Getting Dressed for a Date – A guide for going out
Originally published 1/28/11
Don’t over think this. Especially if you’re early on in a relationship. I’m about to say/write something that’ll at first come off sounding abhorrent, but in context, it’s not. Women in one sense are like dogs. They can smell fear. So if you’re nervous/jittery/questioning your look/etc… you won’t be yourself, she’ll notice, and you’ll be fighting an uphill battle all night. With that, here’s a few suggestions to keep you looking, but most importantly feeling your best. .
- Be done and ready 30 minutes before you need to leave – Relax. Read a magazine. Or this website?
. - Match your date’s LEVEL of dress – If she’s in a cocktail dress, try not to be in jeans. Use the usual patrons of the destination as a guide if you don’t know what she’ll be wearing.
. - Don’t be afraid of a little color – But not a ton. This is neither the circus, nor a funeral.
.
- Don’t match your date’s outfit color for color – This seems to happen a lot if you’re married. Either my wife or I will almost always be changing something to avoid the twinseys look.
. - Take a warm, not super-hot shower – You don’t want to start the night feeling over-heated.
. - Use less hair product – Your instinct will be to over do it.
. - Use less or no cologne – Are you a habitual cologne wearer? Use half of what you normally wear. Some women have a nose for it. Wear cologne every once in awhile? Don’t even use it this time.
. - Use a touch of antiperspirant, not just deodorant – No wet pits tonight. Just one swipe under each arm with antiperspirant, and then apply your usual deodorant like you normally do.
. - Wear a clean, sleek watch – Nothin’ fussy, nothin’ huge. Err on the side of dressed up. This’ll work.
. - Wear a well tailored jacket. Even with jeans – The Old Navy twill blazer is back, in black, and after you get it majorly darted in at the sides, you’ll look light-years ahead of all the other untucked shirt wearing dudes downtown.
What else? Other suggestions go in the comments section below. And again, you need to get this thing tailored: