MEN: Dress for the date you want, not the date you’re having.  While your instinct might be to throw on your favorite t-shirt and jeans which is also what you might wear to meet your buddy, you may want to consider that showing up like that might just land you another buddy. Instead, step it up from the bromance coffee date and wear something that could transition to a dinner date if everything goes well. You don’t want your clothes to hold you back from taking that next step.

A bad first impression can also keep her from saying “yes” to a second date. If it looks like she’s just another stop on your Saturday check list, she may write you off before you get the opportunity to take her on a real date. Women pay attention to details so she will recognize your effort and will be flattered to know that you took the time to impress her.

Here a few things items in your closet that may work:

• Casual button ups (think plaid, military, etc.), quarter zip sweaters, polo, or lux cotton fitted t-shirt
• Dark jeans, chinos (no pleats), narrow whale corduroy, knee length shorts
• Motorcycle style leather jackets, wool pea coats, or casual cotton blazer
• Comfortable shoes like loafers, boots, boat shoes and spectator sneakers

Here’s what never works:

• Anything with the name of a college or sport team
• Anything you actually wore in college
• Anything with a company logo or a brand name emblazoned across it
• Anything that you can also wear to the gym or hiking
• Anything that doesn’t fit you properly

WOMEN:  Say “yes” to the dress and keep it effortless. This might seem contradictory, you may think of a dress as something worn on a special occasion, requiring extra effort and primping.  Well, it is a special occasion and you should put some time and thought into it, but the result should look natural and approachable or rather effortless. A day dress (think sundress for summer, sweater dress for winter) can be feminine and flirty and what guy doesn’t like that?

While your typical skinny jeans and a cute top are certainly appropriate, a dress will make you stand out from the rest of the women he’s met for coffee that week. It’s a good way to show a little skin without looking desperate or overly sexy. The key is to be memorable without looking like you are trying too hard.

Here a few things items in your closet that may work:

• Sweater dress, wrap dress, shirt dress, t-shirt dress, or skirt
• Perfectly fit jeans and an edgy top or a simple top accessorized well
• Accessorize with a scarf, belt, statement earrings or necklace
• Layering with a leather jacket, fitted cardigan or casual blazer
• Knee-high boots, booties, wedges, ballet flats, or stylish sandals

Here’s what never works:

• Anything that shows more skin than it covers
• Anything you would wear to a club
• Anything that resembles something your mom owns
• Anything that resembles something your date might own
• Anything that doesn’t fit you properly

Milena Joy is a certified image consultant, author, and motivational speaker. She is a nationally recognized image expert as featured in the Huffington Post, AmericanExpress.com, Aol’s StyleList.com and many more. She gives men and women the style confidence they need to be successful in their personal and professional lives. For more information or help with your style, http://www.milenaconsulting.com.

Sheer.  Think translucent and barely there…leaving just enough to the imagination. Too much peek-a-boo can have you going form classy to trashy quite quickly.  Use sheer elements of clothing to highlight your best features such as your legs, arms or décolletage. The most wearable and sophisticated pieces are typically neutral in color, have soft clean lines and are worn with minimal delicate jewelry.

Metallic.  Brocade and tweed skirts with a metallic finish give these traditional materials a fresh appearance for spring/summer. Feminine sillouttes and soft colors like pink and lilac also enhance this elegant, yet unexpected twist in textures. Since the material can be on the heavy side, pair your metallic skirt with a light weight top like silk.

Emerald Green.  Pantone deemed it the Color of the Year for 2013. Embrace this rich and elegant color with dresses in silk and lace. Both materials play well with the color’s bold presence. This is a great color for most people, but particularly red heads. Color blocking is still hot for summer, so try pairing it with bright blues, yellows, and my favorite, hot pink.

Black & White.  From black and white patterns, especially stripes to black and white color blocked outfits, it’s probably the easiest trend for most of us to embrace. White blazers replace the classic black one this summer for a change. Keep the look from going Miam Vice by pairing it with a softer colors like a light pink versus hot pink. If you work in a business professional environment, you’ll have to leave the white jacket and pants at home as they say fashionista rather than future CEO.

Sporty Chic. We aren’t talking about wearing your yoga, but rather having sporty, functional elements married with otherwise elegant pieces. Mesh and spandex infused materials in sleek, tailored styles. The look is polished and functional as in a t-shirt dress, short skirt or tailored shorts. Accessories should be minimal and the overall outfit reasonably functional.

Brush Stroke Print.  If you are print averse, this is just the print to help you baby step out of your comfort zone. Emphasizing the artistic element of fashion, the brushstroke print overlaps flowing silhouettes of chiffon, organza and tulle. Look for dresses and skirts in draping styles that feel airy and light and use the pattern to accentuate your feminine curves.

Spring Dress Soiree

WHAT:  Spring Dress Soiree

WHY:  Think of all the spring and summer celebrations you might need the perfect dress for…Milena will be there to help you find the perfect dress for all those special occasions!

Click the picture to see the interview on Channel 2.

How It Works

With Pin My Wardrobe, I will do a full Wardrobe Edit where we go through your entire closet, piece by piece, evaluating it for size, color, fit, style, etc. We’ll get rid of the things that aren’t working, make a shopping list for the ones that are missing and make new outfits with the things you already have!

