This Valentine’s Day, some Philadelphians have opted to choose the gifts their partners will present them on the most romantic day of the year, writes Suzanne Kapner for The Wall Street Journal.

The act of self-gifting is on the rise.

This is the case for Lena Parsell, an art director in Philadelphia, as the Christmas gift she received from her husband was not exactly ideal.

The gray wool socks were bulky and itchy and soon became a magnet for her cat, who bit her toes whenever she wore them in the house.

“My husband is amazing, but he has trouble figuring out my taste,” said Parsell. “Sometimes he really nails it,” like when he had a portrait made of Parsell and their daughter.

Other times, he falls short, once buying her kitchen towels.

“Or he’ll say, ‘I didn’t know what to get you, so just pick out something for yourself,’” she said.

For February 14, Parsell decided to take him up on it, custom-designing a ring from jeweler Bario Neal. The ring is 18-carat gold with an aquamarine stone, the birthstone of both her mother and daughter.

According to a Circana poll, 39 percent of U.S. consumers said they bought themselves a Valentine’s Day gift.

Read more about a rising Valentine’s Day trend at The Wall Street Journal.

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