Don't dread V-Day – have fun!
Whether you're a single lady
who loves the love holiday or are
taken but hate the Hallmark holiday,
Valentine's Day can be fun.
First of all, candy and sweets galore are not only encouraged but, second to Halloween, Valentine's Day is the most delicious day of indulgence and practically requires sugar. Pair that with a little goodnatured humour and voilà! V-Day isn't just for cheesy love songs (although don't entirely rule those out, either).
Whether you decide to kick back with a low-key movie night (significant other or otherwise!) or are up for a full night of planned romance, there's an outfit to help celebrate Cupid's day.
Sexy: If there's ever a time to break out your sexiest and most confidence-boosting attire, this would be it. A Valentine's date is the date of all dates; it's quite possibly the most colossally romantic evening of the year. Vamp it up. Go for sexy textures like lace, satin and silk. Touchable textiles feel good on and feel good to touch. Allow for some peek-a-boo skin exposure, like a backless top or a cutout dress. If you dare to go bare (with a short skirt or dress), sheer tights can still look sexy if done in a high sheen and fine black or, for the braver set, a pair of fishnets. When done right, fishnets are sexy and not costume-y or overly skanky. Make sure the weave is very fine, and do them in nude; black is unoriginal and nude fishnets are less obvious. Only recommended with a balanced (read: more conservative) top to avoid looking like a streetwalker.
Sweet: If your Valentine's Day celebrations are a little lower key than a candlelit dinner, there are still plenty of ways to add some love to your ensemble. Why not slip into a pair of red jeans? When paired with a neutral on top, a bright bottom doesn't appear overdone at all. If you prefer to stick to basics, a cute cardigan with a whimsical detail, like a bow, is a subtler nod to the holiday. If you prefer to stick to your usual wardrobe, accessories are always a great option to add a smaller dose of love. Since spending an agonizing three years growing out a razored, choppy mullet (my 'Garth' nickname is finally gone), hair accessories were in heavy rotation for me. Although the awkward stages of growth are gone, the sparkly pins and flowered combs have gained a permanent place in my collection. From the faintest pink bobby pin to a more ornate dazzling pin, any girl can sweep a few strands back and secure them with a Valentine's Day-inspired accessory. Decorating nails with pink, red or sparkly heart-flecked polish is a bonus as it is the only day of the year when it's appropriate for anyone over the age of six.
Scent: Blame the French in me — I am a perfume junkie. The most romantic scents are rich, deep, heady and sexy. A few spritzes of these top-rated scents are sure to put you in the love mood. Gucci by Gucci, housed in a gorgeous gold and amber bottle, has intoxicating notes of patchouli and musk. Chanel's Allure fragrance is a delicious mix of oriental, fruity and vanilla notes and, as its name says, is incredibly alluring. Velvety and seductive, Romance by Ralph Lauren has managed to bottle the scent of falling in love by mixing woody and floral notes for one seductive scent.
Eat: The best part of Valentine's Day? The food, of course! Dig in. Enjoy all the cliché nibbles you want. Pop the champagne (or Prosecco... no one's judging), slurp oysters and enjoy chocolate! Spicy food can literally heat you up, while cinnamon gets blood flowing. The most important part of the holiday is to take it lightly and enjoy yourself.
First of all, candy and sweets galore are not only encouraged but, second to Halloween, Valentine's Day is the most delicious day of indulgence and practically requires sugar. Pair that with a little goodnatured humour and voilà! V-Day isn't just for cheesy love songs (although don't entirely rule those out, either).
Whether you decide to kick back with a low-key movie night (significant other or otherwise!) or are up for a full night of planned romance, there's an outfit to help celebrate Cupid's day.
Sexy: If there's ever a time to break out your sexiest and most confidence-boosting attire, this would be it. A Valentine's date is the date of all dates; it's quite possibly the most colossally romantic evening of the year. Vamp it up. Go for sexy textures like lace, satin and silk. Touchable textiles feel good on and feel good to touch. Allow for some peek-a-boo skin exposure, like a backless top or a cutout dress. If you dare to go bare (with a short skirt or dress), sheer tights can still look sexy if done in a high sheen and fine black or, for the braver set, a pair of fishnets. When done right, fishnets are sexy and not costume-y or overly skanky. Make sure the weave is very fine, and do them in nude; black is unoriginal and nude fishnets are less obvious. Only recommended with a balanced (read: more conservative) top to avoid looking like a streetwalker.
Sweet: If your Valentine's Day celebrations are a little lower key than a candlelit dinner, there are still plenty of ways to add some love to your ensemble. Why not slip into a pair of red jeans? When paired with a neutral on top, a bright bottom doesn't appear overdone at all. If you prefer to stick to basics, a cute cardigan with a whimsical detail, like a bow, is a subtler nod to the holiday. If you prefer to stick to your usual wardrobe, accessories are always a great option to add a smaller dose of love. Since spending an agonizing three years growing out a razored, choppy mullet (my 'Garth' nickname is finally gone), hair accessories were in heavy rotation for me. Although the awkward stages of growth are gone, the sparkly pins and flowered combs have gained a permanent place in my collection. From the faintest pink bobby pin to a more ornate dazzling pin, any girl can sweep a few strands back and secure them with a Valentine's Day-inspired accessory. Decorating nails with pink, red or sparkly heart-flecked polish is a bonus as it is the only day of the year when it's appropriate for anyone over the age of six.
Scent: Blame the French in me — I am a perfume junkie. The most romantic scents are rich, deep, heady and sexy. A few spritzes of these top-rated scents are sure to put you in the love mood. Gucci by Gucci, housed in a gorgeous gold and amber bottle, has intoxicating notes of patchouli and musk. Chanel's Allure fragrance is a delicious mix of oriental, fruity and vanilla notes and, as its name says, is incredibly alluring. Velvety and seductive, Romance by Ralph Lauren has managed to bottle the scent of falling in love by mixing woody and floral notes for one seductive scent.
Eat: The best part of Valentine's Day? The food, of course! Dig in. Enjoy all the cliché nibbles you want. Pop the champagne (or Prosecco... no one's judging), slurp oysters and enjoy chocolate! Spicy food can literally heat you up, while cinnamon gets blood flowing. The most important part of the holiday is to take it lightly and enjoy yourself.
