How you look is very important in the dating world.  We judge a book (movie DVD) by its cover!  No doubt, we live in a visual world.  Did you know that someone forms an opinion of you in the first 7 seconds of meeting you?  So making a good first impression is very important and you need to take care.  Of course a warm smile is always your best accessory is one of my top first date tips!

Poor grooming comes up as a major dating turnoff.  It doesn’t matter as much your height or weight (or hairline for men!) as it turns out.  Make sure you hair is attractively cut and styled.  It is especially important for men to have well trimmed haircuts that make the most of your hair.  I have seen a couple of guys who are really in need of a haircut with hair overgrowing down past their ears.  Facial hair needs to be well shaven or beards are well trimmed, not to mention nose and ear hair.  This can be a big turnoff for many women if not kept up well.  Women look best with natural looking makeup – avoid looking clownish with overdoing it in the makeup department.  Also, make sure your teeth are clear of food particles and your breath is fresh.

For women, especially if you have a good figure, you can make the most of it by wearing a form fitted dress.  Men do like to see some leg, so I recommend wearing your skirts and dress hemlines at or just above the knee.  If you have an hourglass waist, you can show it off with a belt.  Scoop or V-neck lines are very attractive on most body types and flatter the neckline.  Your necklines can hint at a cleavage but do not show too much!  You have to leave something to the imagination.  High heal shoes or sandals flatter the legs, but you need to be able to walk and should not be teetering in your heels!  Leather or suede dress boots are always a hit in the winter.  (Personally I think the Uggs are too casual and not sexy!).

For men, having clean cut look is usually best.  Avoid looking sloppy with wrinkled shirts or slacks.   A nice cotton long sleeve shirt is the best.  Roll up your sleeves in the summer and do wear long dress pants or chinos and not shorts on a first date.  You can wear pants or jeans, however, make sure the pants are not too tight or too baggy.   To add some style, you can wear an updated blazer, but a tie is usually not necessary.  For an outer coat, a black leather jacket (3/4 length straight down, not banded) is a favorite among women.

Above are my first date tips for putting your best style foot forward!  I hope this helps you make a great first impression and gets you to the desirable situation where you are able to have an enjoyable time getting to know one another and see if there is possibility for a great relationship.

Warmly,
Coach Amy

PS.  Did you know that I was an image/wardrobe consultant in my last profession?  I was in the world of fashion for over 15 years.  Would you like an assessment about how you come across image-wise and some suggestions about how to dress to attract?  Ask me about my Image/Wardrobe Update Services for those who live in the DC Metro area.  Fill out my form at http://www.heartmindconnection.com to set up an appointment.