This could be the one! You've been working up to it. Now you're finally going to get together, and everything has to be right. You've planned it all out, maybe even made a list of things to talk about. (Hey, lots of people do that!) Now you should be enjoying that feeling of happy anticipation. You should NOT be stalled in front of a ransacked closet, surrounded by piles of rejected clothing.

This is not Judgment Day. It's not even traffic court. This is supposed to be fun! So does it matter what you wear? Oh, yes.

But maybe not the way you think. Sure, you want to look drop-dead irresistible. You don't need a new wardrobe, though, or a professional fashion consultant or a salon makeover. You need just one thing: color.

Color is your secret weapon. Color affects the way you feel, and it triggers your date's responses. Even when you're not aware of it, you react to colors, both emotionally and physically.

Much of this, you already know. We associate red with heat and blue with cold. Purple is for royalty, yellow is for caution. Black is for mourning. Most of these associations are cultural, learned by experience. (In Asia, white is the color of grief, not weddings.)

Here's a breakdown:

• Red stimulates. The color of blood and valentines, it suggests power and passion and demands attention. Too much of it can be irritating.

• Pink is warm and intimate. Often considered feminine, it tends to evoke strong emotions: many people either love it or hate it.

• Orange is noisy, exotic, creative, and playful. Unrelieved, it can be sharp and annoying.

• Yellow attracts attention. It's cheerful, but it's often used as a warning. Too much can be overwhelming.

• Green is calm and natural, like growing plants, and creates an impression of health, vitality, and reliability. We're very sensitive to it--our eyes can see more shades of green than any other color. Add yellow to increase the energy level. Add too much, and you might get queasy. And don't forget, envy has green eyes.

• Blue is serene and cool. It suggests safety, loyalty, and credibility. Pale blue can be all innocence, or distant and icy. "The blues" are just plain depressing.

• Violet is often associated with power, wisdom, luxury, and money. Surprisingly romantic in its softer shades, it's often a favorite of teens and individualists. But be careful; it can seem artificial, arrogant, or confused.

• Black is formal, forceful, and elegant. Wearing all black is a bit affected, though, don't you think?

• Grey is intelligent, reserved, and businesslike. You might want to punch it up with some brighter touches.

• White is pure, clean, simple, and peaceful. It can also seem cold and (heaven forbid!) virginal. Some might even say sterile. So, accessorize if you're worried.

• Brown is earthy and natural. It suggests strength, even more than black and red do. Beige, too, gives the impression of naturalness and simplicity.

Logic and social correctness aside, people usually feel most comfortable with others who look like they do. But if you don't know your date's favorite color (or you look ghastly in, say, green), wear a color that you truly like. It will help you feel happy, and that's the most attractive color in the rainbow.

So now you need to find your date!