They say that first impressions are everything. Never is that quite so true as on a date with a new guy, when the pressure's on to convey—in a single glance—confidence, style, and sex appeal. Wardrobe decisions may induce some serious pre-rendezvous panic, but the fact is that the anxiety is warranted: every guy I polled about this topic confirmed that what a girl's outfit can set the tone for the evening.

"I still remember when a date showed up wearing jeans and a plain white T-shirt the first time we went out," says Greg, a 26-year-old law student in New York City. "She looked good, but the lack of effort was disappointing—I consider the time invested in an outfit a possible indicator of how interested she may be in me."

Of course, you don't want to overproduce your look, either. If jeans and a t-shirt indicates a possible lack of interest, a cocktail dress with stilettos can read as desperation. "I like to get a sense of a woman's body from what she's wearing," says Eric, a musician. "But I also get turned off if her clothes are too revealing."

To help YourTango readers strike this difficult balance, we put together this What to Wear on a Date guide. Our goal? To outfit you in attire that says all the right things when you walk through the door, namely: Hi, I'm me. These clothes? Well, they reflect my personality and sense of style. I'm confident about myself, interested in you, and ready to have fun—though exactly what ‘fun' means is still my secret.

Footwear. Let's start with the absolute basics: is your date short or tall, compared to you? For a first date, you'll probably want to maintain the whole "men are big, tall, and strong" stereotype—it's definitely an ego boost for him, and at the very least safe bet for you. So pick heel height accordingly. If the lucky gent is within three inches of your height, opt for a flat, like a ballet slipper or stylish sandal. For taller men, a higher heel is an obvious and sexy choice—just be sure you can walk in your footwear. A face-plant is never sexy.

The clothes. Unless you're going on a sporty date—say, rock-climbing—I prefer dresses to a skirt-top or jeans-blouse combo. Dresses are flirty, fun and feminine, and can run the gamut from a casual sundress (for coffee) to a fancy frock (for a night on the town). However formal the dress, pick one (just one) feature and play it up: exposed backs are titillating without being overtly sexual, a halter reveals just a suggestion of cleavage. If you want to show-off some leg, choose a hemline that's short enough to intrigue but long enough to cover your bum when you bend over. All in all, your outfit—be it dress or otherwise—should hint at how great you'd look without it on, while leaving plenty to the imagination.