The Romantic Renaissance: Is Love Cool Again?
Are you ready for the love renaissance? From the big-screen revivals of great love stories to love songs that finally feel cool again, The Handbook’s Astrid Carter thinks it’s time for the romantic pop culture pivot.
Love has always been the thread that weaves our greatest literature. It’s found in the darkest corners of cinema, even when a film is far from the safety of a rom-com. And what would music be without the score of heartbreak? Love is our life source. It’s the stuff that holds us together, and, as Ian Curtis famously lamented, is the force that can tear us apart. In a world that feels increasingly heavy, we could all use a collective, oxytocin-inducing hug, don’t you think? And it does feel like there is a palpable shift in our openness to intimacy, and the cultural touchpoints bringing love to the forefront –conveniently – just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Now, don’t get me wrong: Valentine’s is easily the most divisive holiday in the calendar. Whether you’re an “all-in, knee-knocking-under-the-table” romantic or firmly in the “consumerist-nightmare-dressed-in-stockings-and-suspenders“ camp, February 14th shows no sign of ghosting us just yet. While gift guides and marketing campaigns still play into Cupid’s hands, is there really anything wrong with taking a moment to celebrate the gushy stuff?
And I’m not just talking about romantic love. The rise of Galentine’s celebrations might be an Instagram aesthetic, but it’s also a sentiment fuelled by sincerity and sweetness. Is there anything better than cheerleading and celebrating your girl friends? Without sounding like Carrie Bradshaw, they kind of are the true loves of your life.
Whether you’re an “all-in, knee-knocking-under-the-table” romantic or firmly in the “consumerist-nightmare-dressed-in-stockings-and-suspenders“ camp, February 14th shows no sign of ghosting us just yet.
If you caught White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood speaking so eloquently on BBC’s Woman’s Hour back in 2023 about platonic love, it was nothing short of life-affirming. She described friendships as “expansive,” noting that she “is everything when she is with them.” It wasn’t the usual narrative of finding “The One,” but rather the joy of giving and receiving love in all its forms. Surely that’s the greatest gift of all? Even a Cartier Love bracelet can’t compete with that level of soul-nourishment.
Looking at love as a whole is something singer/songwriter Olivia Dean has mastered. Her album, The Art of Loving, has been the definitive soundtrack of the last three months – I actually messaged the girls’ WhatsApp group recently, convinced Man I Need will be the only song stuck in my head for all eternity.
Her raw, unfiltered take on affection – whether platonic, nostalgic, or self-directed – has resonated on a massive scale. The stats speak for themselves: with multiple BRIT nominations and a Grammy win, Dean recently became the first female solo artist in history to hold four singles in the UK Top 10 simultaneously. It’s official: we’ve fallen back in love with the love song.
I know there are some of you who find my blatant gushing intolerable. I get it. Romance – and Valentine’s Day in particular –can feel cringe at best and deeply triggering at worst.
Just look at Taylor Swift, who made loving out loud into a billion-dollar empire. Swiftie or not, there’s no denying she is the ultimate (and wealthiest) hopeless romantic out there.
Then there’s the class of cool girls putting love on top, playing as an antidote to 2025’s viral moment of why it’s no longer cool to have a boyfriend. Dua Lipa is engaged and proudly sharing loved-up snaps with Callum Turner to her 89 million followers, while chief party girl Charli XCX delivered the coolest wedding of the decade. Love is very much back in Vogue, and this time, it’s wearing Vivienne Westwood, black sunnies, and smoking a fag.
Romance – and Valentine’s Day in particular –can feel cringe at best and deeply triggering at worst, especially as the social media posts and shop windows go into overdrive.
I know some of you will find my blatant gushing intolerable. I get it. Romance – and Valentine’s Day in particular –can feel cringe at best and deeply triggering at worst, especially as the social media posts and shop windows go into overdrive. One expert turning the trend on its head is author Tam Kaur.
Her cult-favourite guide, Buy Yourself The Damn Flowers, argues that you can build a life that is full, grounded, and meaningful in singledom – an idea that often gets lost in the noise of the hunt for ‘The One.’ She effectively decenters romantic attention and turns it back toward the self. As Tam puts it, “Trying to be chosen gives away your power. When your decisions, appearance and behaviour revolve around being desirable to someone else, you’re slowly abandoning yourself. Tam’s advice? “Be unapologetically self-centred during singlehood and make choices based on what you want for both your future emotional wellbeing. When you choose yourself first, confidence and self-respect naturally follow.”
You can build a life that is full, grounded, and meaningful in singledom – an idea that often gets lost in the noise of the hunt for ‘The One.’
The big screen is also boarding the love train for 2026. First up: Emerald Fennell’s hotly anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the film hits screens on February 13th, but we’re already head-over-heels for the hype. Robbie’s press tour wardrobe is a masterclass in dark romance – think lace Schiaparelli gowns, red-hot snakeskin corsetry by Dilara Findikoglu, and gothic McQueen lace. She even donned Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic Cartier Taj Mahal necklace – famously gifted to her by husband Richard Burton – paying homage to a woman who loved love so much she married it eight times.
While Emerald Fennel’s adaptation is very much a modern take on the Emily Brontë classic, at the other end of the emotional spectrum is Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet. Starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley (just give her the Oscar now, please), this film is soul-shattering and totally broke me when I saw it in the cinema a few weeks ago (sobbing is an understatement). It’s a beautiful, devastating look at love and grief, as a couple navigates the loss of their son. It’s a testament that love – whether we like it or not – is the one thing that reaches us at our core.
Robbie’s press tour wardrobe is a masterclass in dark romance – think lace Schiaparelli gowns, red-hot snakeskin corsetry by Dilara Findikoglu, and gothic McQueen lace.
So, I’m calling it. While we all enjoyed the precocious chaos of 2024’s Brat Summer and watched with dropped jaws at the car-crash of love (or was it just lust?) that was the 2025 Coldplay Kisscam, it’s time for a reset. Can we make a collective effort to make 2026 the Year of Love? I’m talking cartoon love hearts in the eyes, Post-it notes on the fridge, rose petals on the bed kind of love. It’s time to stop being too cool for love and start unashamedly wearing our hearts on our sleeves.
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