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Dazzle on Date Night: Flirty Styles for Any Age
By Barbara Hannah Grufferman, July 17, 2013 06:02 PM
Coco Chanel famously said,
"I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny."
For sure, if you're going on a first date - especially one where kind friends made the introduction, or you've only met virtually thanks to the Internet - you will no doubt want to put your absolute prettiest foot forward and plan a fun and flirty outfit that makes you look and feel fabulous.
But wait a minute! Doesn't your long-term love deserve just as much effort from you as someone you've recently met or just started dating?
Absolutely! Not only will taking a bit of time to, as Coco would say, "fix yourself up a little" make you feel confident, cool and sexy, but your date will be thrilled to know how important the evening is to you.
Trying desperately to get out of my "jeans, black top and black booties" rut recently when my husband of 20 years suggested we go out for dinner (alone!), I asked good friend and brilliant fashionista Jacqui Stafford to give me a few tips on what to wear to look pretty and very flirty. Jacqui, an international style guru and best-selling author of The Wow Factor, shared her best style secrets to really wow on date night.
We taped our chat and turned it into the latest episode of "The Best of Everything" show for the the AARP YouTube Channel! Take a quick look to see some of Jacqui's best tips for looking great on date night:
Here's a "cheat sheet" of what we think makes a woman dazzle on date night:
Sexy shoes: It's okay to wear a higher heel on date night - it'll make your legs look fab. ( Tip: If high heels make you feel unsteady, aim for a wedge.)
Bold colors on top: You want all eyes (especially your date's) to be on you and your beautiful face, so bring out the bright, bold, happy colors, like raspberry and royal blue. ( Tip: Stick with solids, as Jacqui showed us in the video.)
Fun, chunky jewelry: Every savvy fashionista uses bold jewelry to make a strong statement. Wear a chunky necklace close to your collarbone and a big, beautiful ring. ( Tip: If you're wearing a big necklace, wear small earrings, such as diamond studs. You don't want to overdo it.)
Signature bag: Wear a cool clutch or a small structured handbag. Definitely leave the tote or oversized hobo home. ( Tip: Go for a metallic clutch in a shade that can be worn with every color, such as soft gold.) 
The most important tip of all? Have a great time. A woman who is confident, who feels sexy and comfortable in her own skin, and who is having fun lights up the room! Last tip: Jeans are absolutely okay if you pair them with the pretty details we suggested, but make sure the jeans are dark blue without any fading or whiskering. Much more sophisticated!
I want to hear from you! Tell me your absolute favorite looks for date night! What makes you feel gorgeous? Share it all in the comments section below.
Until next time, remember this: We can't control getting older . . . but . . . we can control how we do it!
For more tips on living your best life after 50 (or 60, or 70...) check out The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money and More and www.bestofeverythingafter50.com. Keep me posted on how you're doing by subscribing to me on Facebook and "tweeting" me on Twitter at @BGrufferman. Check out the full video series - The Best of Everything - on the AARP YouTube Channel.
Photo credits: Kids Jigsaw, Christian Louboutin, Fab Sugar
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