Dating has many stresses; one that is almost universal is what to wear on the date. A good choice may help impress a first date; a bad choice will impress the date, but probably not favorably.
The goal of dating fashion is to be memorable but not laughable, sensual but not trashy, and fashionable but not designer-obsessed.
Memorable
Don’t dress like a wallflower, hiding behind nondescript, shapeless clothing – but also don’t dress like you are trying to make a statement, especially on a first date. For example, a man may be a video game fan, but he does not have to wear a T-shirt on the date that proclaims it to the world, unless he is sure his date would approve. For a woman, showing too much skin may leave the wrong impression.
Do highlight your best features by wearing clothes and colors that accentuate them; draw attention with clothing design features, brighter colors or jewelry near the feature you want to highlight. Dress for your age. Don’t wear something your grandmother or preteen sister would wear; dressing too old or too young for your age is a definite way to be remembered as laughable.
Sensual
The circumstances of the date dictate how to accomplish this. For a ball game, shorts and a shirt may be appropriate for women. Don’t overdress by wearing something too fancy, or you’ll look like you’re desperate and trying too hard.
For a very casual date, do make a T-shirt sensual but not trashy. Choose a structured T-shirt designed for women; these T-shirts are cut to fit a woman’s curves and often feature alluring necklines. Don’t wear boxy, unisex T-shirts unless your goal is to look boxy and unisex; do not attempt to cut them or tie them up to make them “sexy.” This is a serious mistake and will make you look like you did not know where to find a decent shirt.
Avoid micro-shorts like those worn by Daisy Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard; even a casual date like a ball game is not an excuse for showing too much too soon, unless that is your goal.
For a more traditional dinner date, attempt to channel the style of Audrey Hepburn, not Pamela Anderson Lee or Courtney Love. A good rule of thumb is the following: if the dress has a low neckline, it should have a higher back and not be slit high on the side. Likewise, if a low back is the sensual part of the dress, it should have a high neck.
Fabrics that accentuate a woman’s figure are good choices; fabrics that look like they were painted on are not. Always avoid anything ripped, transparent or faded. The point is to look sensual with subtlety; you do not want to be the talk of the room for the wrong reason.
Fashionable
Classic styles like the quintessential “little black dress” are always in style, and such styles can be accessorized in ways that display your personality without overdoing it.
Avoid looking like a walking advertisement for a design house; one or two well-chosen designer articles can enhance an outfit, but dressing from head to toe in a designer’s products makes you look more like a fashion victim than a fashionista.
For men, a sport coat and pants is classy; for a truly fancy dinner date, a man should choose a dark-colored business suit or tuxedo. Do not wear something that looks like it came from the set of Miami Vice, unless you are going to a costume party. Your date may not share your sense of irony.
Attractive and appropriate clothing can enhance your confidence, which will help you shine on your date.
Resources:
"Ask the Experts: Dinner Date." Glamour Magazine online
"Ask the Experts: What to Wear on a First Date." Glamour Magazine online
