There are a plethora of blogs and quick tips dedicated to how you should dress for a first date. The first date is, as many know, very important for many reasons. One being it is the first impression you are providing to the person of interest as a romantic partner. It foreshadows the relationship and sets a precedent for who your best self is. As personal stylists, we strongly believe in putting your absolute best foot forward even when attending your son’s little league game. Now, that’s not to say you should show up on the field in a ballgown, but dressing in your best for the appropriate setting is mandatory almost all the time. And for that first dinner date, we believe it is NOT the time to wear your best-fitting pair of jeans and a cute top. It’s the time to wear your “Wow” dress with a good pair of shoes and a red lip (if that’s your vibe), knocking your date out of their seat. For your first date, you have to keep in mind what you’re looking for in your date, what they are looking for in you, and to not let your insecurities cloud you from making a banger first impression. 

When you’re going on your first date, you’re probably looking for someone who is trustworthy, stable, kind, considerate, and all the other wonderful traits that make up a good partner. And these traits are very often reflected in people’s clothes. You expect the person sitting across from you to smell good, be manicured, dressed in their best, and overall look well-kept. This signifies to you they put their best foot forward for this date, but also want to be there with you. If they didn’t do that, or even only did the bare minimum, then you won’t feel as appreciated and special. 

The person sitting across from you is looking for all of those same exact things. When we go through people’s closets, we have clients tell us all the time that a specific piece of clothing is the reason their current spouse approached them and they wouldn’t be happily married today if it weren’t for that outfit. For many of our female clients, the item that caught their husband’s attention is a figure-flattering dress. If she had been in a pair of simple jeans and a cute blouse with comfy flats, he probably would’ve kept on about his day, paying her no mind. But that dress made her look hot. Not cute, not pretty, but HOT. 

Dressing for the gaze of the person in front of you is extremely important, especially if we are talking about the gaze of a straight man. He wants to know you have a body under your clothes. The look of your legs in high heels is something he finds sexy. Why would you dress in a mediocre outfit you would wear to get dinner with the girls? Men, get a haircut, trim your beard, make sure you smell amazing and wear a watch. She doesn’t want to see a bum, she wants to see a man. The person in front of you will hopefully become much more than a friend. And your sexuality is part of who you are and will, hopefully, become an aspect of your relationship dynamic in the future if everything goes well. No one is saying to give it all away, but a preview adds spice and mystery. Showcasing a taste isn’t a bad thing.

You are your biggest critic. But letting those insecurities determine how you present yourself on a first date is not a fun way to start a relationship. Focusing on hiding your body rather than dressing it in a flattering way will only make you feel more nervous because you’re only concerned about not looking bad. If the date works out, you’ll have plenty of moments to have bad days when you wear your biggest t-shirt and fuzzy socks curled up on the couch. You don’t have to start that way.

So, wear the dress that makes you stand out and put on those heels. Guys, having on cologne and a watch is not optional, it’s mandatory. If you want the person across from you to give you their absolute best, hottest self that will blow you away, then you better be giving that same energy back. Your first date is the first impression. Let them know what they’ll be missing out on if there isn’t a second.