Keep a hot, healthy tan . . . hold the orange
The best way to get a healthy summer glow and hold onto it is to do healthy outdoor activities. You still need to slather on the sun block and wear the appropriate gear, i.e. cool hats and shades. But whether you're swimming, playing tennis or golf, or just taking a stroll, you're gonna get some good vitamin D and you're gonna get some glow. It looks so much better than the leathery look you get from lying out in the sun smothered in cooking oil.
Women who want to highlight their tan can opt for some simple bronzer rather than the fakey spray tan look. Most men tend to prefer natural anyway. Right guys?
Sex it up by dressing down
Whether it's the end of summer heat or a cool crisp early fall evening, try a casual, relaxed look that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. Sinuous fabrics that are light and loose look good on men and women and complement all different body shapes.
Men can go retro sleek a la Charlie Sheen's character in Two and a Half Men or a simple, modern-looking T-shirt that has a soft feel to it.
Women can opt for breezy dresses or silky tops paired with jeans or shorts.
Wear bright colors to attract 'em like moths to a flame
Break out the grays, browns, and blacks when winter arrives. Now's the time of year when you can be more adventurous with color and stand out in the crowd. That's not to say that you should be picking a neon green. It just means that you don't need to be afraid of a nice shade of red. And guys, you don't need to be afraid of pink–certainly Donald Trump, top tennis pro Roger Federer, and even collage-age guys aren't. Not ready for pink, yet? Try salmon.
Think feet–and it's not the size that matters!
Not all people are as crazy about shoes as the Sex and the City stars. A lot of people, men in particular, tend to forget about feet. How often do you look down, right? The problem is that shoes are important to your whole look. Wearing a nice pair of shoes (and they don't have to be Jimmy Choos) will give you just the lift your look needs.
Brighten your smile
All it might take is a new kind of toothpaste. You don't need to go a whiter shade of pale, causing your date to squint. Simply de-yellowing your teeth after all those cups of coffee and tea goes a long way toward your new look.
Refresh your look
Have you had the same haircut for a while? Is it outdated? You don't have to go for a drastic new look, but just a small change here and there can do wonders for your self-confidence, as well as cause your date to do a double take. If you've kept your hair shorter for the summer, now might be the time to grow it out. The key here is to still get frequent haircuts so that you look styled instead of shaggy. Ask your hairstylist about some of the newer trends.
Caroline Presno, Ed.D. is a freelance writer and author of Profiling Your Date: A Smart Woman's Guide to Evaluating a Man.
