I tend to think that these 'professionals' advising us on how to dress are doing us a disservice when it comes to first dates. Some will argue a first date is an interview. Well yes in some ways it is a interview, but not an interview of "do you want the job" but more of "yes I see you are the actual person you claim to be on your resume" type interviews. Very basic of yes 1.) you have a pulse, 2.) you look remotely like your pictures and 3.) you are not apparently under house arrest.





Also dressing beyond what you normally would wear is creeping into territory where someone like me would say that you are presenting a false persona of who you are.


Now before some fashion geru comes along and tells me I'm a country bumpkin and ought to care what some city slicker says is the 'in' fashion....I spent quite a few years in the Air Force. I know what shined shoes are. I know what a gig line is and how to line it up. I know how to tie a double windsor knot (double is the only way to go). I've even used blousing straps for parades. Google it. Think garder belts for men connecting their shirt tails to their socks so that shirts are tightly tucked in. It sucks.


I've done the primp thing to look good and all I can say is F that Shyte. Be yourself. Don't be a slob, but be yourself. Avoid the most basic of basic fashion no no's and you will be GTG. No black socks pulled up while wearing shorts and sneakers. No sandles with a suit. If you are going formal do it correctly. Beyond that be yourself. Dress for weather and for the event of the day.


Ignore the shoe fetish people. They are all odd city folk who have more money than sense.


Bottom line be yourself. If your date doesn't like how you dress on a daily basis, then why try and fool them the first time? They will be annoyed the second time when you reveal your true self. Spare me the womaneze of how a good woman will force her man to spend money on unwanted clothing to make *her* happy, not him (hint: stop trying to change your man).

I am so glad you wrote this. I have been reading all these posts about fashion, and shoes, and what not to wear and I was thinking "You have got to be kidding me."Basic requirements: Youareclean and so are your clothes. You are wearing clothes that are roughly the right size for your body. They can be too loose, but preferably not too tight. And whatyou are wearing is not so wild that we get people stopping to take a photo with you. Other than that, I really don't care. I will put a little more effort into my clothes than the above--meaning I will meet those standards AND try to wear something flatteringbut if I can talk you into taking me somewhere where I can wear jeans, I will be wearing jeans.