Single. And Looking Good, If I Do Say So Myself.

October 2, 2009     Posted in Advice, Relationships

dress up

Take off those sweats and put a little effort in! You never know who you're going to meet.

No matter how many times I lecture my friends about how we, as single girls, need to look cute wherever we go, I can’t seem to follow my own advice.


By Zahra

I was sitting on the stationary bike at the gym yesterday, sweating out my scholastic stress to some Drake, when a cute boy sits on the bike next to me. A very cute boy, whom I happened to see around a lot last year, but never talked to that much. Apparently, I should have biked next to him months ago, because we enjoyed a long long, drawn out, get-to-know-you conversation as we pedaled our little hearts out.

I was so excited and in luuuurve, but instead of focusing on engaging in witty banter, batting my eyelashes, and basically just knocking the socks off this kid, I was wondering if my eye makeup from the day had made its way down my face yet, and if sweat could ever be remotely flattering. I was also questioning my decision to wear bright, floral shorts that rep my school (I thought they were so tacky that they were cute…my friends later informed me that sadly, they were just  tacky) with a shirt that completely clashed with them. I was all, “Hell, it’s just the gym, I can go looking crappy and no one will ever be the wiser.”

THAT right there, that sentence, is my problem. Dannia, honey, I feel your pain. I’m here to keep you from having to learn it the hard way: it’s a smart to look adorable no matter where you go.

I’m not saying you need to be completely decked out in your sexiest outfit on the way to class, or vamp it up by using your best smokey eye technique for 9 a.m. lecture. It’s just that when you feel like you look good, that confidence really does come across. People say this all the time, but it can’t be stressed enough: confidence is such an attractive quality! If you’re too lazy or rushed to make yourself feel pretty or good about how you look, people are going to think you’re too lazy to care about anything else. Also, when you don’t have to worry about how you look when you unexpectedly run into someone you want to impress, you can completely focus on the conversation. You don’t want to be asking yourself why you wore ratty sweatpants when he’s asking you if you want to go out on Friday night!

I completely understand wanting to be comfortable. I am the queen of being laid back. I swipe some mascara on for parties or special occasions, but my day-to-day routine revolves around face moisturizer and Chapstick. This isn’t about being someone you’re not, it’s just making sure you present your best self because you never know what will happen. I know that we, as single girls, hear it all the time: “It’ll happen when you least expect it! Don’t go looking for love, let it find you!” But I doubt it’s going to find me when I’m still dirty from last night’s gym sesh and my sweats have a hole in the crotch.

Since we’re unattached, it’s easiest to make a guy’s heart go pitter-patter with our looks first, so it just makes sense to make an effort even though, at times, it can be annoying. So wake up 15 minutes early so you can actually think about what you’re going to wear when you leave your dorm room! You’ll look good, you’ll feel good and you’ll focus on more important things, like school wooing the kid in your Art History lecture.

And now it’s time for me to invest in some new gym clothes…

7 Comments on "Single. And Looking Good, If I Do Say So Myself."

  1. Star says:
    Fri, 2nd Oct 200911:07 am 

    Good advice but I'd rather the guy fall for my personality that way when I just don't feel like doing the hair and make-up routine I don't have to worry what he's going to think because he's already seen me that way and was attracted to me anyway.

  2. Eleanor says:
    Fri, 2nd Oct 200911:21 am 

    I always dress up for class and when just hanging around, because it makes me feel confident (plus, I'm an engineer, so I like feeling like a woman whenever I can). But for me, the gym is the gym. If I'm not sweaty and disgusting, I'm not doing what I came there to do.

  3. Casey says:
    Fri, 2nd Oct 200911:28 am 

    Good article, but honestly, guys don't really notice what we wear, ever. They just don't care about clothes. Especially at the gym. Guys aren't superficial like we are, they know when you're at the gym you look like shit (with the exception of the gym goddess, but she is few and far between and they realize that as well) the fact that you're at the gym at all is a good thing in his mind, it means you probably have or will have a pretty nice body, and you actually do take care of yourself. The fact that he engaged in a conversation with you proves that he doesn't think you're a total mismatched, sweaty, makeup stained loser. lol. They appreciate that we take the extra time and effort to look nice (outside of the gym) but it's not really a top priority to them.

    On the other hand, we should want to look nice for ourselves, not for a guy. I get all dolled up and cute every where I go because It makes ME feel good. I'm in a relationship, and have been for a couple years now, so I don't dress up to look cute in case I meet a guy, I get dressed up because it makes me feel better about myself, and I feel more confident when I look my best. I care what I wear, I DON'T care what anyone else thinks about what I wear. And really, that's all that matters. Confidence is key and if you feel confident, even if you're wearing a burlap sack, then no one else is going to care either.

    Bottom line, don't dress up for anyone but yourself, and if you don't feel like dressing up, just be confident in whatever you're wearing from a clown suit to a killer dress, and no one will notice the difference.

  4. Adrian says:
    Fri, 2nd Oct 20092:24 pm 

    Dressing up for the gym is crucial. As a male species I am feeling my testosterone at its highest at the gym. Which means that I am confident and looking for good looking fit females.

    A girl with some nice tight pants and a hot cute top is sure to get my attention and testosterone.

    Don't forget guys are pathetic creatures we are always looking skin deep, before we look heart deep.

    All the best to the writer she is a beautiful and talented women who could get any man she wanted with just a touch of confidence.

  5. Ken Kendall says:
    Sat, 3rd Oct 20094:35 am 

    There is nothing wrong with trying to look your best at all times. That goes for girls and guys. I do agree that for the most part, guys really don't care what you wear. Especially if they already like you. There is nothing more beautiful or sexy in a girl than just woken up, no makeup, a T-Shirt and shorts or sweats.

    You might attract the right guy by looking cute but you have to find a guy that cares about way more than what you look like. As soon as you start dating, watch to see how much he cares about how smart you are, how able you are. How much does he encourage and support you.

    Real men want you to be successful and confidant. They want a real partner and friend.

    Thank you all so much for reading http://whatsheneedsfromyou.wordpress.com

    You all have been the biggest supporters. I hope it helps many of you find real men.

  6. Abroughman says:
    Tue, 6th Oct 20098:20 pm 

    I really liked this article…even though I'm not single having a boyfriend sometimes makes it even easier to just throw on the sweats everyday and not care what i look like. But by doing this i always I end up looking and feeling frumpy and my confidence definitely pays the price. I agree you don't need to dress it up too much for class, but even a cute pair of flats or a scarf can make all the difference. And guys do notice.

  7. VISHAL says:
    Fri, 30th Oct 200910:50 am 

    Ths is vishal dahiya..

    i want to spent a night with u(sexy girl)

    my prnl no. is

    9729192499

    cotact me..as soon as

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