Many of us have been in this blunder. One has a date planned and s/he cannot choose what to wear. S/he has far too many options or s/he is unaware of what clothing is appropriate. But the answer is actually quite simple.

For the Ladies:
For a first date, you want to look appealing, but you don’t want to dress too extravagantly. If you adorn your face with plenty of makeup and wear your best outfit, you may look fantastic; however, this will only set unrealistic expectations in your date’s mind of how you usually look. In fact, if you prepare for your second date by applying low-key makeup and wearing casual clothes, your sweetie may wonder where the original you s/he met went. This is why simple, yet classy looks are most appropriate for a first date; think business casual.

Makeup
Avoid dark, smoky eyeshadow on the first date. Neutral colours accentuate your eyes while still adhering to your down-to-earth look.

One chic and low-maintenance makeup look I recommend for an initial romantic evening is:
• The Frosty Lower Eyelid

One can achieve the “frosty lower eyelid” by lining her upper eyelid with black eyeliner and her lower eyelid and inner corner of the eye with silver eyeliner. This look will help one appear natural while still looking striking.

For a different effect, try metallic, sky blue or lavender eyeliner on your bottom lid.

• The Nude, Red, or Pink Lip
When the eyes are not highlighted with shadow, you won’t look like you’ve gone overboard by applying a bold colour to your lips. Red lips make one stand out; alternatively, pink lips play it safe, and the nude lip completes the plain look.

Keep your outfit simple, yet elegant for a first date. What you wear may also depend on the venue. If you’re going out to a restaurant, do not wear jeans! However, if you and your crush plan on going somewhere more laidback, jeans may be acceptable. Please reserve the slinky red dress and fauxe-fur jacket for a more formal event, preferably when you and your love interest have gone exclusive.

Don’t forget: You can also make a bland outfit more dazzling by adding accessories!

Gents:
Face
Please, please shave your beard for a first date, unless your date favours a little scruff. There is no bigger turn-off – appearance-wise – than a man who doesn’t care to impress his romantic companion by grooming.

Clothing
Men, it is important to look dashing without appearing as though you’re about to propose.
A dress shirt and some formal pants would look great if you’re going to a restaurant, but don’t overdo it by wearing a blazer. However, if the date is at a more casual hotspot, then a T-shirt and jeans will do.

Men & Women:
Scent
Unless you are personally familiar with the person you’re going on a date with and his or her likes or dislikes when it comes to body mists, do not wear a strong scent. Many people are sensitive to smells and one’s first date experience may be ruined if s/he is sniffling constantly due to the other’s wearing of a strong odor. A simple shower will suffice, but if you feel like kicking up your personal scent a notch, try a light fragrance.

As a general guideline, wear something stylish that makes you feel comfortable. You want to be able to be yourself while being confident. Good luck on your first dates, ladies and gentlemen!

Congratulations! You have overcome the Y chromosome commitment phobic gene. You are going to ask her to marry you. Please read this quickly before you change your mind. I have ten simple rules to follow that will guarantee she will say yes.

1. DON’T buy your diamond from the internet.

Your girl wants to be able to tell a story of how you picked it out. How you knew from the moment it was in your hands, that it was the ring for her. Trust me, saying that you got a warm fuzzy feeling as soon as you saw the Craig’s List Ad is not going to cut it.

2. Go to Wal-Mart for a good pair of walking shoes not your diamond.

Get yourself a good pair of shoes so you are comfortable visiting all the independent jewellers in your area. Don’t go to chain stores, and PLEASE don’t go to discount department stores. Girls keep the boxes their rings come in. No one wants to see Wal-Mart or Zellers on their little velvet box. Your fiance-to-be will also want to establish a relationship with her new jeweller. A place where she will feel comfortable leaving her engagement ring for cleaning, sizing or repairs.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask a salesperson for help.

This is one purchase that you are going to need their help with. Very few jewellery stores are self serve.

4. Consider your girlfriends style.

Is she very modern or more traditional? Let your salesperson know and she can help guide you to the perfect ring.

5. Have a budget for the ring.

It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. The website a diamond is forever provides a calculator and spending guidelines based on your yearly salary

6. Research the 4C’s

You need to know the Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat weight of diamonds before you part with any of that hard earned cash.

7. Clarity

Don’t stress about this one. SI Clarity is what you want unless you are looking for investment or resale. SI means slightly included. Almost all diamonds have imperfections. I like to think of them as birthmarks. They make your diamond unique and special. But the bigger and darker the inclusions the less valuable the diamond. In a diamond graded SI clarity you won’t be able to see the imperfections with the naked eye. By staying at this grade and not investing in the higher grades you may be able to get a diamond a little bigger or with a better color.

8. Color

You don’t want to scrimp here. No one will notice an inclusion you need a magnifying glass to see, but if it doesn’t shine or if it looks dirty both you and her will be disappointed your entire married life. I would recommend a color no darker than H. High color diamonds have come down in price somewhat due to a good number beautiful stones being mined out of Northern Canada.

9. Cut

This is difficult to determine in a ring with the stone mounted. To make sure that the cut was done well, hold your diamond to the light. Does it dance? Can you almost see movement? If your diamond sparkles, the cut is just fine.

10. Carat Weight

This is how big your diamond is. Once you have taken the last three points into consideration buy the biggest diamond you can afford. Don’t say that your girlfriend’s fingers are too small for a big diamond, or that she doesn’t like anything flashy. A jeweller I know who has been in the jewellery business for over 50 years has NEVER had a ring been returned because the diamond was too big.

Just one more thing, propose tastefully. Don’t put the ring in a bucket of KFC, or pop the question in an ape suit. A nice restaurant, a nice suit, a nice poem (if that’s your thing), and getting down on one knee is what melts a girls heart.

Good luck and check back in 50 years for tips on the Golden Anniversary ring.

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