This exhibition brings together artists, craftspeople, and companies at the frontier of contemporary Irish design
This exhibition brings together artists, craftspeople, and companies at the frontier of contemporary Irish design

Megan Burns

IMAGE staffer Emily O’Neill has perfected her wellness routine
IMAGE staffer Emily O’Neill has perfected her wellness routine

Emily O'Neill

This Foxrock family home is straight out of a fairytale
This Foxrock family home is straight out of a fairytale

IMAGE

Inside this wisteria-clad family home overlooking People’s Park in Bray
Inside this wisteria-clad family home overlooking People’s Park in Bray

IMAGE

Inspiration for your outdoor space from Irish homes
Inspiration for your outdoor space from Irish homes

Megan Burns

This Rathfarnham house has been turned into a bright, contemporary space
This Rathfarnham house has been turned into a bright, contemporary space

Megan Burns

Party Planning: The female-led businesses at the top of the events game
Party Planning: The female-led businesses at the top of the events game

Ciara Elliot

A sheltered patio area with incredible views is the crown jewel of this Waterford home
A sheltered patio area with incredible views is the crown jewel of this Waterford home

Sarah Finnan

Swapping my TV for a projector was the best decision: here’s what to know if you’re considering one
Swapping my TV for a projector was the best decision: here’s what to know if...

Megan Burns

The award-winning Irish cocktail bar shaking things up on an international level
The award-winning Irish cocktail bar shaking things up on an international level

James Gabriel Martin

Image / Fashion

The Dilemma Of How To Dress For Valentine’s Day


By Marie Kelly
11th Feb 2017
The Dilemma Of How To Dress For Valentine’s Day
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and’despite being?an occasion that most of us resolutely denounce as a farce and an homage to Hallmark, restaurants everywhere will be booked out, not just on Tuesday?night, but Saturday and Sunday?too. There’s clearly a market for love. And while I’ll lament the artificiality of the day as much as anyone, if someone wanted to treat me to an indulgent meal on Tuesday night, of course I’d be happy to accept. Opportunities to eat with handsome, interesting men are less frequent in your forties than your twenties it turns out.
I recently wrote an article in’the February issue of IMAGE Magazine about who women dress for – themselves, their partners, their fashionable friends? And it’s a question worth revisiting?in the context of Valentine’s Day.?So how do you approach dressing for a date night, especially if it’s a first date? Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing has described fashion as “character play”, and he’s right, but the trick is to play to your own character, not that of the woman you think you want to be, or should be. There’s nothing more attractive than confidence, so when you’re weighing up your sartorial options -‘sequinned skirt or skinny jeans – choose the piece that best’signals your personality, because?then you’ll dazzle irrespective of whether your skirt shimmers or not.
But this’doesn’t mean’sticking to a predictable and safe comfort zone either. We all take fashion risks, and we should, especially when we’re young and?have the advantages of youth on our side -?what?appears pathetic at 45 simply?looks playful at 25 . The key is to stay within your “style zone”, so to speak. If you would never dream of wearing a full skirt any other day, then it’should definitely not be your reality on Valentine’s Day, regardless of what fabulous street style star is pulling the look off with aplomb. Imitation is the best form of flattery, they say, but it’s the worst way to approach your personal style. If you’re a sweatshirt and jeans kind of girl, try elevating the look for a date night by wearing?a great pair of black skinnies (they always look dressier than blue washes) with heels and an embellished top.?This embroidered T-shirt?(below) is simple and unfussy, yet dressy and feminine too.
Flower embroidery top, Emanuel Ungaro, €195 (reduced from €389) at farfetch.com

And conversely, if you like your clothes to reflect the vibrancy of your personality, don’t dumb that down for a date night. But perhaps strike a balance between silhouette, print, colour and texture, focusing on one rather than embracing all four at the same time. At the end of the day, you don’t want your clothes to be the talking point of the evening either.

And a final but important point: don’t wear shoes you can’t walk in! There’s nothing less stylish than a woman who looks like she’s hobbling in agony from the roadside?to the restaurant. Plus, there’s no need. Wedges and block heels are much easier (for me anyway) to walk in, yet they still provide the poise, height and stature that you’re looking for on a date night. I love these Zara leather mules. Sexy … but stable enough to walk in too!

Embossed leather high-heel mules, €69.95 at Zara