What Should a Guy Wear On a First Date?
Whether you’re a female or male, similar rules apply for making a good first-date impression. Here’s a quick snapshot of what studies have concluded about appearance and first impressions, and how you can use this information to your advantage.
Non-Designer Clothing and Status
If you want to be seen high in status, don’t wear non-designer clothing. Research has found that people who wore brand names were seen as higher status than those who wore non-designer clothing.
Eyeglasses and Intelligence
If you want to be seen as intelligent, don’t wear your contacts. While making eye contact helps you to be perceived as smart, studies show that wearing thick glasses and speaking expressively had a huge impact on whether people saw their conversation partner as intelligent.
Baldness and Power
Are you insecure about your hair loss? Well, reconsider leaving your hat at home. Research suggests that men with shaved heads are seen as more dominant and powerful, and even stronger, taller and more authentic!
Tailored vs. Non-Tailored Clothes
Want to express and convey your success? Avoid non-tailored looks. Studies have shown that men in a tailored suit were rated as more successful and it positively enhanced their image when they communicated to others. Obviously, a suit wouldn’t be appropriate for a neighborhood coffee date, or a walk in the park. But, if you’re going to a wedding or more formal event - get your suit tailored and rock it!
Don’t Try Too Hard
Your outfit should do two things. Number one, it must reflect your personal style. The best thing you can wear on a date, is something that enables you to act like your true self. That means, go ahead and wear your favorite perfume, shirt, color, or shoes. Number two, your outfit must reflect your personality. If you’re naturally fun and flirty - allow your clothes to reflect that by incorporating movement and patterns. If you are more intellectual and serious, wear stable and solid cuts and colors.
It’s All In the Neck
If you’re wearing a turtleneck, scarf or your hair is covering your neck, reconsider. The neck is a core area of attraction on the body. When your neck is exposed it designates comfort and relaxation. The neck also contains pheromones, which increase your date’s attraction to you. Hiding your neck can make you seem nervous, threatened or on high-alert.
Make Sure You Present The Right Version Of Yourself Online
Let’s say that you are trying to make a good first impression on a dating site. Your photo is the first stop a potential suitor makes, before deciding if they even want a first date in the first place. Interestingly, the impression a photo makes on a dating site varies greatly between men and women.
A recent online dating study found that profile photos of women that designated extroversion, openness, emotional stability, and likeability boosted the female candidate’s success on the dating site. However, if the photos made the woman seem more ambitious and competent, it actually had the opposite effect and decreased her chances of success. In contrast, men with ambitious and competent photos increased their chances of online success.