Going on a first date is always an exciting thing. You’re meeting someone for the first time in a romantic setting and you’re looking forward to getting to know them. Nerves are completely normal and so is spending way too much time in front of the mirror getting ready. Nobody can tell you what the perfect thing to wear on a first date is, because all of our styles are so specific and unique. However, there is quite a bit to say about what not to wear and fashion faux pas to avoid for a first date.
Don’t show too much
We all want to show our sexy side, and revealing clothing is certainly an easy way to do that. However, it’s not the best way to do it. Wearing something that shows a lot of skin in a lot of places might just make you look like you’re trying too hard or that you don’t really know how to dress your body. In the worst case, it might look like you’re looking for… something specific from that date, instead of genuinely getting to know the other person. Make sure you follow the either/or rule: Show either your legs or your cleavage – and remember that revealing doesn’t just mean skin, it means super-tight clothing as well!
Stay true to yourself
Imagine you go on a date with someone and they look and dress a certain way. You hit it off and meet a few more times. After the fifth date, they show up looking completely differently: they have a mohawk and wear chains on their jeans. You might like this look and you might not, but that’s not the impression you had of them on the first date. If you don’t show up true to your style, you’ll be creating an impression that your style is something different, and you’ll feel the pressure of either looking like that every time you see them, or having to “come out” with your true style.
Loose strings
Nobody is saying you need to spend a thousand bucks on a new outfit to impress your date. However, you don’t want to show up in an outfit that looks really cheap. Something like a Realisation Par dress won’t set you back a lot, but it will look very much put together and high-quality. Thicker fabrics are always a safe bet, but thinner ones can also look amazing, if you choose ones that aren’t overly stretchy or see-through. Again, you don’t need to shop for something new to wear – a good pair of jeans and a dressy top are all you need to look put together.
Careful with shoes
There are two main things you want to worry about when it comes to shoes: height and comfort. In the era of online dating, a first date can often be the first time you’re meeting a person IRL, so you might not know exactly what they look like. Even if the traditional height standards aren’t something you concern yourself with, keep in mind that your date might not feel all that great if you wear heels that get you to tower over them. Secondly, if your plan is anything but sitting down for a meal, you want to be in something comfortable. Whether it’s just a quick walk around the park after a movie, you want to be able to walk without thinking about every step you’re making.
Dress for the setting
Make sure you know in advance what the date is going to be, because showing up over- or under-dressed can make you feel uncomfortable and awkward, which can ruin the mood. So to ensure this doesn’t happen to you, make sure you know what you want to wear and dress appropriately. Don’t think you’re going to impress your date by getting dolled up in heels and a dress, when you’re just going for a casual walk in the park. Show that you know fashion well enough by looking good no matter how dressed up or down you are.
So, take your time, stress a bit less and be confident that no matter what you wear, your personality will be the thing that shines and shows who you are. And most importantly – wear something you feel good in, no matter what others say about how it looks.