What to wear on a first date? Here’s how you can raise your chances of success

DRESSING UP FOR A FIRST DATE IN A NUTSHELL

1. Self-confidence

The best clothes you can wear on a first date are the ones you feel confident in, and like the best version of yourself. Pick an outfit that doesn’t make you nervous and instead, make you feel like yourself.

2. Comfortable and practical

If you pick an outfit that looks good, but you’re not comfortable in it, that’s wrong. You’ll end up constantly picking at it, putting your hands in your pockets, and so on and so on, which doesn’t look good in front of a date.

3. Don’t over-accessorize

Less is more – pick a simple necklace, bracelet or earrings and save the fancier jewelry for posh events.

4. What type of date is it?

Last but not least, think about where you’re going for your date – you’ll probably wear something else to a café as opposed to a trip or heading to a club.

5. Pieces for special occasions

We all have that special stash of clothes that only get worn on special occasions – and when else than now? On the flip side, don’t wear anything you haven’t tried out yet – you need to be sure of it.

CLOTHES FOR A FIRST DATE STEP BY STEP

First dates are often preceded by nervousness and maybe even a bit of panic. I know what I’m talking about – the last time I went on a first date, I couldn’t fall asleep at all. Apart from constantly going through what it would be like in my head, I kept circling back to whether I picked the right outfit out…

Wear something you’re confident in

Confidence is key, especially on a first date. The first minutes can be nerve-wracking, but if you put together an outfit you’re comfortable in, it’ll give you an all-round boost everywhere else. And after a couple of minutes, you’ll be just like normal.

When in doubt, wear red or black

According to psychologists, red and black are the best colors to wear on a first date – subconsciously, we associate these colors with romance, and in the case of women, these colors also raise attractiveness. Personally, I often wear a red-black checkered shirt on first dates and you know what? It works.

Avoid orange and brown

It’s important to know how to dress on a first date, but it’s equally important to know what to avoid. And that would be orange and brown clothing. Neither of them represents qualities you want to display on a first date – confidence, intelligence, and attractiveness. Orange is too flashy and might feel too attention-grabbing, while brown feels boring and sometimes too serious – it’s best to just avoid these two colors altogether when dressing up for a first date.

Body language is important, wear something comfortable and practical

We’ve already mentioned comfort – wear something you’re uncomfortable in, and chances are your thoughts will start to wander, you’ll keep checking yourself and although unintentionally, your body language will start sending the wrong message. So make sure you wear something you’re comfy in – you’ll be able to direct all your attention to the person sitting in front of you.

Show off your neck instead of your cleavage

I’m not saying you completely shouldn’t show your body off, but do it in a light and dignified way – it can help you grab your crush’s attention, but don’t overdo it – focus on your neck, which is one of the most important parts of your body when it comes to romance – and don’t wear a scarf!

Keep it classic

When it comes to first dates, don’t go over the top and experiment – instead, keep it simple and classy. You want your outfit to look simple (even though putting it together took several hours). Go for monochromatic pieces and try to avoid slogans and patterns. Also, keep everything loud at home – you want to keep the attention on you, not your T-shirt.

DRESSING UP FOR A FIRST DATE – WOMEN’S EDITION

Dresses

Show off your feminine side and pick a simple, stylish dress for your first date – how long was it waiting in your wardrobe for an occasion like this? Now’s your chance.

Skirts and tops

Alternatively, you can dress up in a skirt and a top – you’ll have a lot more options on how to combine everything to perfection, whether you go with a cotton WOOD WOOD RUNA skirt or a denim Calvin Klein one.

Trousers and tops

If dresses and skirts aren’t your cup of tea, I completely understand – instead, grab a pair of trousers and a T-shirt or a blouse.

Accessories

Spark your outfit up with a couple of simple accessories, like a pair of earrings and a necklace from Anna Baum. It won’t distract your date, but you’ll look much more stylish.

DRESSING UP FOR A FIRST DATE – MEN’S EDITION

T-shirt or a shirt?

Can’t decide? Everyone prefers something different, so just go with what you feel the most confident and comfortable in.

Trousers and a belt

A classic pair of jeans or chinos is an ideal choice for a first date. Don’t forget to put on a nice belt.

Don’t forget your watch

Admittedly, you probably aren’t going to be checking your watch every minute while you’re on a date, but the purpose here is to give you a good dose of style.

Be yourself

So you’ve got your outfit ready? But the most important thing can’t be found in any wardrobe. On any date, whether it’s the first or fifteenth one, the most important thing is being yourself and showing your crush who you truly are – clothing can partly reflect that, but the rest is up to you, so make sure it’s 100% authentic.

Do you need to figure out where to go or what to do on your date? Check out Honza’s tips.