The following is a guest post from Annabelle! She is a librarian and nail polish addict living on the frigid Canadian prairies (this involves a lot of fun tights and glasses). She’s been trying to balance her shopaholic-ism with frugality and French fashion for the past year. Follow her progress on www.shoppingdetox.com
So, I think we can agree on two things first off: Paris is the most romantic city ever and people either love or hate Valentine’s Day. No matter how you feel about it, you can celebrate it in more or less the same way – watch a film, eat some food, and drink some wine.
Part 1: Watch a movie
- These days, watching a movie at home is ridiculously thrifty. It also allows you to stay away from the movie theatres full of couples watching films, which can be annoying whether you’re a V-Day fan or not.
So, lots of people subscribe to Netflix or other streaming services, and even though video stores are closing all over the place, your local public library should have most of these in stock as well. If you’re coupled up, snuggle up with one or all of your lovers to watch these; if you’re flying solo, cuddle up with your cat and/or some popcorn, a box of wine, and enjoy!
Movies for Valentine’s Day lovers:
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1960s French movie musical about love and loss, all while Catherine Deneuve flits about in amazing outfits and hair accessories)
- Paris Je T’Aime (recent short-film collection about various stylish people falling in and out of love in Paris – including the always gorgeous Rachel Bilson)
- Funny Face (Audrey Hepburn does an update on the Ugly Duckling story, going from geeky bookstore employee to glamorous fashion model, falling in love with Fred Astaire along the way.)
- An American in Paris (Gene Kelly plays an artist who, for reasons unexplained, also likes to dance a lot. He falls for the gorgeous Leslie Caron, and who can blame him? Lots of dancing along the Champs-Elysees)
- Before Sunset (the sequel to the Vienna-set Before Sunrise sees Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reconnecting in the City of Love)
- Amelie (the gorgeous, socially awkward Audrey Tautou sets out to do random acts of kindness for other people, meanwhile not noticing that she’s kinda fallling in love herself)
- Ratatouille (you may just remember the whole rat-cook thing, but the chef guy falls in love with the Janeane Garofolo character, plus it’s cute to snuggle up to a Pixar film any day of the year)
- Julie & Julia (if you ignore the Amy Adams bits, it’s actually a very sweet love story about Meryl Street and Stanley Tucci playing Julia Child and her husband. In France.)
Movies for Valentine’s Day haters:
- Charade (OK, so Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant have witty repartee and kiss once or twice, but they’re too busy running for their lives and being stylish to worry much about love)
- Chocolat (yes, there’s a bit of a love story in this one, but it also has Johnny Depp and it’s all about making CHOCOLATE! Altogether enjoyable)
- Nikita (1990) (this is the original version of the story of a gorgeous woman trained to become a kick-ass female spy. This one’s in Paris!)
- Le Samourai (this is a moody 1960s film about a French assassin who dresses impeccably and takes on one job he maybe shouldn’t have.)
- Diva (1981) (This 1980s French movie is so surreal and weird, you won’t have time to think about Valentine’s Day while you try and keep all the various conspiracies straight.)
- District 13 (2006) (this features stunt men in the lead roles of kick-ass French parkour experts living in a futuristic France.)
- Before or after the movie-watching portion of your Valentine’s Day, I recommend making a delicious French meal for yourself and/or your lover/lovers. Some easy, thrifty ideas include an omelette (all you need are eggs, cheese, and some random veggies), leek soup (super-easy, but you need to remember to brush your teeth after to get rid of the oniony smell if you plan to kiss anybody), and of course, fancy cheese.
- Wine. Whether you’re on your own or not, toasting Valentine’s Day with a good glass of wine is always in fashion. I also think wine is one of the things where you get what you pay for, so if you’re a superfan of Valentine’s, then it’s worth the splurge to get something delicious. If you’re up for it, I’d recommend a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne. So delicious. So fancy. And then you can keep the bottle for decoration afterwards!
See, it’s super-easy to have a Valentine’s Day celebration in a thrifty French style, whether you’re a fan or not!
The best Valentine’s post I’ve read today. Love the movie ideas and am a lover of everything French as well.
Valentines Day Movies: the bestest EVAR: The usual suspects. Seriously. (cause it’s the best movie ever) totally.
That French movie The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was very popular in the Soviet Union. I was little then but somehow I remember my mom saying that she wanted that raincoat the girl in the movie was wearing. Oh and the music! Restaurants were playing that musical theme a lot.
Loved the post! Brought up something very nostalgic in me. :)