People love to match their single friends. If you’re married and have single friends, you’ve surely matched them on at least one date. Don’t we love to spread the love around? But such goodwill also causes a dilemma for our friends. When we become so secretive about where they will be meeting, that puts them in limbo. Where are they going? What should they wear? That last bit is the most problematic of all. Surely, you’ve also experienced having to worry about what to wear on a date? Being on a blind date is not an excuse not to dress up or to dress down too much.
The Social Psychological and Personality Science said that it only takes between 33 to 100 milliseconds for a person to form an impression at a first glance. This means that the moment you meet your date, both of you have a maximum of 100 milliseconds to develop a first impression. That’s how important being dressed properly is. The way you dress might affect the whole date and even the result of the matchmaking service.
It is a challenge to dress for anything — special occasions and events and even a casual run to the grocery. As much as you’d like to believe that your future partner isn’t superficial, the truth is that everyone is a bit superficial. If you’re meeting someone for the first time, you will notice the way he/she dresses.
Dressing Up for Blind Dates for Men
The great thing about men is that they only have one option: a pair of pants and a shirt. The only thing that will change is whether you will wear dress pants, jeans, or chinos. For the top, you have to choose between long-sleeved or short-sleeved dress shirts, polo shirts, or casual shirts. When dressing up for a blind date, remember that you do not need to wear expensive clothing. However, you have to look like you’ve made an effort to look good.
T-shirts look too laid back and long-sleeved polos look too formal. If you’re wearing a t-shirt, make sure to put on a sports blazer. If you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt, you can pair it with a pair of casual jeans. Finish off the look with a nice pair of shoes (sneakers are okay, but you can also go with loafers) and a watch.
Dressing Up for Blind Dates for Women
For women, there is always a dilemma about how they have to dress up during a blind date. There are so many options for women that it is understandably confusing. But here’s the number one rule: do not dress in ways that will make you feel uncomfortable. Sure, stilettos always look nice on women, but can you walk on them? Yes, a low-back dress looks sexy, but are you going to be comfortable if the weather says it will be chilly?
The most comfortable outfit for a blind date for women is a nice midi dress and a pair of low-heeled sandals. This way, you won’t look like you’re just going to the mall with a pair of jeans and a shirt. Whether the dinner is in a fine dine-in restaurant or a little more casual, you’ll be fine with a midi dress and low-heeled shoes.
What to Avoid Wearing During a Blind Date
The rule is pretty simple when it comes to dressing up for all kinds of dates — whether it’s a first date or your 100th date as a couple. Make sure you look neat and presentable. Do not wear stained and creased clothes. This goes for all other occasions, too. Stained clothes have no place in your workplace, and it doesn’t have a place in a nice dinner with your date as well.
Also, it’s important not to underdress or overdress for anything. Finding the perfect balance between comfortable and stylish clothing is the key to dressing up successfully for a blind date. For women, a good trick is to bring some accessories — dangling earrings, studs, and statement necklaces — with you so you can swap accessories in case your date takes you to a more formal or informal setting.
Do not try to be someone you’re not when dressing up for a date. The first rule is to be stylishly comfortable without going overboard or underboard. While finding the balance is difficult, what you can do is talk to the person who set up the blind date in the first place. Find out about the place you’re going, as well as a bit of information about the person you are meeting. Pattern your choice of clothing according to the information you find.
