First Date

Stockings flying, lipsticks smearing, jewelry jangling. The life of a serial dater. Maybe this time he’ll be cute, you think. Or at least employed. Not one to give up easily, you choose your clothing as carefully as if you were meeting the queen, creating a look that he can’t refuse (just in case he’s a keeper).

The girls at First Date just made your job a little bit easier. Keri and Brianne Barrett, two sisters on the early side of twenty-something, have taken the stress out of designing to-die-for date outfits. Their brand new Andover boutique, First Date, is organized into quadrants based on typical dating themes: Sunday Stroll, Just Cocktails, Soirée and Rent-a-Movie.

Sunday Stroll encompasses casual wear, from denim to hoodies to tees; Just Cocktails is comprised of sexy ensembles that will empower you; Soirée will dress you up like a lady; and Rent-a-Movie provides comfort in the form of loungewear. Labels include Shoshanna, Helen Wang, Sweetees, Corey Lynn Calter, Voom and Dakota Martin, with prices ranging from $60 for a top to $300 for a dress. They also sell small clutches from Arza Designs and Preppy Potato, totes from Ame & Lulu and Bunny and Chad, belts and headbands from Molly B, and thong underwear (embroidered with your boyfriend’s name) from Blume. Handbags and shoes will come soon.

The atmosphere is so very “girls just want to have fun” with a leaning towards preppy chic. The walls are azure, the sofa a graphic black and white trellis print, and the accents bright pink. Behind the counter hangs a flat-screen TV that plays “first date” movies like “Dirty Dancing” and “Titanic.”

So, like the Barrett sisters like to say, while your date may not be love at first sight, they'll make sure the outfit (and your shopping experience) is.

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