Valentines Day Fashion

Our fashion blogger Kate takes you through the essentials of Valentines Day fashion.

If you’ve got to the end of this week and realised you have nothing to wear for a Valentines date on Saturday night, you’re probably not alone; such occasions seem to heap pressure on until you’re more stressed than seductive, have emptied your wardrobe, and want to stay in wearing pajamas. There are solutions though, and they involve neither tantrums, huge expense nor a mad last minute shopping trip.

1-That little black dress (LBD) in the back of your wardrobe.
I have three favourite LBD’s, and I do not hesitate to employ them for just about any evening occasion from work-do’s, to dates with my boyfriend. Plus if it’s one of your first dates on Valentines Day, you’ll probably be struck with that awful indecision where suddenly nothing in your wardrobe is comfortable anymore, and your stomach feels fat in everything. I challenge you to feel insecure in a little black dress. Wear heels if you can, it’s always more chic, but not so high that you topple over after a cocktail in front of your new beau. Ballet-flats look very Audrey Hepburn (and they’re safer). Some of the high-heels on my lust list at the moment are from Clarks because they look cute and I can also walk quite well in them.

Clockwise from L-R
Louche Marsha Dress, £59 Joythestore.com (check out the collection of similar dresses on Ecclesall road),
Crumble Berry heels, £75, clarks.co.uk
Skater dress, £22 New Look; check out our city centre or Meadowhall New Look branches for similar items
Alicia Allie ballet flats, £45, clarks.co.uk or check out the collection of similar shoes at Clarks in Orchard Square, city centre
Black Bandage Bodycon Dress, £22.99 newlook.com
Arista Abe heels, £40 clarks.co.uk

2- Reinvent a pretty summer dress.
If you don’t want to risk an adventurous new outfit on your hot date, I highly recommend you get yourself a chic little dress like the Marsha dress (far left in the collage). In the summer I bought a very similar one from one of my favourite clothes shops in Sheffield, Joy, on Ecclesall road, where they have a whole range of these beauties. It is one of those magic, classic shapes that suits everyone; nipped in at the waist with a romantic scooped neckline. Luckily, the brand, Louche, are still making it in various prints and colours, because it isn’t strictly a summer dress-it looks great all year, layered to suit the chillier season. So, dress it down with tights and some ballet pumps for a cinema date, or some heels and jewellery for a meal somewhere fancy. A versatile miracle.

3-For an accessories nightmare.
Your LBD needs good accessories. Hunt for a vintage bag or purse from a stunning little shop called The Front Parlour tucked away on Sharrowvale Road. It’s full of unusual outfits and lovely vintage shoes and bags, if you like that sort of thing. Alternatively, Rio boutique, a few doors down have an incredible accessories collection for any last minute “I have no matching bag and nothing else will do” issues.

4-And don’t forget some makeup.
Red lipsticks are scary for the beginner, but they’re fun. There’s no better occasion than Valentines to try one out. Well, unless you kiss your date passionately and he ends up with it on his face, but you can at least start the evening with a lovely red pout.
There are a surprising number of red shades, considering the apparent simplicity, so you’ll have to test them to find your preferred shade, but a general rule is that a ‘true-red’, as it’s known (it has the tiniest undertone of blue which makes it starker) looks gorgeous for fair skinned brunettes or blondes, and if you have a warmer or olive skin-tone you can get away with peachy, orangey shades. Redheads look great with rosy, pinky reds, and beautiful black skin is complemented by a rich, tomato red.

Clockwise L-R
Lupita Nyong’O, Michelle Dockery, Christina Hendricks, Freida Pinto, Kate Upton.

Meadowhall’s beauty advisor Bethany Lunn picked out some beauty essentials from Meadowhall for pre-date pampering; Bobbi Brown cream shadow for sexy eyes, Dolce and Gabanna Pour Femme, and Bumble and Bumble hair mask.

Clockwise from L-R,
Debenhams, Mac Cosmetics Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £15.50
House of Fraser, Bobbi Brown Metallic Long- wear Cream Shadow £19.00 in Brown Metal
Boots, Chanel Rouge Allure in Passion £26
Boots Roses de Chloe Eau de Toilette Spray, £55.50 Boots
The Perfume Shop, D&G Pour Femme EDP 25ml £44.50 Dolce and Gabanna Pour Femme
Boots, Bumble & Bumble Mending Masque £30
Debenhams Chanel Coco Mademoiseille body cream, £57

She also favors classic Ruby Woo by Mac, whilst I’m in love with Chanel lipsticks. I’d take basically any shade of red Chanel made, regardless whether it suited me, because I am in love with Chanel and want to take it on a date. I also adore Roses de Chloe perfume; I wear it all the time but I think it is pretty romantic for a cosy night in.

Happy Valentines day

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