Gentlemen put your money and grand gestures away because today’s self sufficient, modern London woman is looking for a new style of romance.
According to a study by the Lindt Master Chocolatiers, creators of LINDOR, an overwhelming 76% of men and women in London said that it was the small, thoughtful presents – where money wasn’t a factor – that really melted their hearts.
These Valentine’s Day top treats for men and women included a romantic meal, cards with thoughtful messages and spending quality time together. In what appears to be a contradiction though, London men spend the most money on Valentines gifts, the highest in the UK with an average spend of £67.15 and plan 11 days in advance.
After years of conspicuous consumption and grand over the top romance, a much lower key, more modern style of love – one that is increasingly focused on small, considerate actions rather than the traditional or the costly - seems to have taken hold as the economy shifts down a gear. Identified as ‘New Romantics’ in the LINDOR survey, these modern women have nothing to do with the 1980s music scene and everything to do with a new trend towards credit crunch love.
In fact the study - which will make welcome reading to both men and women alike - found that 31% of modern London women were suspicious of an over-the-top or excessively grand romantic gesture and would prefer a box of their favourite chocolate treats.
Ladies would rather receive their fave flower than 24 expensive long-stemmed roses and would prefer to snuggle up on the sofa with a bottle of wine and a DVD than go out to the cinema on a date! Hand-written notes are in and texts are out big-time! And women appreciate the thought that goes into running them a bath and giving them one single chocolate and would prefer their man to make small gestures than go out and buy a big box of gift-wrapped chocs!
Relationship expert, Sam van Rood, believes this is because love and romance is getting back to basics after the credit crunch:
“This February 14th a budget Valentine's Day will win you more romantic brownie points than splashing out on expensive presents. Thoughtful, simple gifts are all you need to show your partner you love them. Gold diggers aside, the majority of women look for equality in a relationship which results in a more considerate form of romance where it’s the thought that counts. Popular gestures that women all over the world love are small but beautiful gifts which include running a bath for a partner surprising her with a babysitter for some me-time/us-time or simply buying her favourite chocolate – actions which revealed both consideration and an appreciation of the other partner’s individual needs and wants.”
A spokesman said:
"The results from the study hopefully help to de-mystify modern attitudes to romance and alleviate some of the pressure today’s couples face to keep romance going without running up huge costs. Our report revealed that small, considerate gestures are ‘in’ for 2009."
February 2009
The Survey was done on behalf of Lindor.
Ladies reading this, please remember to leave this page up on the screen when you go out of the room so that your man can see it!
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