Happy Valentines Day! Whether you’re indifferent, in a loving relationship, or you use it as a means to hang out with your gal pals, it can always be used as an excuse to look cute. I mean, you at least have to agree that the aesthetic is top notch. With red, pink, and white tones decorating your social feed (and store isles), there’s lots of inspo around you to configure a perfect Valentine’s Day look.

Below, I’ve come up with 3 different Valentine’s Day outfits perfect for any kind of scenario. The neat thing about this mini collection is that at least one item I’ve worn in this shoot is handmade. Enjoy!

Look 1: My Little Sweetheart

This adorable get-up is heavily inspired by Lirika Matoshi’s Strawberry dress that was blowing up on social media. I made the top using a lightweight, chiffon material and individually handstitched the red sequins on. It’s nowhere near Lirika’s masterpiece (as my ‘strawberries’ ended up looking the Canadian Tire logo), but I think it still turned out cute in the end. I layered it with a pink, stretchy satin-feel pink dress, chandelier pearl earrings and my favourite black kitten heels.

This get-up is for meeting your partner for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, or taking a walk down memory lane. Or it could be worn at a fun amusement park with a paired cotton candy stick. Whatever the occasion, you’ll see life in pink when you twirl in this outfit.

What I’m wearing

• Sequined top: handmade
• Pink dress: thrifted, from H&M
• Pearl earrings: Sukoshi Mart
• Shoes: thrifted

Look 2: You Didn’t Invite Me

Now this look is for those people who have a grudge against this particular love-infested day. If your teeth starts gritting at the thought of couples being cutesy when you’re all home alone, this look is definitely a rebellious twist on the traditional Valentine’s Day look. On the bottom, I layered a red striped turtleneck with ruffles I made by myself. On top, I put on a tight fitting, black scuba dress with this cool bustier feature with an added decorative underwire underneath. In order to ‘soften’ the look, I paired the same pearl earrings as the first look and wore the same black kitten heels.

I’d imagine wearing this look when you take yourself on a solo date. No people, just you and your credit card. You also roll your eyes at the color pink and when couples hold hands. Geez, who did you dirty?

What I’m wearing

• Striped top: handmade
• Black dress: Lulus
• Pearl earrings: Sukoshi Mart
• Black shoes: thrifted

Look 3: Coffee date with the bestie

Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to hang out with your friends. Before Corona, my best friend and I would always make an occasion to see each other at a cute cafe downtown. I’d remember we would order Italian pasta and share a slice of cheesecake. There was also bubble tea in the mix somewhere in the afternoon.

For this look, I wore this ‘peasant style’ oversized tan dress, a matching beige beret, a mauve hair-tie I fashioned into a neck-tie, a thrifted black bag with gold accents and of course, my black kitten heels. Man, I wish I could wear this out-especially at our little cafe spot. Sigh, c’est la vie.

What I’m wearing

• Tan dress: thrifted, from E-AN
• Neck-tie: Claire’s
• Beret: Handmade
• Black bag: thrifted
• Black shoes: thrifted