When one sense is lost, our brains get re-wired and put to work heightening our other senses. So, perhaps the absence of a boyfriend in my life is making me more receptive to the constant, relentless reminders of my relationship (or lack of) status. Or perhaps it’s the fact that we have finally surfaced after being smothered by Instagram feeds littered with pictures of smug-looking couples on their ‘cute lil Xmas weekend away XOX’; the constant and inescapable reminders of ‘boyfriend season’. Only to be thrust straight back into yet another one of the annual celebrations geared towards couples that us singletons are missing one key element to join in on yet are forced to endure.

It’s all getting a bit tedious, isn’t it? You literally can’t run to the shop for some milk for your morning cuppa’ without being smacked in the face with a ‘Dine in two for £10 this Valentines’ sign. You can’t even sit on your own in the comfort of your own home and innocently flick through TV channels without being bombarded with ‘Couples Come Dine With Me’, Married at first sight, First Dates, and now Love Island is back- GIVE ME STRENGTH!

From the movie ‘Valentine’s Day’

Imagine a parallel universe. Each year, after the months of couples just about surviving ‘single season’, on February 14th all the sad people who are in relationships sit at home in front of the notebook and sob into their Doritos and tub of Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough, after sinking a £4 bottle of Echo Falls (far too specific to be made up, I know!). Whilst restaurants and bars are buzzing with single people ‘cheers’-ing to being with themselves for…their whole lives.

From the movie ‘Legally Blonde’

In light of this worryingly appealing parallel universe, and after years of being forced to live as a single person in an undeniably couple-orientated world, I’ve decided we need a revolution. This year it’s time we put the ‘I’ in Valentine’s day. Instead of commiserating over what we don’t have in our lives, put the financial benefits of being single to good use. Use the money you have saved by not having to buy the obligatory Christmas, birthday and Valentine’s day presents this year (and every other year) and treat yourself. Go and buy a boujee bottle of bubbly, a good book, run yourself a bath, turn your phone off and soak yourself in self-love (and really expensive bubble bath). Nothing screams ‘I love myself’ more than a 24-karat face mask; this Valentine’s day, celebrate what you have achieved in your life. By yourself, you can do whatever the hell you want, you are unstoppable; celebrate yourself.

Here are our recommendations for this Valentine’s day (or any other day you feel like treating yourself!)…

Majestic Pure 24K Gold Facial Mask and the Laura Mercier Crème Brûlée honey bath

‘The Unexpected Joy of Being Single’ novel by Catherine Gray and a bottle of MOËT

Kris Jenner

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Araceli Alonso

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The post Put the ‘I’ in Valentines appeared first on Voir Fashion.

The word ‘budget’ is defined by The Oxford English Dictionary as either something that is inexpensive or “a financial plan for a defined period” either way, it’s up there with ‘Phlegm’ and ‘inappropriate’- the front runners when it comes to words I hate.

The word ‘Boujee’ on the other hand is defined by The Urban Dictionary (a little less prestigious, yet equally reliable) as “High class, Flossin’, Ballin’. One who possesses swag. Elite, rich.”- a word with much more appeal. Yet it is a word that is the antithesis of the situation I find myself in come December; I, like many, slide into the annual habit of finding myself putting so much effort into trying to convince myself I’m being a savvy Christmas-er. When I might as well have just paid the excess and not endured stresses such as stumbling down the aisle of the bus, lugging bags tragically bursting with the weight of the 99p wrapping paper, multipacks of worryingly unimaginative Christmas cards that are so cheap the shop is basically paying you to take them off their shelves, and (quite frankly) naff gift sets from TK max and Primark.

As humans, on average we live to around 80. Throw in the possibility of accidental death or chronic disease and you’re looking at even fewer years to your name. Do you really want to spend the limited amount Christmases you have on this earth being consumed with worry should you accidentally chuck ‘Tesco’s finest’ trimmings rather than the ‘Everyday value’ into your basket in the final rush around the supermarket? I can safely say I would very much prefer my Christmas to be associated with the word ‘boujee’ than ‘budget’.

I’ve had enough of trying to fool Christmas into not making me broke. Why would I spend my time trying to dilute the one chance a year we get to live on the unnecessarily extravagant side with something as unexciting as a budget. This year the budget is being scrapped. Well, to a certain extent (mainly due to the pang of stress that just surged through my chest when I think about the reality of this).

Obviously scrapping any idea of a budget isn’t realistic. Blowing two months’ rent on a Louis Vuitton Speedy for your Gran and then living on super noodles for the entirety of 2020 would be ludicrous (although imagine the good karma you’d get). At the same time, where is the joy in being stingy?

The trick is to find a balance between the two. So, we’ve sifted through designer after designer to find you ten gift ideas that have all the ‘Boujee’, but aren’t going to make you broke.

Gucci key ring, Gucci belt, and Gucci phone case.

Prada badge holder, YSL card holder, Tom Ford lipstick and Vivienne Westwood ring.

Moschino slider, Fendi socks and Louis Vuitton scarf.

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Araceli Alonso

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The post Boujee On A Budget appeared first on Voir Fashion.