Valentine's Day is a holiday that is more and more celebrated throughout the whole world and has somehow entered in the International calendar.
The ways in which people celebrate Valentine's Day are very diverse: from heading off to the mountains to staying at home or going out, the possibilities are endless.
Many people celebrate Valentine's Day by going out with their loved one or by embarking on a date with someone they've never met before. Either way, if you want to make a good first visual impression or if you want to dress up for the woman or man you love, this guide gives you some tips on how you can look your best on the holiday of love.
The rule of thumb when it comes to fashion in general is that your clothes need to be in your size and that they always need to be occasion-appropriate. Valentine's Day is holiday that allows you to wear a series of things you normally wouldn't. If you want to dress up on V-Day, you can definitely play with patterns, mix colors and put on other things that will make you memorable.
In this guide, we take a look at some things you can wear on Valentine's Day. Our guidelines are just general tips and can be adapted to any kind of outfit and to any style. We have also created some outfit ideas, which you can adapt to your taste and style in case you need more visual support and a good shopping starting point.
1. Colors and patterns
1.1 Colors
Wearing colors and patterns is a bold style statement and a great way to express your personality. Choosing colors and shapes you like will speak a lot about yourself and your taste. Even though Valentine's Day is a holiday that is mostly associated with the colors red and pink, we don't necessarily recommend wearing red or pink as this can turn out to be a tautological look.
If you don't know much about color coordination, for a safe bet, you can either wear a classic black and white or all-black combination, especially if you are wearing a suit, or you can wear mostly neutrals and add only one pop of color. In fashion, neutrals are colors that can be matched to each other and to any other color. These colors are black, white, gray, beige, khaki, ivory, tan, brown, dark blue, etc. These colors can be mixed with each other, and can be worn with any other color. So, for example if you have a beige or tan suit, you can pair it with a shirt in a strong color such as purple, orange or green and you will be sure that you will look great. A neutral + non-neutral combination is always a safe bet and a great way to go.
You can also wear neutrals with one color, but in different shades. For example, a brown suit can be worn with an orange shirt and a light orange tie. Wearing the same color twice is a very subtle and elegant fashion statement.
If you want to be more playful with your style, you can mix two or three colors. If you want to wear two colors, for great results, you can either wear colors that lie close to each other on the color wheel, such as red and orange, or blue and green, which will result in a natural and very harmonic look, or you can wear colors that lie on opposite sides of the color spectrum, such as orange and green, which will result in a strong look, as the two colors, by contrasting each other, will make each other pop.
If you want to wear three colors, a good way to go is to choose colors that lie at equal distances from one another on the colors (for example, if you count from 8 to 8 on a 24-color color wheel).
1.2. Patterns
When it comes to wearing patterns, the easiest way to wear a pattern, a print or a texture is to pair it with a solid neutral. Of course, you can wear a neutral pattern with a neutral solid, but that look will be a little boring.
A second way to wear a pattern is to wear a colorful pattern with a solid color that is one of the colors or a shade of one of the colors that appears in the pattern. For example, if you wear a tie that features dark blue, light green and beige stripes, you can pair it with a dark or light blue shirt. Repeating a color in a different shade is a very subtle fashion choice that indicates a man who pays attention to detail.
Thirdly, if you want to wear two or more patterns, prints or textures, you should always make sure that they are of different sizes: for example, thick stripes go with thin stripes. If you were to add a third pattern, such as paisley or polka dots, you should make sure that the shapes composing the patterns are of a different size than the two patterns you are already wearing.
Otherwise, you risk looking like an optical illusion, and, unless you are a mime, that is not a very aesthetic look.
There are exceptions to this rule, such as if you wear the exact same pattern twice but in different colors it can look well if the colors look together well, but these looks are extremely hard to pull off.
Always remember that a pattern is a symmetrically repeated construction, a print is an image that features a clear composition and a texture is a pattern that can not only be seen, but felt as well.
2. Layering
Wearing more layers is a perfect way to add more visual interest to an outfit and to make it stand out. For example, adding a vest to a shirt will result in a deeper outfit, that will look more 3D and that will therefore be more pleasing to the eye.
3. Accessories
Wearing accessories is a wonderful way to let someone know who you are without having to say a word. We don't recommend wearing too many accessories, but in the end, it all comes down to your personal taste. A watch, a tie or bow tie, and a pocket square are enough for going out on Valentine's Day. Speaking of ties and pocket squares; if you want to wear both a tie and a pocket square, you should always make sure that these do not match in terms of color and fabric. Of course, they should go together well, but they should not match. The reason for this is because a tie or a bow tie is meant to compliment your outfit and a pocket square is meant to compliment the tie or bow tie. Wearing the same thing twice is quite useless.
Another very important thing that needs to be said about accessories is that, for amazing sartorial results, your accessories should always be proportionate to your body. For example, you are a larger man, you can wear bigger accessories, while thin men should opt for thinner watches, thinner bracelets and skinnier ties.
Furthermore, when it comes to wearing gold and silver, you should always remember that metallics are neutrals and that they go with anything. Therefore, they can be even worn together, so it is OK if you are wearing a silver watch and a golden necklace at the same time.
When you are choosing accessories for your outfits, regardless of what they are (cufflinks, pocket squares, socks, etc.) make sure that you incorporate their colors in the overall color scheme of your outfit. Otherwise, you risk looking like a Rio de Janeiro carnival participant.
Wearing the right colors, the right pieces and the right accessories will make you look great, which can contribute a lot to feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin.
In the end, we always say that your clothes are just as important as your attitude and that a man who wears great piece, if he has a great attitude as well, he will make the best out of everything.
Have a great Valentine's Day!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
How to choose colors like a pro A guide to mixing colors A guide to choosing the best colors for your skin tone What should a man wear on a date The complete guide to mixing patterns and prints 12 essential suit rules 5 rules men should consider when wearing accessories A guide to matching your shirt to your pantsP.S. What do you wear on Valentine's Day? Do you celebrate it? How? If not, why? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!
