Yellowknife (Feb 11/05) - Nothing says I love you like a Valentine's Day gift certificate from McDonalds.

But if your loved one's tastes are a bit more refined, there are other options available from Yellowknife retailers.

Manuela Keenan holds two of the Valentine's bouquets specially made for Valentine's Day. Last minute shoppers may not find any red roses left, but there are other flowers just as pretty, she says. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo

Take the classics: flowers, lingerie and jewelery.

Manuela Keenan says the most popular Valentine's Day flower arrangement is whatever's still available on the big day.

"On the 14th, it's anything they can get their hands on," she said. She and her staff have been preparing for Feb. 14 for the past three weeks.

She starts planning her V-Day flower order right after Christmas. But many people who purchase Valentine's flowers aren't as organized as she is.

Red roses may stand for love -- "Like your heart," said Keenan -- but if you're shopping at the last minute, you may have to make do with whatever's left on the shelf.

There's always pink or yellow, which traditionally mean friendship.

"Yellow is such a vibrant colour," she said. "It perks people up."

Keenan said she tries to teach people that there are other flowers just as beautiful as the red rose. And these days women are just as likely as men to give flowers.

If there's one thing Christina McDow of Chrissy's Closet would say to the men who stop by for lingerie at the last minute, it's to Know your lady's bra measurement. Saying "she's about your size" doesn't cut it with the sales clerks at the lingerie shop and an attempt at a romantic gift could easily go wrong if the guess is even one size too small or too large.

But Valentine's Day is still good for the bra business.

"People tend to go for the slinky stuff," said McDow. "Pick it out and we can gift wrap it and box it up."

Sexy nightgowns come in all shapes, sizes and colours, including leopard print with black faux-fur trim.

McDow said the most convenient gifts in the store are the red lacy panties that lace up the back and come already packed in a gift box with hearts on it.

"It's fun, it's flirty, it's Valentine's," she said.

Hau Huynh said Valentine's Day is one of the traditionally busy times at Arctic Jewellers, and there are always lots of last minute purchasers.

Men tend to buy jewelery as gifts more often than women, but there are lots of male-oriented gift options -- watches, chains and even loose diamonds, mined in the NWT, cut and polished here in Yellowknife.

Carrying loose diamonds around may sound like something out of a spy novel but Huynh said it's a practical option for the unsure.

"If you're not sure what she wants, she can bring it in and have it set," he said.

Buy a pair of them and presto ... she (or he) will have earrings.