Emily Kennedy wears the red Valentine’s Day dress she picked out at Weaver’s, 901 Massachusetts St.

As much as I typically shy away from the quintessential Valentine’s Day red dress, I couldn’t keep my eyes off this ravishing red number I found at Weaver’s.

Black is my default “dressy” color, so I was stepping out of the box a bit when I chose to feature this bold sheer-front dress. One thing that really stood out for me was the structure.

Structured silhouettes have really made a comeback the past few seasons, and I love the modern and mature feel that a structured piece offers. The quality fabrication definitely helped with the comfortable fit. I could go on and on about why I love this dress, but let’s get back to my tips to helping you find the perfect Valentine’s Day dress.

Make sure it fits

Making sure your clothes fit seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how many people walk out the door in clothes that are obviously too big or, dare I say, too tight on them.

When it comes to a dress that you’re wearing for evening, you want to make sure it hugs in all the right places while keeping it classy. For example, the red dress that I chose is supposed to be form-fitting on the top down to my waistline, and then flares out at the hips.

Knowing your body type and what works for you is key to making sure your clothes properly fit. I have a small waistline, but wider hips so I wanted a silhouette that would accentuate my waistline and downplay my hip area.

If you ever think the dress is a little too tight or too short, then it probably is. Go with your instinct. If you’re wondering about length, I adopted a quick and easy way to find out how long or short you go. I think this is great for my age and older because as I get older, I don’t want to be caught dead in something similar to what I wore when I was 18.

Naturally hang your arms down so that they hit the sides of your hips. If the bottom of your dress falls a few inches down from your fingertips, you’re at an appropriate length — just make sure the hem falls below your fingertips.

Color choices

Choose a color that translates well against your hair color and skin tone.

Red isn’t the color for everyone, but thankfully there are different shades of reds and pinks if you want to go that route. Black is a universal color that tends to work for everyone, and it’s great for a dressy night out — even Valentine’s Day.

Tights or no tights?

This question has haunted me for many years, but I’ve found that it’s OK to walk out the door sans tights in 20-degree weather.

It might not be the most comfortable, but it can be done. When faced with this question, I simply ask myself if the dress needs a pair of tights. In some cases a pair of tights can ruin the dress because it simply doesn’t need them, and a pair of simple black heels will do.

If the dress is simple enough and doesn’t have a lot going on then, yes, a pair of black tights might pull the look together. Everyone will have their own opinion on this, but that’s the way I rationalize my “tights or no tights” dilemmas.

Weaver’s has an amazing collection of dresses that would be perfect for your dressy Valentine’s Day style — with tights or without!

— Emily and Elizabeth Kennedy are twin sisters who share a blog called Fashion Column Twins. Emily writes this column. They can be reached at fashioncolumnblog@gmail.com.