Closet Raiders
I’m about to go on a first date with a guy I met online, but I don’t know what to wear. It’s just a dinner, but what if I underdress? What if I overdress? Help!
Karen
Meeting someone you met through a personals search in real life is more or less your first impression. Sure this person knows you online, but this is the first chance they’re getting to  see your body language, your mannerisms, and yes, even your physical appearance.
We explore the freedom of expression every day when we get dressed, and our clothes are essentially an advertisement of our personalities, which is why dressing for a first date is important. It should have thought put in behind it, but there’s no need to stress over it.
Pick an outfit that you’re comfortable in. If you’re going to spend all night fidgeting with your clothes, you’re going to stay constantly distracted. And make sure it’s something you yourself likes, or you’re not going to feel confident in how you look, which will put a weight on the date.
As for specific clothing items, there are some that are almost always a hit out of the park on first dates.
- Dress in a solid color. It gives a very clean-cut look, and expresses that you’er a solid, put together person.
- Don’t wear your lounge wear shoes! This is a date, after all. Heels are almost a great eye-catcher, but you don’t want the stiletto to be too tall incase your date has insecurities about their height. Stick with a sleek, clean looking heal around the 2 inches mark.
- If you want to look sexy, show shoulders, not breasts. Having your cleavage sends out the wrong impression, and can give him the idea that you’re there as a booty call, not to get to know him. Showing your shoulders gives them a glimpse of skin without saying too much.
- Don’t over accessorize. Coco Chanel might appreciate your 16 strands of costume jewelry beads, but guys don’t get the appeal. If you’re going to accessorize, do it subtly.
Dressing for a date revolves around your personal style that expresses who you are. Find out where you’re going and call to see what the dress code is there. That way, you’ll have an idea of how others dress and will feel suited for the occasion when you arrive. If you think you’re over or underdressed, chances are, you are. Go with your instincts and put more thought into the date than the dress!
[...] When you’re moving on from the online stage of your relationship to face-time, it’s easy to already be comfortable with the person you’ve been talking to, so they slip into relationship habits right away. What they don’t realize, is that a lot of those habits aren’t good for the relationship. There are several things you need to make sure you’re avoiding when on a date. [...]