First Date Attire

Getting ready for a first date can be nerve-wrecking!  Trying to put together that perfect outfit can be a challenge. We asked Atlanta based image consultants, Carmen Westbrook with Naked – Fashion Help and Victor Rogers with Victorious, Inc., to answer a few questions about what to (and not to) wear on a first date.  Here’s what they had to say:

Q: What is the biggest mistake one can make when dressing for a first date?  

Answer: The biggest mistakes are 1. trying too hard (examples: a woman showing too much skin, or a man drenched in cologne) and 2. not trying at all (examples: a woman who doesn’t do anything to her hair and makeup, or a man who shows up in wrinkled or soiled clothes).

Q: What three pieces should every woman have in her dating wardrobe? 

Answer: a dress that fits her perfectly and doesn’t look like a ‘work dress,’ dark jeans with little or no embellishment (i.e. no rhinestones, glitter, rips, etc.) and a great pair of heels.

Q: What three pieces should every man have in his dating wardrobe?

Answer: a nice sport coat (not just the jacket from a suit), dark jeans and a nice pair of black leather shoes (not the wingtips you wear to work).

Q: One of our members is meeting her date directly after work, any tips on how to transition from office-wear to date-night attire? 

Answer: If you’re wearing a two-piece business suit, remove the suit jacket. You can either replace it with a casual jacket that is a bit edgy or with a boldly colored cardigan. Change your shoes from conservative pumps to something a bit sexier… perhaps a strappy sandal, platform heels or even leopard print pumps. Change your handbag from the industrial-sized purse you carry every day to a sleek clutch. Switch your jewelry to a bolder necklace and maybe add a chunky bracelet or several thin bangles. You can keep these items in your car.

Q: Is it a good idea to have one go-to “first-date” outfit?

Answer: What you wear should be determined by where you are going. With any luck, every ‘first-date’ will be different, so you won’t have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ outfit that works for every occasion.

Q: What if you’re not sure where he’s taking you—how should you dress?

Answer: It is better to lean toward being a bit ‘over-dressed’ instead of ‘under-dressed.’ Maybe try a casual (non-work) dress with sexy boots and accessories, something that will fit in anywhere.

Q: What fall trends should our members consider for their dating wardrobe?

Answer: On a first date, you should strive to be the ‘best possible version of yourself.’ Therefore, if you normally are not one to follow fashion trends, do not start now!  The most important thing is to choose an outfit that makes you feel good and then you’re guaranteed to present your best possible self.

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do is to feel confident!  How you carry yourself is the greatest accessory to any outfit.  Be engaging, fun, and positive and everything else will fall into place.