Valentine's Perfect Present: Peynet, Poetry, and Piano

Pope Gelasius I formally declared Valentine's Day  in 496 A.D. in memory of the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine, but the day did not get associated with romantic love until the Middle Ages through the writings of Geoffrey Chaucer. It was deleted from the Roman calendar in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but Hallmark clearly missed that office memo; 141 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged every year. Whether you're in - or out - of love this February 14th, we have three full-proof gift suggestions under $25 that transcend age, sex, and yes, even relationships. So whether you slacked and are empty-handed this morning, or you just want to get in the mood, InsiderStyle takes a break from the NYFW runway to dress you up in our love style. . .three affordable and romantic gift solutions.

ONE

Assouline's Lovers by Raymond Peynet is a visual treat and a beautiful gift - as a book, or you can take an extra creative step and frame one of the illustrations inside.

TWO

Shakespeare fan or not, curling up with a bottle of wine and Shakespeare in Love (see it again style) will set the tone for a perfect evening. 

I will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all. No... not the artful postures of love, not playful and poetical games of love for the amusement of an evening, but love that... over-throws life. Unbiddable, ungovernable - like a riot in the heart, and nothing to be done, come ruin or rapture. . .

Our favorite scene below - Paltrow's Thomas Kent style as she delivers Valentine's heartbreakingly romantic monologue from The Two Gentleman of Verona. . .

THREE

If you're cooking old school style, George Winston's Colors Dance is transcendent. 

Extra credit style? One of the most romantic poems by the great Pablo Neruda from his Love Sonnets,  dedicated to his wife, Matilde. Read, dedicate, hand-write and slip under the pillow style. . .

Forever in love style.