By: Amanda Morgan

HUNTSVILLE —     Every year on February 14, we celebrate a day that has a reputation all its own. It is known by many names, “singles-awareness-day”, “St. Valentine’s Day” or looking at it in an economic light:  “flowers-cost-more-than-your-electric-bill day”.  Besides the many different outlooks on Valentine’s Day, if it is your goal to go out and have a wonderful, fun and romantic date; then there is one thing that you are looking forward to: looking beautiful!!
    The go-to garb for any date is a cute dress; this ideology especially applies to a romantic Valentines date. This year’s main attraction in fashion is color. Bright, bold and beautiful colors like oranges, blues, greens, pinks and purples are huge right now. Applying this year’s theme to your Valentines wardrobe will make you a knockout! If you aren’t looking forward to bright colors in your future, the standby LDB (little black dress) is always there to make you look slimmer and fabulous.  No matter what color you choose for your dress, make sure it’s all you. Try an off-the-shoulder dress or a dress that cinches in the middle with a belt to give you that hourglass figure. Maybe try a dress with some ruffles or lace. You never know what could look darling on you until you try. 
    Worried about pinching pennies? You can find a variety of dresses in many different colors and styles for fewer dollars in store at Target and at target.com. You can also check out online fashion stores such as lulus.com for trendy and amazingly priced dresses and date-night wear.
    Some walls you might hit when picking out a dress for your date are: Where is the date going to be? Does the location allow for a shorter dress or mini skirt or does it call for more formal attire such as a gown? The weather might also be a factor to consider. You wouldn’t want to wear a short dress and peep-toe stilettos when it’s cold and storming outside. Another concern that one should consider is to combine comfort as well as style. You want to be able to be yourself and have a wonderful time (comfortable) as well as look the best that you can (style).  Unless you are wholly committed to a short and tight dress (or skirt) for your date, consider something less constricting so that you can enjoy yourself more and have a much better date too!
    One way to compliment the amazing dress you picked out is to accessorize. Of course there are the basics: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, watches and rings. Whichever piece of jewelry you choose to adorn yourself  with, make sure it matches the color motif of your dress. Warm colors: reds, oranges, yellows etc. go well with gold jewelry. While cool colors: blues, greens, purples, etc. go well with silver jewelry. Of course if you prefer one or the other, you will know what looks good on you no matter which hue you wear.
These go-to jewelry accessories will be great additions to your wardrobe but every woman needs something to hold their personal items in. A clutch is the perfect carry-on accessory to hold your belongings for your date. Small, lightweight and discreet; the clutch utilizes your need for storage without making you feel like a bag lady. Another great thing about a clutch is how versatile it is. You want to find one that will match your dress but this doesn’t mean that it has to directly match it. If you have chosen the LDB, pick a bright colored clutch! This way you can commit to a simple and flattering dress and still showcase your style and creativity with color!
    If you aren’t really sure where to find colorful and pretty clutches? Look no further than your computer screen. There are tons of fashion sites that offer great accessories that are always up to date with the current trends. One such site is www.hautelook.com, where you can find designer clutches for fifty to seventy-five percent off the original price.
    To help you put you, your gorgeous dress and glamorous accessories on a pedestal, the finishing touch to any date night outfit: heels. Because this year’s fabulous fad is lavish and powerful colors, you might find it in your best interest to pair your outfit with a quieter colored pair of heels. You want to stick with hues that won’t distract from your outfit. Underlying hues such as black, smoky charcoal and even nude tans are great choices to really put your whole outfit on display instead of overpowering it with too many bright colors. Plus colors like these will perfectly match a LBD without looking tacky. The worry here is having your clothing, accessories and shoes all competing against each other with their attention grabbing colors, so it’s best to keep your heels in more foundational hues.
    Finding the right pair of heels can be a pain even for dedicated shop-a-holics. To find gorgeous heels that are easy on the budget, look local. Right in the square in Huntsville is Modello Footwear and Accessories. They have top major fashion brands for low dollar prices. Visit them in store or at their website, www.modelloshoe.com.
    No matter which of these options you pick to look absolutely stunning in for this Valentines Day, remember to cater to who you are (own your style and personality), be comfortable and simply have fun. Add these tips to you outfit and there’s no way you won’t look absolutely fabulous for your romantic Valentines Day date!
Happy Valentines Day
- XOXO