It’s
Datin
g
How to
Dress
on a
Date???
Wear what you feel comfortable
The most important thing to keep in mind
when dressing for a date is to wear what
you're comfortable in. There's no point in
wearing four-inch stilettoes if you're
hardly able to stand, much less walk in
them. The same thing applies to the guys
as well; don't get all suited up if you
hate wearing suits.
Dress nicely
Dressing nicely doesn't mean you can't
be relaxed and comfortable. The main
reason you dress up a little (or a lot,
depending on the date itself) is so your
date will know and appreciate that
you've made the effort for him/her.
Another good reason is so that you don't
appear to be a slob. Its just not a good
look. This includes the seemingly everpresent thong/g-string above
jeans/trousers. I don't care that
celebrities do it. They too get panned by
the gossip magazines when they appear in
public in such a manner so you know its
just not the way to go.
Dress appropriately
If you can, always find out where the
meeting will take place. The majority of
places will be alright with just
jeans/trousers for both men and women or
even a casual skirt/dress for the women. If
you do plan on meeting at a slightly dressier
venue, a long-sleeved collared shirt is a
safe bet with jeans or trousers for men and
the women should be able to get away with
a skirt/trousers with a pretty top or a
dress with good accessories.
Fashion today has come a long way so
even jeans can be worn to dressier
affairs. Just dress them up a little
with a glam or sparkly top, killer
shoes, a great handbag and
accessories.
Don't over-do it
Over-dressing is as bad as under-dressing,
if not worse. With men, its harder to
over-dress than with women. I doubt
there are many men ho would willingly
always wear a three-piece suit when going
on a date, unless its a business meeting
(and definitely not date-worthy) or a very
formal show/dinner. With women however,
there is a tendency to go overboard with
clothes, accessories and makeup.
Unless you're off to the casino or a
Mardi Gras, is a safe bet that your
gorgeous sequin cocktail number is out of
the question. especially when you decide
to pair it off with earrings, bracelets,
rings and necklaces. For something that
glitzy, stick to a simple pair of earrings
and maybe a bracelet/bangle. The same
goes when you're wearing a sparkly top.
you want your date to see you, not to be
overwhelmed by all that bling.
Letting it all hang out
To sum up that statement in one word;
DON'T. I know when the weather's nice
and warm that its all too tempting to wear
that thigh-skimming mini with an itsy-bitsy
top and skyscraper heels. But please refrain
from doing so. All that outfit screams is
"easy". And that's not what you want your
date to think. Unless of course it is, in
which case you may as well ignore this
paragraph.
When it comes to legs, breasts, stomach
and back, stick to just showing off one,
or at the most two, of these. Any more
than that is over-kill. If you have a date
at the beach then this rule is moot point.
As for the men, the buttons are on your
shirt for a reason, the ladies don't want
to see halfway down to your belly-button.
Neither do they want a view of your
entire chest and stomach through a
transparent shirt.
Too much makeup
This one applies mostly to the ladies.
You know how you're shopping and you
find this amazing dress/top/skirt/etc.
and it's got streaks of makeup from
someone else who had previously tried it
on? Now think about how the men feel
when they find streaks of foundation on
their shirts. okay, so you can wash it
off easily. But that's not the point.
The idea that the girl had been wearing
that much makeup is a turn off for most
guys. Not to mention how the lady in
question actually looks when her face is
caked in such a fashion. Yes, it is
noticeable. But other than not using so
much foundation and powder, you have to
also keep the rest of it simple. You
either highlight your eyes or your lips,
not both. The whole Marilyn Manson/drag
queen look will not win you any favours.
Wear the right shoes
You'd think this is an obvious one but
surprisingly, it isn't. I don't just mean
the right shoe for the occasion, though
that is very important. I mean the
shoe that suits your shape and what
you're wearing. For the men, you can
generally get away with a loafer or
sneakers if you're wearing jeans.
If you've got on trousers, just stick to
a pair of loafers or even dressier shoes
if you're somewhere a little more upmarket. Day-time footwear can be
more casual, try a nice pair of sandals
or flip-flops. Leather ones look
especially good with light-coloured
cotton or linen trousers.
Women have a wider choice when it
comes to shoes. First of all, wear
shoes that suit your figure. If you
have slighter shorter legs, don't go
wearing sandals with ankle-straps.
They will only 'cut' your legs, making
them look a lot shorter and chunkier
than they are. The same applies to
wrap-around sandal-laces. This sort of
shape also looks best with a shoe that
has a bit of a heel.
Even if you're off to the beach,
choose one those thongs with the slight
kitten heel. Its low enough to be
practical but still flattering. For the
taller women, you can get away with
nearly everything. Just keep in mind
that your centre of gravity is a lot
higher up with high heels.
