One of the primary pieces of advice given on this forum about how to snag a great guy is to take care of your appearance, to dress well. But many ladies with little to no sense of style always ask, but what do I wear?

The answer: it depends on the type of man you want to attract (and your personal preference which, guess what, are related to what kind of man you want!). There is more than one way to look good, and each man has his own inclinations. What we wear is a reflection of who we are and what we think about ourselves, and men and women alike pick up on it.

When you're trying to build a wardrobe, first imagine your (realistic) dream man. Is he a wealthy businessman, who dresses like Patrick Bateman (without the personality flaws)? Is he a cowboy-type? Are you looking for a mature punk, or a middle class "normal" guy? Once you have figured out who you are trying to attract, try to picture the women they'd likely be seen with.

For example, if you are trying to attract a businessman, look toward women like Melania Trump, or for a more modest look, the Duchess of Cambridge, for fashion cues. If you're trying to go for the cowboy, look at country singers like Carrie Underwood (not in their red-carpet outfits). To entice your above-average Joe, try going for the "hot mom" or "girl next door" look (depending on age), a la Claire from Modern Family or Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls.

You get the picture. Men of any kind can appreciate beauty no matter what it's wearing, however, what is critical here is how comfortable would they feel approaching you, and what does your style tell them? Your country-boy may find Melania Trump stunning, but if he saw her on the street, he would probably either be intimidated or read her as high maintenance. He is making an assessment of your character based on what he sees.

This post came to me after an interaction with my SO the other day. I recently purchased a shade of bright red lipstick that goes very well with my complexion. I associate bright red lipstick with beautiful, stylish women and was excited, so I showed him the shade. He was unenthused. He told me that it wasn't "my look" and explained all the things I normally do that do work really well for me. I was disappointed, but then he proceeded to tell me that he didn't particularly like that shade of lipstick on any woman, because he associated it with strippers and hookers (unless they are dressed like a 50's housewife). Given that I dress like a 50's housewife only on special occasions, I conceded that it really probably wasn't for me (at least not most of the time). He said that usually I look a little "frumpy," and that's always a look he's liked (his definition of frumpy is what I'd call girl-next-door). He also shares my dislike of most high-heels, and was attracted by the combat boots I was wearing when he first met me. Ultimately, he reinforced my confidence by saying I was already doing it right.

However, some men love red lipstick. They love it when their women are always dressed to the nines, in heels, never with a hair out of place or a pantyline in sight. However, that's not me, and when I think about it, I wouldn't want a man who desires that anyway.