• Color blocking is on trend and a perfect way to incorporate your team’s colors. 49ers fans, think red matchstick pants with a gold flowy top or Ravens fans can try a pair of black coated jeans with a purple fitted t-shirt or blouse.
• Go retro with old school team t-shirts! These t-shirts are feminine and can be paired with skinny jeans or layered with leggings to keep you in style and on trend.
• Accessories like hats, scarves, purses and jewelry are easy ways to add in team colors to your outfit. They can also be an affordable option to purchase if you don’t already have the items in your closet.
• Paint your nails, not your face! Creative nail art can be a funky way to show your support. Have a nail tech paint your team logo, patterns incorporating your team colors or play it safe with alternating colors on each finger.
• A great pair of shoes completes every outfit. Wedge sneakers are fashion forward or go classic with a comfy pair of Toms…either style will be perfect for jumping up and down to high five your friends!

1.  Take the Time To Look Your Best.

Are you looking for the magic style pill? Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist and like all things that are worth having, looking and feeling your best does take some time and effort. That may mean setting aside thirty minutes in the morning to get ready or scheduling a day for shopping. Instead of feeling guilty about taking time for yourself, or putting it at the bottom of your “to-do” list, make your health and well-being a priority this year. With a little planning – (schedule those hair appointments and shopping days) – and commitment – (dress your best everyday, not just for special occasions), you will create positive habits that will require less and less time as they become second nature and part of your lifestyle!

2.  Know Your Fashion Formula.

Just because printed pants are coming down the runway or your best friend owns five pairs, doesn’t mean that it’s a flattering look for you. A fashion forward style can fall flat if it doesn’t fit your body or your personality. Knowing what compliments your body is half the battle in having the polished, pulled together look we all long for. Recognizing what works for your lifestyle while enhancing your confidence is the other half. Anything less will make your outfit look more like a costume and have you feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable. When you know your fashion formula, you can pass on those potential fashion disasters and only pick the trends and styles that you love!

3.  Show Off Your Sexy Shape.

If I had a dollar for every time a woman has told me she’s putting off her wardrobe until she loses 10 pounds, I would be a billionaire! Start looking your best now, no matter what your size or shape. If you keep waiting for the day you have the perfect body, you’ll never make a change because there is no such thing. With the right clothes, you can actually make yourself look taller, shorter, slimmer, bustier, etc. So no more stressing or hiding. It’s time to show some skin and start rocking everything from feminine skirts and dresses to body hugging jeans!

4.  Invest in the Basics.  

Basics may sound boring, but they are the backbone of your wardrobe and will help you maximize your investment. While there is no “one list fits all” for wardrobe basics – it depends on your lifestyle needs and body – having pieces that you can mix and match multiple ways is key. For example, the perfect neutral colored blazer can be dressed up or dressed down, be worn to multiple functions and will layer over several tops in your wardrobe. Thus, it would make more sense to spend $200 on a great blazer versus a trendy dress or top that can only be worn for a night out on the town. Spend 90% of your budget on basics and only 10-15% on trendy pieces and accessories. To get you started, check out my Wardrobe Essentials List!

5.  Wear Your “Good” Clothes Now.  

At some point, someone told you to save your good clothes for a special occasion and to splurge on the dress you know you’ll only wear once. It’s bad advice that’s been handed down from generation to generation. If you stop and think about the cost per wear, you’ll realize how foolish that sounds. Instead, splurge on something you’ll wear over and over. The perfect pair of jeans, a fabulous jacket, a sexy pair of shoes! Then, be sure to wear these clothes Monday through Sunday. That jacket you got in Paris, that you spent a small fortune on, deserves to be worn!

6.  Take Some Risks and Move Outside Your Comfort Zone.  

In the end, one bad fashion choice is just another day. Celebrities, who have access to personal stylists and designers, experience fashion hiccups all the time. Constantly playing it safe and by the book takes the fun out of fashion. Remember that fashion is a way to express yourself on the outside. It’s a OK  to make a statement once in awhile and color outside the lines. Take the leap and try new styles, colors, and patterns that catch your eye instead of your wallet. You might be surprised at what you find outside of your comfort zone!

• Tailored Skirt Suit
• Wool Jacket
• Black/Navy Blazer
• Casual Jacket
• White Button Up
• Black Cardigan
• Sexy Top
• Sleeveless Top
• Day/Summer Dress
• Sweater Dress
• LBD
• Skinny Jeans
• Bootcut Jeans
• Black Leggings
• Black Tights
• Boots or Booties
• Black Heels
• Nude Heels
• Ballet Flats
• Sandals
• Layering Camis
• White Ribbed Tank
• Scarf
• Statement Necklace
• Pendant Necklace
• Statement Earrings
• Stud Earrings

Video Tranascript

Hi, my name is Milena Joy. I’m an image consultant, author and speaker on professional dress and personal style. I’m here to help you look your best. Today, I’m at A Line Boutique and I’m going to show you what color dress works really well for red hair and pale skin. Redheads are going to look best in warm colors in general. However, if you have pale skin you’re going to want to err towards warm colors that are really soft and more neutral. So I love this sweater dress that we have here because it really encompasses a lot of the colors that are going to work really well for pale skin and red hair. As you see it has some peaches, kind of soft orange-y pinks, kind of a rust color and then of course a lot of cream. When you have pale skin you want to avoid colors like black. Black can be really harsh and also make you look a little bit more pale as well as white. You want to err on the side of cream, ivory or anything that’s really off white. Alright I hope you’ve learned a few great tips on what color dress works really well for a redhead with pale skin. My name is Milena Joy, and I’m here to help you look your best.