As for the occasions, save the
bejeweled sandals for a night out on
the town. If you're a bit of a 'Carrie'
dresser then carefully pair you girly
and sparkly sandals with a more laid
back day outfit. It can work but just
keep in mind that the day time isn't
when you should go over-the-top.
It goes without saying that you don't
want too much height in your shoes if
you're going to the beach or if you're
going to be walking a lot. Painful feet
do not, a great date make. And no
grotty thongs or sneakers when you're
dressed to party. You can never look
right if your shoes are all wrong.
Have a good posture
I know this may have nothing to do with
the clothes you wear but it is important
to always have a good posture. Stand up
straight with your shoulders back, tummy
and butt tucked in. Not only is this good
for you from a health perspective, it also
makes you look taller, slimmer and more
confident. Plus your clothes will also look
a lot better on you.
Dating
Fashion
Dos and
Don’ts to
Always
Remember
Here are a few fashion tips
you should always abide
by when going on a date:
3.Have clean, nicely
manicured hands,
well-groomed facial
hair, and a clean
haircut. Personal
hygiene, self-respect
and ability to take
care of yourself is
important.
2. Wear clothes
that fit and flatter
you, avoid anything
too baggy (it could
make you look fat
or frumpy) and stay
away from anything
too tight or
restricting.
3. Dress
appropriately for the
occasion, stay away
from tank tops and
sandals (even if it is
your usual style) if
you and your date
are attending a
dinner party
And here are some things you
should avoid when dressing to
impress on a first date:
1. Don’t wear brand
new shoes or an
outfit you are not
comfortable in as
new shoes have the
potential to really
hurt your feet
if they are not
broken in properly
and, if you are
continually adjusting
your tie or collar
because you are not
comfortable in a
suit, you will turn
off your date.
2. Avoid heavy
make-up and
outrageous outfits,
they take away
from who you
really are and your
natural beauty.
3. Don’t try to be
too trendy; you may
not be able to pull it
off. If you want to
experiment with your
look, do it before
the date and get
feedback as to
whether or not the
look works for you.
Tips to
Impress
your
Date
1. Learn to look your best.
2. Be subtle – Less is more.
3. Always dress for a first
date in clothing that is both
neat and clean. But don’t
assume you need new
clothes.
4. Be comfortable.
5. Look like yourself.
6. Bring A Sweater.
7. Practice sitting down.
8. Have a confidence.
Different
Kinds of Dates
&
What To Wear
THE DAYTIME DATE
This can mean a lot of things:
brunch, a picnic, a museum, an
outdoor concert, a daytime movie,
coffee...you know the drill. These
dates tend to be cheap and casual,
so the idea is to dress as you would
normally - except you happen,
normally, to look completely
awesome and effortless. Always
pack that sweater — movie theatres
are cold.
THE DINNER DATE
First things first: do your due diligence.
Find out how fancy the restaurant is.
Being underdressed is always preferable
to being overly fancy, but it's not wrong
to make an effort. If you'll be coming
from work — and if this means your date
will be in a suit — take this into account.
If you’re wearing jeans, wear a heel or a
hunk of jewelry. If you’re going with a
dress, make it casual or throw on flats or
a low-key jacket, denim or whatnot.
For dinner dates, as a rule, avoid
sneakers. Carry a grown-up purse.
Don't wear silk, unless you're a
really neat eater. Make sure your
clothes allow you to eat. And here,
more than anywhere else, do the
sit-down test. I cannot stress this
enough. The cleavage is totally
different than when you're
standing. Once again, carry a
sweater: you might get stuck with
the door table.
The Active Date
This is when, yes, you're probably
going to need jeans. And comfy
shoes. Gym glass-style, avoid dangly
jewelry. But there is no need for
looking like a schlep: keep things
relatively fitted (as opposed to
tight) and bring on the patterns.
You want a bag that'll go over your
shoulder and things that don't need
to be dry-cleaned. And hair out of
your face.
The Fancy Date
Mix basics with contrasting shoes,
or a bag. This looks confident and
fashiony and people will assume
you know what you're doing. Also,
this will allow you to err on the
side of slightly-underdressed
which is, as we know, better than
the alternative. A belt can do
wonders. As can something in
one's hair.
The Group Date
This can be any number of things, from a
bash at someone's house to a dinner party.
Either way, it involves meeting people you
don't know, who could be arch-hipsters or
fashionistas or jerks or awesome or all of
the above. There's really no one formula
for these profoundly stressful situations:
the advice is be yourself, amped up. I
advocate a balance of smart and casual,
and that I personally go for a print dress,
black tights, and some easy jacket. Just be
the you that you want to be. You should
feel good. Wear what you feel is
comfortable.
To conclude, when you dress for a
first date make sure you don’t under
or overdo it. Always dress in clothes
that are neat, clean and ironed.
A first date is a time to get to know
the object of your affection and to
establish a solid relationship based on
mutual respect so don’t get too tied
up in what you are wearing but do
make sure you create a lasting
impression!