Valentine’s Day Wear

By Connie Nguyen, Staff Writer

It’s February, which means that the mega-Hallmark holiday known as Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Although some of us will be spending this Sunday celebrating Single Awareness Day, here’s a guide for everyone, single or otherwise, on what to wear for this holiday.

Single Ladies

For all the single ladies without a ring on it, why let a perfectly fine day go to waste? As tempting as it may be to shut yourself in with a tub of ice cream, you should put the commercial holiday to good use and dress up a little. Just because you don’t have a date for the weekend doesn’t mean you can’t show off that new body-conscious dress on a girl’s night out. If you don’t know what “body-conscious clothing” means, then here’s a quick explanation: body-conscious clothing consists of peices that accentuate your curves in a good way. This is not to be confused with “dear-Lord-I-can’t-breathe” clubbing wear.

If  body-conscious clothing isn’t for you, try the opposite approach. Instead of donning a slim fitting skirt, try a full one instead. A full, poofy skirt will give you a more feminine, but not necessarily body-conscious look . However, if you’re taking this route, be sure to pair your skirt with a top that’s fitted in order to better  emphasize the fullness of the skirt.

With both approaches, don’t forget to wear the appropriate colors. Pastels and nude tones are always a good choice.

Ladies with a Date

Now for those who do have a ring on it, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to showcase your femininity, even if you don’t like it. The easiest way to dress up for your date would be to wear a dress, obviously. Vintage dresses with classic, flowing cuts are best. There’s just something about the fashion of the past that’s so perfect for the occasion. Just don’t look too dated. Bring the vintage up to date with some modern jewelry.

Unfortunately, there is a limited supply of decent vintage dresses in the world. Thankfully, floral patterned dresses are highly accessible and just as cute. Pick a dress with that has a fitted bust and full skirt, and just as before, select a color appropriate for your Valentine’s day date.

Gentlemen

Just because you’ve got a Y-chromosome wired into your DNA doesn’t mean you’re exempt from dressing up this holiday. Unless you’re dateless and staying home playing StarCraft, you should dress nicely. If you’ve got a lady friend, then is it too much to ask for a collared shirt? By the way, those flannels you always wear do not count. Pair your shirt with a pair of jeans that actually fit and you’ll be good to go.

So whether you’re a boy or a girl, single or not, Valentine’s day is the perfect excuse to dress up.