valentine's day gifts

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Every Relationship Stage

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

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Relationships are complicated, which means Valentine’s Day is, too. Perhaps February 14 has prompted the “What are we?” conversation — or perhaps you’re both frantically dancing around any mention of old St. Valentine. Either way, complaining that it’s “just a Hallmark holiday” isn’t going to cut it: It’s time to get shopping. Whether you want to find a low-key gift for your situationship, how to strike the right tone with your office crush, or how to avoid playing favorites in a throuple, read below for my suggestions from Amazon and beyond.

For the crush stage

For the gym crush you coordinate your visits with

For your kid’s first-grade crush

Or the more formal Danny Dino, depending on the tone they want to strike.

For the person you flirtingly G-Chat with every day at work

For your best friend who you wish was more than a best friend

Hopefully you don’t end up in “Good Luck, Babe!” territory.

For the talking stage

For the person whose big three you’re currently triangulating

For the person you’ve had the toothbrush conversation with

Not only can they have one for your place, they can have a really nice one.

For the person who slept over for the first time last week

A Jellycat screams “talking-stage-friendly” to me. (Get the mini-keychain if you’re really not sure.)

For the person who never sleeps over

For the person who wants to DTR

To show you’re open to them getting comfortable in your apartment and beyond.

For the person who wants to keep it low-key

Photo: Retailer

The noncommittal man’s uniform.

For the newly official stage

For the person who likes to hear about the exact moment you knew you liked them

Shaking this might save you a retelling or two.

For the person you travel to Bushwick for

The “Bushwick Birkin” in wallet form (because they honestly probably already have the bag).

For the person you travel to Williamsburg for

For the one you met in the smoking area at Basement

Their days of asking for a light are through.

For the long-term stage

For the person you’ve had the spare-key conversation with

There are also dog options available — you know them best.

For the person you want to elope with

Your Vegas pictures will look great here.

For the long-distance one

A ceramic way to show you’re forgetting-them-not.

For the person you’ve been married to for one year

The one thing you two forgot to add to your registry.

For the person you’ve been married to for five years

I just know that when my parents finally committed to one of these, they raved about it for years. Years!

For the person you’ve been married to for ten years

For the “It’s complicated”s

For the person you’re on-again, off-again with

Photo: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

For all the tension.

For your favorite ex

LEGO Bouquet of Roses
$48

A bouquet that will keep until the next attempt.

For the person that’s your partner’s metamour

“Do I buy something for them, or don’t I?” The answer: If they don’t get you anything, just keep it for yourself.

For the new live-in throuple member

$21

Navigating a sleeping situation for three can be hard: The throuple that we interviewed said a sound machine is the way.

The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Every Relationship Stage