I had a blind date sprung on me recently and I found myself in an unenviable position of going “Uh oh… what do I wear? How do I look?” Since it was dinner on a weekend, I found myself with time to work out my look and I thought I’d share my thoughts based on this and other previous experiences. Keep reading because there’s also a Giveaway at the end of this post! 🙂
Where to go?
If its dinner that’s planned, try to arrange for a restaurant that you have been to. There is nothing more stressful than wondering what to eat at a new restaurant with someone you barely know! Try to aim also for a restaurant with slightly dimmer lighting (but not so dim you can barely see) and one that’s popular but not overcrowded so you don’t feel rushed, yet if the date isn’t up to par, you aren’t caught in an awkward situation with only 2 of you present. Dimmer lighting is also more flattering 😛
What to wear?
I always wear something comfortable. Skirts or pants don’t matter in this day and age to me, although skirts and dresses are more feminine. However much depends on the image you want to project. I opted for a pair of comfortable black wide-legged slacks and a shimmery blue satin top, knowing of course that this bright shade of blue is a flattering colour on me! 😉 I may be conservative but I don’t like showing off too much skin on a first date, so I kept my outfit subtle. I topped it off with a roomy clutch to carry my essentials since I was driving – I never believe in getting picked up on a blind date!
What about shoes?
Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Don’t try to be adventurous and wear that new pair of slinky heels. You might risk getting a blister and hobbling in front of your date isn’t flattering to you!
What makeup?
For blind date or first date makeup, I always prefer going with a more muted look. Much depends again on whether you know the person or not. If you don’t, a deep smokey eye might scare him off! So, this is the look I went for:-
Face: I kept the face softly luminous, using Maybelline Angelfit powder foundation lightly over concealer and then dusting my favourite highlighter lightly over the face. Under dim lighting, using highlighter will give a softer more radiant look. If you have an angular face, this trick helps soften the edges and highlight cheek bones.
Eyes: I don’t do smokey eyes very well, so I did not. If you are good at doing a smokey eye look, then by all means do it because it spells sexy! However, “sexy” wasn’t quite what I was aiming for on this first blind date, so I compromised. I used my favourite grey and silver for an evening look that wasn’t too dramatic.
Finally, open your eyes with mascara. I used Maybelline Volume Express mascara in Black which a friend had told me is comparable to any high end volume mascara! This was the only new item I tried in my arsenal, and boy! was she right!! I will have to do a separate post on the comparison soon. I used 2 coats of mascara on curled lashes and va-va-voom! What a difference mascara makes!
Cheeks: I kept the cheeks toned down with a light pink blush because I planned to play up my lips! All I went for was a blush of colour, nothing strong.
I don’t quite like using gloss and from previous experience, having lip gloss slathered over your drinking glass is not very impressive on a first date (at least that’s what I thought!) At least with the Water Shine 3D Collagen, I could have shiny lips without the goop of lip gloss. Even better, the new shine lock and release formula of Water Shine 3D Collagen allows shine to be reactivated by pressing lips together thus extending shine over time. In everyday speak, that means less touchups! Of course, if you love lipgloss, then by all means, use it for the high shine and gloss it offers.
Spritz a light perfume and voila! You’re done! At least I was. 🙂
Have Fun!
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, my blind date did not go all that well… boo! But hey! At least I knew that I was looking good! 😀 Do you have more tips for getting ready for a blind date or first date?
GIVEAWAY TIME!!
In line with my previous post on the new Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen lipstick, I’ve worked something out with Maybelline for you dear readers – A Giveaway! 😀
The prizes are:-
- 1 GRAND PRIZE of a Water Shine 3D Collagen lipstick and 1 signature mascara + a mystery item
- 4 Consolation Prizes of a Water Shine 3D Collagen lipstick
So, we are going to have 5 winners this time round! Woohoo! 😀
To qualify, simply answer these 2 questions:-
- What was the lipstick I used in my makeup above?
- Tell us your most interesting blind date or first date story or Tell us your tips for getting ready for a blind date or first date.
