Whether you celebrate Valentine’s day or not, we think every day is a good day to declare one's love and affection for oneself or a fellow being!

For this valentine edit, we were reluctant to feature the usual round-up of chocolates, flowers and all things overtly sentimental and romantic. And so we set out to find objects featuring hearts that we’d buy for ourselves or gift to a loved one all year round. Here are 8 cool things featuring hearts to wear, gift, use, or decorate with long after the 14th of February.

Rs. 3,500 / CLAYMEN	GIFTING 01 Affection Clayhead Sculpture Aman Khanna's 'Clayhead' sculptures are iconic for their minimalist expressions of various human emotions. We love this particular 'Affection' clayhead that seems to be declaring its love for us with its heart hands gesture, and think it'd make for a perfect gift for a loved one, or even ourselves as a reminder that we're loved, and would benefit from intentionally fostering self-love and self-compassion! It comes with a hole at the back and wall mounting screws, so it can make for interesting wall or tabletop decor.

GIFTING 02 Kadal Inamoratas 7 8"x12" Art Print This photography art print by photographer Ranjithkumar Oudeacoumar makes us think of non-photography art prints like this one by Namrata Kumar or this one by Richa Kashelkar, and we think it would look as good as any illustration or fine art painting on any wall. A significant part of his 'In conversation with Kadal' project, 'Kadalum Kadhalum' ('Sea and Love' in Tamil) delves into the theme of romance and love amidst the waves, inviting the audience to feel the emotional resonance of this connection. Through candid shots and poignant compositions, he explores the intricate relationship between people and the vast expanse of the ocean, and portrays the tender moments shared by couples against the backdrop of the sea's vastness, encapsulating the timeless essence of love. Psst: We also really like this one titled 'Love Chairs' from photographer Keegan Castro's Goa series.	Rs. 16,500 / RANJITHKUMAR OUDEACOUMAR

Rs. 3,600 / NO NA MÉ	GIFTING 03 Lovebytes_small, Silve No Na Mé's 8-Bit Love collection is a tribute to retro games, love-struck hearts, and the thrill of chasing golden tokens. We love the pixel hearts reimagined as jewellery, and these 'Lovebytes' earrings, in small, and the silver finish—in particular. Comes with a tarnish-resistant top-coat, and is also available as a single clip-on ear-cuff.

GIFTING 04 Off-White Heart EMP Saree Blouse Set We love the old-school blouse silhouette in this timelessly-elegant saree set. The kala cotton hand-embroidered blouse is teamed with a cotton saree with embroidered hearts and scallop edges. We also like that Mati is a homegrown brand that is committed to sustainability, ethical production, and slow fashion practices that includes processes that honour traditional craft and responsible sourcing. They work exclusively with natural fibres, handwoven textiles, and low-impact techniques to create clothing that is gentle on the skin and kinder to the planet. All their pieces are made-to-order, handmade, and tailored in their studio, which makes each garment unique and a one-off.	Rs. 30,500 / MATI

Rs. 5,499 / CONVERSE	GIFTING 05 Chuck Taylor All Star Hearts We're fans of Converse and the classic Chuck Taylors, and we love this 'All Star Hearts' high-top version in black, that comes with subtle embroidery, a removable charm, fun-printed outsoles and an extra set of heart-printed laces that let's you switch up your look according to your mood! (Also comes in an equally fun low-top version in red.)

GIFTING 06 Heart-Shaped Wooden Custom Couple Stamp Nothing makes a note or letter feel extra-special like a personalised custom stamp! This heart-shaped wooden stamp can be customised with illustrations of you and your partner, or you and your baby or pet in Alicia Souza's signature illustration style. Each piece is made-to-order and handcrafted by local artisans with a beautiful wooden handle, and would make for a great wedding or anniversary gift. (PS: If you'd like a stamp but are currently single and living up a life free of two-or-four-legged-babies, despair-not, there's an option for you as well.)	Rs. 849 / ALICIA SOUZA

Rs. 14,000 / SWATCH	GIFTING 07 Hattie'S Heart Quartz Women 47 mm This unisex water-resistant quartz watch is from the Swatch Break Free collection and features an illustrated heart that looks to be inspired by 1980s NYC art and street culture, and echoes British artist Hattie Stewart's love for breaking, art and music. Made from biosourced materials it features a 47 mm dial, a patterned silicone strap, and hands that say it all: “Love Endures”.

GIFTING 08 Eat My Ass Matchbox Ash-tray This ceramic matchbox ashtray had us laughing-and maybe blushing with its R-rated messaging. Equal parts functional object and conversation starter, it makes for a great ashtray (if you smoke) or tchotchke (if you enjoy objects with a sense of humour). We think it'd make a cool gift for friends or lovers who’d enjoy a little shock value on their coffee table.	Rs. 2,950 / VIVIKOH

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