Q. My boyfriend has invited me out to dinner at an exclusive restaurant for Valentines Day. I want to really wow him with a sexy outfit but, as this is a very upmarket restaurant, I’ll have to maintain some modicum of decency. Have you any suggestions?
A. It's Valentine's Day on Sunday - the traditional time for candlelit meals, roses, chocolates - and love with that special person in your life. It is the most romantic day of the year and the perfect excuse to get glammed up.
If you really want to get his pulse racing forget that little black dress.
Take a look at our gallery of Valentine's appropriate clothing here.
Take a look at our gallery of the perfect beauty products for Valentine's Day here.
Gentlemen really prefer a lady in red. Blushing in shades of crimson, scarlet or deep rose, a girl is regarded as prettier and more desirable, research shows.
She is also more likely to be asked out on a date - and have more money lavished on her during the outing according to a recent study. So if you are unsure about what colour to wear, red is a pretty safe bet.
Luckily, it is one of fashion's favourite colours for spring, so a woman looking for a result next weekend has a wide choice of styles, shades and prices. But it is important to create exactly the right mood for the occasion - without giving the wrong impression.
An elegant form fitting dress betrays serious, sultry intentions. A tight-fitting cleavage-enhancing short dress is more mischievously provocative, and a floaty little number in layers of girlish chiffon is wonderfully flirtatious.
Red tends not to linger too long on fashion's cutting edge and, unless you have a flamboyant personality, it's too much of a look-at-me colour for regular wear.
But that does have to be balanced against the effectiveness factor. Some of the sexiest dresses are the most expensive simply because the more sensuous fabrics cost more and so does the kind of cut and workmanship that ensures perfect flattery.
Exact shade of red is also a key factor. As a guide, basically, the darker your skin the brighter the red you can wear - right up to true scarlet. Paler skins respond better to bluer reds - those which edge towards burgundy and purple. If you are opting for a dramatic red dress, keep everything else simple, accessorizing in gold to compliment this luxurious colour.
If you don’t want to wear head to toe red just add a touch if you want to add sex appeal to your outfit. The other alternative is to wear something cutsy, which can be decorated with pretty hearts. To finish your look just add killer heels.