Please leave your answers in the comments box below. No Emails this time.
To have more reader participation, I will get some carefully chosen judges to shortlist 8 potential winners and you, the readers will then vote for the best 5 entries in an upcoming poll. Sounds good to you?
Some simple basic terms:
- As with previous giveaways, each person is entitled to only 1 entry so please only leave one comment.
- Please keep it clean and wholesome fun.
- Contest is (unfortunately) only applicable for those with a Malaysian mailing address. Sorry international readers!
- Contest will run until 12 noon 8 August 2008 and comments will be closed after that. The shortlisted 8 entries will be announced on 11 August and the winner announcement will be made on 18 August 2008.
- Unlike previous giveaways, this one is open to everyone regardless of whether you have won anything before or not!
- Want to win? Tell your family and friends – the more the merrier! Have fun!
- Subscribe for email alerts (see sidebar) or subscribe in an RSS feed reader (click on the Subscribe button) for upcoming updates!
Natallie says
So much fun you had have! Can’t wait for your post on Maybelline Volume Express! and Thanks Paris, I get an idea on what I could buy as gift for my friend now–Maybelline Water Shine lippie.. 🙂
Here are my answers:
1. Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen, shade 301
2. As I never had an experience of blind date before, here are my tips on a blind date(If I ever get the chance ;-)):
1) For preparation, wash hair, apply face mask and sleep early a day before.
2) As for appearance, choose warm tone, comfortable and fit dress. Tie up hair (the front part) to avoid it get into the mouth while leaning down to eat. Comes to make-up, big no-no for thick/experimenting mix & match..just plain and choose one (eyes/cheeks/lips) to accentuate the part. Oh,apply lipstick that won’t leave stain on glass.
3) Be on time–not too early/late. I think punctuality reflects one’s personality.
4) Order food that is easy to chew/handle–Eg. don’t order crabs/shells(unless you are expert) , not greasy stuff or anything you know will get stuck in between your teeth. :-p
5) As for the conversation, don’t reveal/ask too much in the beginning–but Listen(and observe his eye-contact/appearance/etc). And Smile(useful in case you don’t know how/don’t wish to answer). And the rest is the story…
ParisB says
prettybeautiful : Thanks! 301 is really a gorgeous shade
giddy tigress says
1. Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen lipstick in 301
2. I don’t think I have ever been on a blind date, so I’ll tell you the story of my first date. It’s a short and sweet one…. well, my date spilled coke on me! 😛
But all’s well that ends well, I’m now married to him and we are very much in LOVE.
p/s: gorgeous picture of you there, girlfriend!
ParisB says
giddy tigress : Aww… that is sooo sweet! 🙂 and thank you
alice says
let me try at this giveaways:
1) Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen in shade 301 (bright red and yet sheer)
2) My first date with my now hubby was simple- i wore a white puffy sleeve blouse and black straight cut pants with no makeups coz i was still a student then. Nothing big on the first date but we still watch movies every weekend until now!!
nkp says
before i answer the questions for the giveaway, let me tell u that this mascara totally rocks my world too! so down to the answering questions part.
1. Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen , shade 301
2. Ok well, my first date ever was when i was 17. ive known this guy for abt 2 years from the internet before we decided to meet up. we met at sunway pyramid in te afternoon… was a little shy in the begiining but nevertheless quite comfortable with each other. we then proceeded to have lunch in A&W, where he intentionally sent me to buy our meals on the pretext of saving a place for us. but he actually only did it to check out my ass! yes, he admitted much later. then we went for a movie and i felt cold so i crossed my arms. with my fingers snugly under my arm only to later realise that he had crossed his arms to so that he could touch my fingers, and warm them up, in a very very discreet manner. after that we walked around for a bit and went for dinner that i insisted to pay for since he paid for lunch and movies. later that night he called me up and told me tht he really liked me alot and 5 years later we are still an item 🙂
3. ok i know im supposed to answer either one but heck, when getting ready for a date be sure to look like yourself- minimal make up will do(keep it simple), be sure ur hair looks good, wear a nice clean perfume that doesnt overpower too much, be sure to rid upperlip n eyebrows of any unwanted hair( this is more often thn not a big turnoff). and lastly BE CONFIDENT! in my personal opinion, nothing makes a woman feel sexier and more confident than a good perfume, great hair and an overall pulled together look. doesnt have to be fancy. 🙂
Jacqueline Ambrose says
My answers are:
1) Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen in shade 301
2) My very first date was with a guy I had known through an Aunt in the United Kingdom! After 20 months of writing to each other (in the late 80’s no e-mail maa…..) dad and mum sent me to England to ‘visit’ my Aunt! I was encouraged to meet up with my dream guy at a suitable time after I’d arrived and settled in. When I called him upon arrival, I expected a certain excitement in his voice as I was excited to meet him too. To my surprise, he sounded as if I were his business partner and we were talking about a business deal instead of a girl he had been dreaming of (and possibly wanting to marry) all these months! We agreed to meet but I was not sure that there was a genuine hunger to see me in his voice……I got ready, reluctantly because my heart was telling me something was amiss. I opted for a more subdued (by that I mean covered up!) outfit instead of the cute top I was going to wear and I put on my make-up with a little more eyeliner than I thought necessary as my English cousin, in all seriousness, told me that this was the current trend then and that guys went crazy for big eyes with eyeliner – I hoped my guy would, you see. Well, he didn’t. Thats because 10 minutes before he was supposed to pick me up for dinner at a Mexican restaurant, he called to say that he could not do it as his mum (who lives in Sri Lanka, his country of origin) had told him not to go on with the relationship because she was not sure if I was suitable enough to go out with her precious son! I remember later telling my mum on the phone that it was not a wasted trip as I got to see Buckingham Palace and eat fish and chips.
Brenda says
1. Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen in 301
2. Well my first blind date wasn’t so interesting. Very boring maybe. I saw him for the first time and thought that he was quite gorgeous and which girl could ever resist going out for a date with such gorgeous male? He was a friend of my friend. Then I was telling my friend if she could introduce us to each other and who knows we might get along. Later, I had the courage to asked him out for a ‘yamcha’ session but disappointingly it turned out so damn boring.
I thought with his looks, he could be a very outgoing and talkative guy. But he kept quiet most of the time. I speak like 95% of the time, he just stood there and listen (no wait, don’t even know if he is paying attention to what I said or his mind had just drifted away). I asked him why is he not talking? He answered because he is a good listener. I was so disappointed, not even a good answer.
Later I thought he will call me out again or perhaps send me sms to keep in touch but to no avail he never contacted me since. I was not sad but never assume if that guy is outgoing or my type and never again judge a guy from his looks.
Still single now though. Sigh.
Sherry Brooks says
1. Maybelline WaterShine 3D Collagen in shade 301. 2. I’ve never had a blind date, but I DID know from our first date 36 years ago that I would marry my hubby!
wearenogorillas says
Maybelline Water Shine 3D Collagen lipstick in 301 !
I love blind dates for the element of surprise. The most challenging part is staying true and be yourself because you’re ‘promoting’ you, not someone else. Of course, it doesn’t help if the victi…I mean, your date is sizzling hot and that damn cat keeps getting your tongue !
First of all, this is how I prep myself for blind dates. I’m naughty by my nature but he doesn’t have to find out about that the moment we shake hands. If he’s smart, he’ll figure out soon enough haha. Decide a theme for the evening/day. I want to be hot. So, bring out that Little Black Dress ! No lah, I would dress down a bit. A little bit less hotter than what I could be. Because if he turns out to be a person I’ll end up with for quite a while, he’s going in for a n even exciting ride ! hee !
I know how you would want to slap on enough makeup to transform into a sexy hot kitten, i want too ! but I have to manually pin myself down and refrain from reaching out for the eye liner and smokey palettes. If we’re going to wake up next to each other for the next many many moons, this is how ‘hot’ i look ! hahaha. Yalah, I think I’m a bit sadistic. I like to ‘test’ out potential partners minus the frills ( for the thrills ) and it saves our time because we’ve got better things to do if we can’t stand each other right ? Hah, see….
