How to Dress for a First Date

You only have one chance to make a first impression, so it better be a good one. Dressing the right way for a first date is a chance to let your date know something about yourself, and a chance to show off a little by looking great. Here are tips on how to dress for a first date.

Things You'll Need

• Clean clothes

Instructions

1. Find out in advance what the two of you will be doing. A stroll in the park calls for different clothes than a bicycle ride or a formal dinner.

2. Choose clothes from the nicer end of your closet, but nothing extreme. You want to present an honest representation of yourself, convey some of your style, but hold off on any outrageous outfits until you've had a few dates.

3. Aim for the middle ground of your wardrobe: something you'll look put-together in, but won't have to fidget with. If you don't wear suits or dresses regularly, you won't be comfortable in one on a date.

4. Minimize jewelry. For women, slightly more is usually okay, but err on the side of simplicity when it comes to bedecking yourself and your clothing.

5. Groom to impress after you're dressed. Check your nails, hair and breath. Always wear antiperspirant or deodorant.

6. No matter how good your clothes look on hangers, or how much they cost, if you're not comfortable in them, they're not right for a first date. Dress in a way that's going to let you enjoy yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Shoot for the middle ground. You don't want to look shabby, but you don't want to appear overdressed.

• Leave fashion experimentation on the hanger--funny ties, fishnet stockings, etc., are best left for costume parties. And don't get "too comfortable" in what you choose to wear--much as you love that ratty old sweater...