What to Wear for Valentine's Dinner 2012
Whether 2012 marks your first year with your significant other or your 50th, deciding what to wear for a Valentine’s Day dinner can still be a stressful experience. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure this day is special, and finding an outfit that looks festive, is flattering, and that you’re comfortable in might just be the proverbial straw that breaks the Valentine camel’s back. Don’t let determining your Valentine’s duds take all the fun out of this romantic holiday, try some of these great ideas for what to wear to your Valentine’s dinner.
Racy and Red
A sexy red dress is the quintessential Valentine’s outfit, especially if you’re going to dinner at a fine restaurant. Get your date’s heart pumping with a lingerie-inspired number like the strapless organza ruffled dress from Notte by Marchesa. This sweet but sexy silk dress’s babydoll silhouette will ensure your partner won’t be able to take his or her eyes off you, $795.00 at NeimanMarcus.com. Of course, sexy is defined differently by different people; so if short and strapless isn’t your style, check out the sophisticated but alluring Darya colorblock silk dress from Tory Burch. The knee-length red silk skirt makes it Valentine’s appropriate, and the white silk bodice and fringed tea-colored sash will look stunning on a variety of skin tones, $450.00 at Nordstrom.com.
Re-“Vamp”ed LBD
You don’t have to go out and buy a brand new dress for a Valentine’s dinner; you can give your go-to little black dress a new lease on life by adding a few Valentine-centric accessories. A chic red belt, like the stretch red stone tab belt, $22.00, or the black and red spotted feather belt, $24.50, both from Torrid.com, will both cinch your waist and give your black dress a punch of romantic color, or vamp it up with a sexy pair of red shoes. The strappy and bow-embellished Mist Tee pumps in red satin from Lulchiny have a bit of texture to tone down the prom/bridesmaid vibe and are available in hot pink as well, $89.99 at Heels.com. A few heart-shaped accessories can also turn a basic black outfit into ready-for-love romantic, like the Pave Puff Heart stud earrings in red from Tarina Tarantino, $50.00 from Zappos.com, or the shiny sequined heart-shaped clutch/evening bag in red, black, gold, or silver, $25.50 at Amazon.com.
Jazzed Up Jeans
Sure, dresses seem to be the outfits of choice for a Valentine’s dinner, but if you’re a bit more of an edgy gal, you can always opt for something a little more unconventional. After all, no matter how hot the dress, you won’t look so sexy if you’re fidgeting and uncomfortable in it. Take a great pair of skinny jeans to new Valentine’s Day heights by styling them with some sharp and sexy pieces, such as Diba’s Gill knee-high boots in stretchy cinnamon suede, $79.00 at Zappos.com, and the red lace top from Collective Concepts, $19.97 at Piperlime.com.
For the Boys
While guys may want to wear something special, running out and buying a new suit for Valentine’s Day, particularly one in red, may not be the most practical idea. Adding a great tie or a Valentine’s appropriate pair of cufflinks, however, will make one of the suits you already own ready for your romantic dinner. The rich silk jacquard of the Toscanini necktie will catch the light and your date’s eye, $65.00 at BeauTiesLtd.com, and a pair of simple but sweet enamel and sterling silver heart cufflinks will complete the look, $194.99 at Amazon.com.
