How Do You Wear It?

First Date Outfit - Too much?

I have a question. Do you dress for a man/other half or do you dress for yourself?

I have to be honest, I'm guilty of doing both. I've had boyfriends tell me they prefer my hair straight or that headbands look silly. Usually when it's a boyfriend that's saying this stuff I do the exact opposite. I am an 'independent woman' after all. Ha.

But the times when I find myself wondering what a man will think is if there's someone I am trying to impress at a party or a potential meeting of new people (men). This happened only the other day, when a friend ensured us single ladies that there would be lovely gentlemen at their party. As I threw the contents of my wardrobe around the room to find an outfit, I questioned an outfit for being one my female friends would appreciate, but men would find odd. Ridiculous? Yes. I immediately chided myself for being 'that girl'.

But a few days later, I was flicking through a magazine encouraging just that. An array of celebrities in their outfits being judged by a panel of men. Guess which one was their favourite? A picture on an Olsen twin in ripped skinny jeans, a baggy checked shirt and bedhair. Of course, if anyone was going to pull this off and look damn hot, it would be an Olsen twin, but the point remains. These men found her far more approachable and liked that she wasn't too try hard.

It's a bloody minefield. Whilst I didn't expect them to pick The Saturday girl in a horrifying 'Mixi dress' (it's a mullet, people. C'mon!), I get the sense that being 'fashionable' is a turn off.

Just say no.

Yet standing knee high in flowery dresses and biker boots, I kind of thought, sod it! I bloody love my wardrobe and to be quite honest if he's going to go the distance, he's going to have to love it too. Especially if he wants to squeeze into any part of it.
So I put this to you gorgeous single ladies out there, who do you dress for?

Miss x

Parental Advice

I went out to dinner last night with my family. We were celebrating my bother's new job (well done you!) and a very belated 21st meal for him :) We went to our favourite place, Nicolino's in Emsworth. Seriously, amazing food!

Whilst trying to squeeze in a little dessert, my parents decided to give some advice on relationships...if you could call it that.

Dad: Men are fools. Women know that men are fools and go out with them anyway. So now who's the fool?

Mum: You need to date older men. Go and spend more time in a library.

And there we go folks, all you need to know right there. Classic.


Miss x

The Game

Game Playing. The topic of many a chick flick or Sex and the City epsiode. Not forgetting conversations with my favourite girls.

Recently, my dearest brother, of only 21 years of age, enlightened us to a few things. To uncover the mystery, check out the post on Caitlin's blog.

However, what happens when the man does have a game plan? Yesterday, I was texting a good friend of mine that I used to date. In a reply to his message, I put a kiss at the end of the text. As soon as I sent it, I panicked. When we were dating we used to put a kiss at the end, but since we've just been friends, he stopped and so therefore I did too.

The thing is, I always put a kiss at the end of my messages, to everyone. So why am I so suddenly careful with him? I felt completely ridiculous, not because of the kiss, but because I panicked! Is it really a big deal?

This then got me thinking about dating games. Funnily enough, this same guy let me in on a few of his secrets. He had a very distinct set of rules, that him and his friend would use to get girls. I'm afraid to say..it worked on me.

1. Ignore the girl you like.
2. Talk to all of her friends but her, and only at the end, start up a conversation with her.
3. Put her down on something she likes about herself
4. Wear unusual clothes/colours/styled hair - apparently this is called 'peacocking'
5. Wait a while before texting back...a long while
6. Talk about your ex-girlfriend...it shows you're used to women being around you
7. Random compliments, the more unusual the better

This is only a selection of the rules he had. Some of you may recognise this from The Game by Neil Strauss. Well you'd be right. Him and his friend studied that book like a bible. At the time, I felt a bit like I'd been played, tricked into dating him. But then I just found it funny. So much effort, careful planning and delivery of lines! He reassured me he did it because he wanted me to like him, and I did. The funnier thing was, after the act had dropped and the pressure was off, I like him a whole lot more. I fell for the way he wore his glasses when he was tired, the ridiculous excitement over silly things and how he was never afraid of a debate with me.

So there you have it. Are you going to play the game?

Miss x