Fashion: In the mood for love

It might be a sad indictment of modern life but, for many of us, St Valentine’s Day is really just another brilliant excuse to get more presents.

Meals out too, of course, but mainly presents.

And if you don’t have someone special in your life to buy presents for you (and for you to buy presents for, naturally), then Valentine’s Day also offers the perfect excuse to show yourself a little love and respect, and treat yourself to something that you don’t really need, but you do really want.

Sleepwear is an excellent place to start. You can never have too much sleepwear, especially when the days and nights merge into one, as they do at the moment.

Grey striped PJs are very on-trend in nocturnal and lounging-about fashion at the moment. When it’s a gift, they really ought to be special, and that means quality. Seasalt has some lovely loose traditional cotton ones, while The White Company has some slim-fitting cotton jersey ones (£67), and you could also consider its grey fleecy indoor slipper books, at £35, as an alternative gift or maybe as an accompanying accessory.

Similarly, a robe or dressing gown is always going to be welcome, but choose something that can be packed easily (even better, you could enclose airline tickets or the details for a hotel/cottage mini-break, all wrapped up inside the folds).

Underwear is a bit of a risky or specialist area, unless you are used to buying lingerie as a couple or for your partner (men, check out the sizes she’s wearing at the moment or consider giving a gift voucher instead), but it’s worth taking a look in store and online at Boux Avenue, Next and M&S. Best steer clear of scratchy red stuff because she’ll either take it back and exchange it for slippers, or you’ll find it still in her underwear drawer, unworn, this time next year.

But if you are feeling romantic, Tesco is stocking the official Fifty Shades of Grey underwear collection. Really. In a supermaket. Presumably in the aisles. “Can I see Fifty Shades of Grey, Mummy? Is it a bit like Frozen?” (Or is it just me, being a prude?).

Anyway, if you don’t have much to spend, there are some lovely inexpensive pieces of jewellery at River Island. If you want to spend a bit more, there’s Pandora and also some surprisingly reasonably priced statement pieces by Juicy Couture at Harvey Nichols. However, my top tip for this Valentine’s has to be a red bag, either a mini satchel or a clutch bag. Perfect for adding a pop of bold colour to every day.