The first impression can make or break a relationship, and there’s a chance that your date will turn out to be the best thing that will ever happen to you – so the significance of looking good should not be underestimated.
Why does it matter? Your date will be evaluating you, looking for clues about your personality and how much pleasure your company will be both now and potentially in the future. Don’t forget that clothes reflect and may even define your personality: what you wear and how you wear it is what you are.
Here are some key pointers:
• Women care about appearances and are drawn to healthy, attractive looking men. Your clothes covers 90% of your body and so dictate your appearance. But more important, if worn correctly they can help you look better by strengthening your positive features and minimizing those that are less attractive.
• Dressing well for a date shows respect for your partner. After all, she will almost certainly be spending a lot of time making sure she dressed appropriately and looks good; you should return the favor. You can’t anticipate whether she will like you or have a good time; you should do all in your power to make those outcomes more likely.
• If you look good, the implication is that you have good social skills. That clue will help decide whether you can be presented to her family or friends at some time in the future. The date may be a single evening, but most people have an eye on the possible future.
• Dressing well will actually put you in the right state of mind for what it is you’re about to do. Give yourself time to prepare, wear clothes that make you feel confident, and your head will be in the right place for the date.
• The right clothes will act as a picture frame for your face and keeps your date’s attention there – which is where it should be. So don’t wear anything that draws to much attention to itself and distracts from the main goal; the focus should be on you, not what you’re wearing.
The choice of clothes will be partly decided by the locale. Your date may be at a nightclub, a fine dining restaurant, a comedy club, or a walk in the park – it’s unlikely that one outfit will fit all of them. Equally, the right type of clothes will be obvious from the destination.
If you’re not sure of the dress code, your best option is smart casual, halfway between the formality of a men’s suit and the dressed-down look of a surfing dude. A long sleeved shirt with obviously clean dark-wash jeans in black or deep indigo and perhaps a smart sports jacket would be a good combo.
Alternatively, go formal – suit, shirt, and tie. It is always better to err on the side of classic elegance; but don’t forget that a date is a social occasion that has an overlay of intimacy – dressing too formally will make you look unapproachable and an uncomfortable companion. So be prepared to take off the jacket and maybe to remove the tie to demonstrate how relaxed you find your date’s company.
Above all, suit yourself. Every man wants to look good on a date, but what suits Ryan Gosling might not suit you – so don’t try to be him. You need an honest approach towards your attire; choose clothes which suit your body type. So if you are on the heavier side, for example, don’t wear colors and styles that exaggerate your weight: go for dark colors that hide your bulk.
Choose the right colors and patterns. Go for colors that look good on you, as this will enhance your appearance; but also take care to choose colors that send the right message about your personality and your attitude to the date. Vibrant patterns and hot colors might be risky, but they can suggest an extrovert fun-loving individual. Stark contrasts between white shirt and a dark suit or trousers suggests classic elegance, especially if accessorized discreetly with cufflinks and a watch. What kind of person would you like to be?
No matter how informal the date is, always pay attention to your shoes. Shoes say a lot about you. Ensure your footwear is clean, functional, and stylish.
Accessorize with care. A small stylish feature like a pocket square in your jacket breast pocket or a quality watch on your arm can elevate your style in the eyes of a woman because it shows you pay attention to the details.