What to Wear on a Date
How to Make a Good First Impression with a Stylish Outfit
Will it be love at first sight? Find out the dos and don'ts of dressing to impress on a date, and get expert tips on looking your best on a first date.
First dates offer a chance to meet someone who could potentially become your lover, boyfriend or (even) husband – no wonder it can be so difficult deciding what to wear! Make your first impression a positive one by captivating your date with a warm smile and fabulous style.
First (Fashion) Impressions Count
Although we're all advised to not judge a book by its cover, we all do it. Nalini Ambady, professor of psychology at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, studies first impressions made from a brief exposure to another person, which she refers to as "thin slices" of experience. In a May/June 2004 Psychology Today Magazine article, "The Once-Over," Ambady says that first impressions are generated in the most primitive area of the brain, where feelings are processed, which she believes accounts for the strong emotional impact of some first encounters.
Joe Tracy, publisher of OnlineDatingMagazine.com, says in an article on his website "First Impressions Can Make or Break That First Date," that when meeting someone for the first time on a date, it's crucial to look your best. Tracy insists that even if you aren't drop-dead gorgeous, you can make yourself look ten times more attractive and appealing simply by the way you dress.
Dressing to impress shows that you've made an effort and that the date means something to you.
Personal Style
While style is important, ultimately you want your date to remember your sparkling eyes, luscious lips and glowing charisma – not your straight-off-the-mannequin overly trendy attire. Fashion is meant to complement your personality and enhance your features. If you take the time to develop your own style – into which you can tastefully incorporate seasonal trends – your date is more likely to get a better sense of who you are by how you dress. With that in mind, here are a few pointers for developing your own perfect date outfit:
Color
Choose clothing in shades that enhance your complexion, eye- and hair color, and communicate with color by understanding the psychological messages colors send.
Peach, pink, coral and red are the most sensual colors. Peach and pink are the best choices to wear if you want to create an air of romance and be more approachable. Vital coral is stimulating, warm and energetic, while red is lusty and passionate.
When it comes red, the color of love, singles coach Tonja Weimer warns against wearing fire-engine red in her article "How To Meet Guys: Six Secrets On Colors To Wear," and suggests wearing toned-down, less fiery shades such as crimson, oxblood or burgundy, which are more complimentary to most skin tones and less intimidating.
Weimer also tells women to avoid bright white unless you have tanned or brown skin, and very white teeth; otherwise, she advises wearing off-white that won't make your teeth look yellow.
Comfort
You're likely to be a bit nervous on a date, so choose clothes that make you feel sexy and comfortable: break in new shoes well before your date, and make sure you can move with ease in skirts or dresses.
Sex Appeal
Always aim to look subtly sexy when dressing for a date. Don't risk looking trashy by wearing micro mini-skirts, cleavage-revealing tops, or skin-tight clothes. Respectable hemlines and figure-skimming silhouettes are more fetching and fashionable than cling-wrap clothes. Knee-grazing wrap dresses and A-line skirts are perfect for a first date; complete this sweet dinner date look with a soft cardigan and ballet flats or a kitten heel shoe.
The most alluring parts of a woman are a clear complexion, the neck and collarbone, and décolletage, making tops that cut across or off the shoulders very attractive. Wear dark wash jeans with an off-the-shoulder knit sweater and peep toe shoes for a lovely casual date look.
