Hot Looks for the Big Night

By Maureen Mancini Amaturo

Pullqoute:

“The moment I had to choose between the man I loved and my dresses, I chose my dresses.”

– Coco Chanel

Wearing something that makes you feel beautiful is always the right choice, but even more so on Valentine’s Day.

One way is to accentuate your favorite feature – great legs, small waist, enviable arms, fabulous face. With the day to celebrate love just around the corner, find an outfit you love that will love you back.

Red, black, and pinks are top color choices for Valentine dresses. But don’t forget blush and nude shades – they look innocent but are very suggestive.

Here are some to accent what you love about yourself.

Chest and Neck

• A V-neck elongates your neckline and shows just enough cleavage. • Spaghetti straps, deep-V, or strapless. Check out the Lauriell red wrap front crepe midi from prettylittlething.us.

• A sophisticated, sensual, velvet, plunging midi, like the velvet tulip dress in rose at FOREVER21.com.

Legs

• The mini. If it fits well, even a sweater dress in a short length is sexy. We Call Dibs mini dress (nastygal.com) amps up the appeal with a cute back cutout. • A short sheath is flattering for nearly every shape. • A sheer, peek-a-boo hemline, where the solid underskirt is shorter than the see-through overlay. • Take slits up a notch in a neutral bodycon. See velvet cami dress in light pink at FOREVER21.com. • Going mini? Weigh the impact other details will have, i.e., jewelry, balconette bodice, bodycon silhouette. Multiple details can up the heat, but too much of a good thing is…well, too much.

Waist • Visit Missguidedus.com for a great selection of red satin wrap dresses. •Try a V-neck dress with a belt to draw the eye to your waist.

Curves

•An asymmetrical hemline is great for curvy girls. Calls attention to legs, takes the focus off stomach and hips. • Fit-and-flare mimics your shape. Perfect hourglass silhouette with room for curves and cinched at the waist. • Curves can handle bodycon, which accents hips and bust and hugs waist. Darker shade or curve-in illusion panels on the sides exaggerate curves. • A-line dress or one with a full skirt.

Arms and Shoulders

• Strapless, bustier top, a ruffle that drops off the shoulder. Check out the red lace contrast arm cuff bodycon dress (prettylittlething.us). • Halter top. • Shoulder cutouts or embellishments.

Focus on your face • Cowl necks. In a neutral metallic, they’re sexier than you think. • Choker neckline, ruffle necks that frame your chin, tight turtlenecks, a metallic sleeveless. Audrey Hepburn knew just how handle this look. • Details that focus on the top — lace appliqués along a flirty V-neck, bling at the neckline. Keep the eye high.

Who needs a Valentine to feel loved? Interpret Justin Bieber’s words in a new way. “Cause if you like the way you look that much, oh baby you should go and love yourself.” Exactly.

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