Dressing up for a valentines date

CEBU, Philippines — Valentine’s Day must now be filling up the thoughts of the young – the girls particularly, since what they wear on a Valentine’s date is quite an issue. True, in any ‘occasion’ it’s the girl’s outfit that’s expected to make a statement. And it’s really a pressure on girls.

Dressing up for a Valentine’s date can be doubly – if not triply or quadruply – a challenge for the girls. What’s so hard about dressing for Valentine’s Day? First, the woman must look her best to her man. Second, she has to look faultless to the snoops, a.k.a. the man’s relatives and friends.

Andrea Cheng and Callie Turner, at www.instyle.com, observe that many girls tend to just “throw on any dress, some non-cheesy jewelry, and, bam, you’re done.” Those are all valid points, they say. “But what if your date springs, say, mini golf on you? Or, what if you don’t have Valentine’s Day plans at all? Or, what if you’re unsure how to style that rose-strewn slip dress in the [obtaining weather]?”

Lillian Fallon, at https://verilymag.com, tries to cover the girls’ concerns. Firstly, she says that Valentine’s Day is one occasion to get excited “to have an excuse to dress up.” Which makes sense, especially for those – and they’re quite a significant number – who don’t have many occasions to dress up for.

Okay, those who don’t have a special someone may not be excused. For sure everyone has special friends to go out with. February 14 is all about having fun, and celebrating love – whatever kind of love it is: romantic, filial, comradely etc.

Fallon suggests three types of Valentine’s Day outfit ideas that will work whatever date the girl may have:

Casual Day Date.

It’s always a little awkward when February 14 rolls around after the girl has only been on a couple dates with a guy. But she can’t ignore the day entirely! Instead of going all out with the romance, she may plan a casual day date. Sure, Valentine’s Day is pretty cheesy, so why not she let loose and have a little fun with her ensemble? That way, her man will know she is embracing the awkwardness of a Valentine’s Day date while also putting in some effort.

It’s advisable to stick to classic items, such as her favorite dark-wash jeans and a sharp blazer. To add a little Valentine’s flair, she may incorporate the color red or pink wherever she can. For example, a Breton stripe top is playful, classic, and casual – the perfect base for some red-tone accessories.

A Different Valentine’s Day Date.

Again, Valentine’s Day is not exclusive for couples. The single girls may get together to celebrate the ‘other’ real loves of their lives: each other’s companionship, their favorite activities together etc. They may decide to take on the town for brunch or dinner, and go all out with their favorite pink hues and floral prints. Their dress code may be over-the-top feminine and they may agree to amp it up! This can mean piling on the pink and red, emphasizing A-line silhouettes, and color-coordinating like nobody’s business.

Formal Evening Date.

For the girl who’s in a long-term relationship, a romantic evening date is probably on the agenda. Of course, whether she’s headed to dinner, the theater, or cocktails, she will want to stun her man by going the extra mile. Rather than going the girlie route, she may aim for a more sophisticated and regal look.

First, she may go for a sleek silhouette with a figure-flattering pencil dress. It can be a bold Valentines red long dress. Or she can have fun with appropriate Valentine’s red accents – such as a pair of fiery red heels and a clutch – for a dress of another color. Metallic accessories are nice to pair it with, and the whole ensemble topped off with a bold red lip.