new clothes, then showing them off
while drinking coffee in public. It’s a skill.
heart
with
Who says fancy chocolates have to be
imported? Old favourite Laura Secord now
dazzles with some new flavours, like
Orchard Pear and Pistachio Marzipan to
name but two, and a new minimalist
white-on-white box ($13 for 200 g).
famous 42 | february 2006