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Burn the khakis. PLEASE.
By Guest Of A Guest — Written on Apr 21, 2015
By Korie Cantor
Are you worried when dressing to impress her on your first date? You are not alone. Most men fret about what to wear on their first date and there is a good reason behind it. Like it or not, the truth is women do notice the clothes you wear.
A man with a great sense of style can make any girl go weak in the knees, but if you think your college hoodie and sneakers will save the day for you, you couldn't be more wrong.
1. Never wear khakis.
For many men, khakis are a first-date standby. But fashion experts recommend avoiding khakis for date nights. According to Bruce Pask, Bergdorf Goodman's men's director, khakis are not sexy at all. Jeans, on the other hand, are a better option. They are sexy, rugged and perfect for a relaxed casual look. These days, jeans are perfectly acceptable in almost all dating scenarios except for some fancy restaurants that have a strict dress code.
Style Tip: Wear a basic dark pair of slim-fit jeans with a t-shirt/dress shirt and layer it up with a sweater/blazer, knitted scarf, and a pair of boots or boat shoes.
2. Add a little color.
A little color can go a long way. There are men who often opt for all-black, thinking it looks exotic. Needless to say, their first date usually becomes the last.
Dressing all in black looks a bit morose, unless you and your date are both die hard fans of Siouxsie Sioux. Use it sparingly as an accent.
3. Keep your striped shirt at home.
If you want to impress her, forget your striped dress shirt. It will only kill your chances. How? Just take a look around any dating scenario, be it an over-hyped martini bar or a fancy restaurant, and you will find stripes everywhere. So forget about standing out in the crowd with your old-favorite striped dress shirt.
A subtler pattern is a safer bet. Alternatively, you can wear a nice polo shirt for a more casual look and team it up with a sport jacket. However, don’t forget to tuck in your shirt. Wearing shirts halfway in, halfway out looks annoying and not sexy. Kelly Rae, the fashion and grooming director at Complex Magazine warn men against such look saying, that it “is a big pet peeve of mine. I like a guy who knows to tuck it in.”
4. What's for footwear?
Along with clothes, women love shoes to an extent that they are often obsessed with them. This is the first thing they will take a mental note of as soon as you step in the room. But don’t fret, your ‘work shoes’ are just fine as long as they complement your clothes. You can easily pair your cap toes, wingtips or even sneakers with a pair of jeans for a date night.
The catch is to make sure that they’re in excellent shape and look perfect. There should not be any scuff marks on the sides and/or bottom and polish your shoes thoroughly. For a woman is more likely to trust a man who maintains his shoes as he comes across as a more detail-oriented person in almost all areas of his life, ranging from his work life to a relationship.
5. Pay Attention to details.
You want to convince your girl that you’re a cut above average on your first date night. This cannot be done without paying much attention to the details. Your outfit speaks volumes about your individuality. You should never overlook your socks. If you think nobody will notice if you’re wearing your white gym socks, you're wrong.
6. A key to take home:
Be comfortable and relaxed. She is as nervous as you are, and even if you’re wearing the wrong socks, chances are she will never look down as long as you can hold her gaze. Good humor, quick wits, a chivalrous nature, and confidence are the most important and can save the day.
But be presentable in whatever you wear and remember that first impression counts.
This article was originally published at Guest of a Guest. Reprinted with permission from the author.