Dressing Dapper: First Date Dress-Code Nov. 2, 2011, 2:05 p.m.

We all know first impressions are lasting impressions when it comes to dating. It may be a blind date set up by mutual friends or a first date with a girl you’ve had your eye on for a while, or perhaps it’s a date with one of the many beautiful female escorts at Chic. Whoever the lucky lady might be it’s essential you know what the correct dress-code is for your date. After all, your clothes play a significant part in the overall immediate impression; it shows your personality. Therefore dressing right for your date is a must. But what do you wear? Dressing dapper for your date may seem like a great idea and will show your date that you like to look after yourself, but, choosing the right components are key! Opting for the right tie, shirt, shoes and socks combo can be headache inducing. Perhaps it’s not what you wear, but how you wear it?

Firstly, although this may seem like an obvious point, you’d be surprised how may people forget this bit. Make sure you dress in clean and ironed clothes - the crumpled, tea-stained look is not hot! You need to look presentable, first impressions, remember! Our female escorts rate cleanliness as the most important when it comes to getting ready for a date. When asked if they like to look their best on a first date, a considerable percentage replied, yes, of course. Women love to look their very best at all times, especially for a date and they always do. Men like to look good too, but stumble when it comes to picking out the best outfit.

Gentleman. I’m sure you already have style and suave attitudes towards dressing as this is exactly what our women are looking for. But, when choosing your date outfit, be sure to think of the happy medium. Don’t dress too formally or overly causal. Smart-casual is always a winning combination; not too boring but not too daring. Don’t over do it! Unless you know the other persons style, don’t go too crazy. This may be your way of showing your personality and of course you need to be yourself, but perhaps toning it down is more appropriate for a first date? A date is a chance to create a bond and connection, establish if there is a spark; don’t get bogged down by your attire.

As much as ladies love to go shopping for a new outfit for a date, this is potentially a bad idea. Wearing a new purchase is a little bit of a gamble, given the fact that you haven’t had the opportunity to wear it in. Unless you’ve worn it before, wearing a new garment can leave you feeling less comfortable than wearing something you are more relaxed in. This is the same for men too. Especially when it comes to buying a new shirt; pulling it straight out of the packing is not acceptable. The starchy, folded lines on the shirt look is not good! New shoes are a no-no too. At first, they lead you into a false sense of security; they look and feel good. But as the date progresses, the shoes begin to rub. You don’t want to find that they are not as comfortable and spend the whole date hobbling. Always stick to your own comfortable, clean items. They’ll be a security to ensure you feel completely comfortable and will allow you to relax and just be yourself. Enjoy!