How to Look Great on Valentine's Day

Choosing a Valentine’s Day Outfit

Determine what’s appropriate for your plans. To help you narrow down your outfit options, consider what your Valentine’s Day plans are, and what type of attire is appropriate. If you are going out for a nice dinner, for example, you may want to opt for fancier attire than if you plan to see a romantic comedy movie with friends. You might also want to check the weather to make sure that you are comfortable, whatever your plans may be.

Go with a Valentine’s Day color scheme. Fully embrace the holiday by dressing in typical Valentine’s Day colors, such as shades of pink or red. Try a classic, fancier look with a long crimson gown, or have fun with a low-key hot pink sweater and jeans. Craft a monochromatic outfit, like head-to-toe blush tones, for an on-trend Valentine’s Day look. Shake things up by going monochromatic but with different shades of the same color. For example, try a bright red skirt with a burgundy red top and shoe. If you want to embrace the holiday in a more subtle manner, wear only one quintessential Valentine’s color, such as a pink dress with black pumps, or a red shoe with a neutral outfit.

Try a classically romantic outfit. Valentine’s Day is all about love, so what better time to rock a classically romantic look. When shopping for your Valentine’s Day outfit, search for romantic elements and details, such as puffed sleeves, lace, or ribbon details. For a romantic look that is always in style, try wearing clean and simple winter whites for your Valentine’s Day outing. A monochromatic winter white outfit looks great, but if you choose the same shade of white for each part, it can make you look a bit washed out. Instead, mix different shades of white with cream or beige. When in doubt, a classic little black dress is a great option for almost any occasion.

Go on-theme with Valentine’s Day-related prints. Have fun with your attire on Valentine’s Day and go with an on-theme printed item or full outfit, such as a heart top and jeans, or an allover rose print dress. Some retailers also release special Valentine’s Day items a few weeks in advanced with on-theme prints, such as conversation hearts, so keep an eye out for these as well.

Going for a Romantic Makeup Look

Craft a soft smokey eye. For a foolproof romantic look for Valentine’s Day, use a grey eye pencil and draw along your upper lash line. Add a light grey or earthy brown eyeshadow on your eyelids to create a softer smokey eye. For a more dramatic look, use your eyeliner to draw along your bottom lash line as well. Go for soft and smudged looks over hard lines and bright colors.

Try a pale pink blush to make your cheeks romantically rosy. To make a subtle statement with your Valentine’s Day makeup, apply blush in a holiday-appropriate pale pink. Pair with a light highlighter to get add a subtle glow. If you don't want to go red or pink, aim for a rosy neutral color that gives your skin a nice glow.

Go bold with a bright red or hot pink lipstick. Bright red and hot pink lipsticks are all the rage these days, so there are plenty of options on the market for you to choose from. First, select the right shade of lipstick for your skin tone. Then, line your lips with a lip liner and fill in with your bold red or pink. To avoid overdoing it, use more natural tones of makeup on the rest of your face.

Experiment with off-beat Valentine’s Day colors and shades. While quintessential Valentine’s colors like reds and pinks are always great options, similar colors, such as shades of purple and orange, are a bit more subtle but still holiday-appropriate. Try a lavender eyeshadow, coral lipstick, or a soft peachy eyeshadow for an unexpected but still romantic look.

Styling a Valentine’s Day Hairdo

Go soft and touchable with loose, brushed-out waves. Use a curling iron to curl your hair, leaving the heat on for a short time so that the curls are loose. Let your hair cool for a few minutes, then use a hairbrush to brush through the curls once to create loose, beach waves. While this may take some time, your hair will look effortlessly chic and totally touchable.

Try a bun to accentuate your face. Styling your hair in a bun for Valentine’s Day will keep your hair out of your face and let your outfit and makeup take center stage. Style a clean and chic slicked back bun for a fancier and more sophisticated look, or try a side bun, top knot bun, or a messy bun for a more laid-back look.

Accessorize with a headband. Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday to have fun with your hair accessories by styling with a headband. Go for a darkly romantic style with a simple black headband, or try an on-trend floral print for a more quintessential Valentine’s Day look. To avoid looking too young, pull a few tendrils of hair out in front of the headband. Use a curling iron to lightly curl a few pieces for an extra romantic vibe.

Braid your hair for an easy romantic style. Braiding your hair is perhaps the easiest way to get an instantly romantic hairdo. Whether you choose a loose side braid, a fishtail braid, or a classic French braid, your hair will look impossibly romantic for your Valentine’s Day plans.