If he burps kinda loud and it sets my heart racing, that’s it, I’m coming for you honey ! But not if he pretends to cough it away or muffle it with the napkin, then aiya, i’ll never know you’ve got such a sexy burp and hey, did i just hear the guy next table letting out the most amazing burp i’ve ever heard ? I like !
See what I mean ? Be yourself !
Anyway, here’s a memorable date i’d share with you all. I didn’t like him but trust me to follow ‘strangers’ out anyway. He told me later his friends were laughing at him for taking out a kid. Hey, I’m Form 4 already okay ! He was 22. I still didn’t like him. But I had nothing against him so I thought, yeah, the guy has fed you dinner for the past 2 weeks so you know what to do.
Okay lah, I gave him a present lor. He was surprise and a bit excited at the rather ‘big’ and ‘heavy’ present and no, you can only open after I leave.
Then he texted me, wei, I’m lactose intolerant lah….but that was the coolest gift ever. Thanks wearenogorillas.
I fell in love with him at that moment. Instead of ridiculing me or drop me down like a hot rock for giving him 1litre DutchLady chocolate milk ( yah, I wasn’t serious lah ! ), he made me feel good for doing such a stupid thing. i like this feeling !
Cut the story short, our relationship lasted 7 years. He was my oddball. He never liked looking at hotties. I thought he was gay at first and keep beating myself up for falling for him. I even tried to encourage him to oggle but failed miserably. I was ready to give him up ( have to, he’s ‘gay’ kan ? ) when he told me that he didn’t have to oggle at anyone else but me because, now prick your ears wide, i’m the most beautiful woman in his life.
Waiseh ! I was swiping my runny nose at that time and smeared half of my face ( not disgusting lah, it was an accident ! ) and to have him compliment me like that, you say syiok a not !
And he kissed me right after ( before I get to clean up ). Now that’s disgusting. Haha.
eliz says
1. Maybelline Watershine 3D Collagen Lipstick in 301
2. I personally have never been on a blind date set up by friends, unless a date I set up myself with guys I knew from the Internet is considered as blind dates. 🙂 Anyway, here I will tell the story of my first date with my current boyfriend. It was not actually a date per say, as we were friends at that time and he didn’t exactly said the word date. At that time we were colleagues working at the same restaurant (near Ampang Point) and had a good friendship in which we enjoy talking to each other. So, one day, after I finished work, he asked me to accompany him to KLCC cos he wants to take some pictures there (earlier he had borrowed my camera) and I agreed. Before going to KLCC, we went jalan-jalan first inside Ampang Point and as we were going down an escalator, we saw one of our colleagues nearby, and then suddenly he whispered to me, “Can I hold your hand?Lets pretend that we are a couple, Just to tease (kenakan) our friend” and so I agreed. It felt a bit weird cos eventhough I don’t mind physical touch at all, holding hands with someone I’m not romantically involved with does feel a bit weird. We then continue to hold hands throughout our jalan2 session inside Ampang Point and we could see that our friend was surprised to see us holding hands. Both of us were giggling looking at his expression. Apparently my current bf has been warned by another guy who works at the same restaurant not to kacau me cos i’m his. Cheh! perasan.
We then went to KLCC by bus and took some pictures at the park. My outfit was not at all stellar as I was wearing my work outfit (black pants, black shirt, black bag) huhuhu..but when I look back at the picture, ‘m amazed at how slim I was. This was 3 years ago.
After that day we were still just friends, cos at that time I had a boyfriend (he was really problematic and was away at that time) and was trying not to fall for anybody else. Still, one day, during cleaning session to close the restaurant, my duty was to clean and drain the water from the server (the place where all the food (muffin,mac & cheese) are put -imagine Kenny Rogers. and I am small so when i try to wipe all the water to properly dry the server I will almost fall into it! he asked whether i need his help. I said no. but when i went into the kitchen to get something, he wiped the server dry for me. At that time I physically felt my heart fell for him… ;p