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What Should A Man Wear On A First Date?

What Do You Wear On A First Date?

So you are looking for help with what to wear on a first date? You have come to the right place. Whether you are going on a date for the first time or you are back in the dating game, this post will help you decide what to wear. Dressing for a date does not have to be complicated. Stick to these simple guidelines, and you’ll feel confident about your first date.

First Date Tips

Below are my top tips for what to wear on a first date. 

  • Check out your date’s profile – are they smart? Casual or somewhere in between? Use that as a guide for how you should dress.
  • If you are not sure, go for smart casual. Maybe a pair of jeans or trousers with a simple plain white or plaid shirt. Alternatively, try a suit with a plain T-shirt. 
  • It might seem obvious, but make sure your clothes are washed and pressed. Your date does not want someone who can not look after themselves. 
  • Keep the colours in your outfit under three shades. 
  • Choose predominantly neutral shades like black, navy, stone, white, charcoal, grey and cream. Use any other colours to highlight. 
  • Avoid crazy patterns and logos. Stripes, florals and checks are fine, but avoid wearing them together. 
  • Check out the location you are meeting at and make sure there are no dress requirements. Do not be the person who turns up on a date and is not allowed in!
  • Find someone in the public eye, or on social media who has a style you admire and use that as inspiration. 
  • If you need wardrobe help, get the assistance of a professional stylist. 
a man and a women sitting on a picnic blanket

Capsule Wardrobe For Men

To build a capsule wardrobe for men, keep your palette simple and clean. Consider navy, charcoal grey, white, black, stone and bottle green as base colours. All of those colours, bar black, will suit every skin tone. For more information on building a capsule wardrobe for men, check out this post. In the meantime, here are ten capsule wardrobe essentials for men. 

1) Classic White Oxford Shirt

  • essential for your men’s wardrobe
  • It goes with everything; looks great under a blazer or cardigan.
  • Element of formality to an outfit that works well in business settings and more casual occasions alike. The classic look has stood the test of time – it will complement any capsule wardrobe.

2) Straight Leg Jeans

  • They go well with almost anything, Great for casual wear, but can be dressed up if needed. And you can never have too many pairs of jeans in the classic indigo colour.
  • element of comfort – they’re easy to move around in and look great on anyone’s body shape (unlike tracksuit bottoms which can look sloppy)

3) Black Brogues

  • A classic shoe that adds sophistication to any outfit. They’re also very versatile and can be worn with formal trousers for more business-appropriate occasions or dressed down with jeans when you want something smarter casual. Their versatility makes them an absolute wardrobe essential!
  • Element of style – they add instant formality without making a huge statement.

4) Trainers

  • Which essentials list would be complete without mention of trainers? They’re comfortable, easy to slip on, and very stylish. If you need something for the gym or want them to look like they’re worn in, choose a colour other than white (they get grubby too quickly). However, if you want your trainers to have that ‘classic smart/casual look’, go for a simple white pair.

5) Suit

  • Everyone needs a suit at some point. Try to keep it simple and stick to black or charcoal grey in a slim cut. Avoid any fancy detailing on the collar or cuffs then, that way, your suit will work for most occasions. Also, choose one that can be worn as a blazer on its own.

6) T-shirt

  • Choose a T-shirt in a simple block colour or a stripe. Black, white, navy, or grey work best as they will mix and match easily with other items in your wardrobe.

8) Hoodie

  • Rishi Sunak caused controversy this year for wearing a hoodie to a party political conference. Choose one in a simple colour like above. Knitted hoodies can also add an extra formality to an otherwise casual outfit.

9) Chinos

  • There is always a need for trousers when jeans are not suitable, but a suit is too smart. Have a pair in your capsule in navy, charcoal, stone or black.

10) Leather Belt

  • When you’re looking for something smarter than jeans and a tee, the men’s suit is your best friend. A suede or leather belt is an easy way to add some extra style to any outfit – they’ll take your look from casual Friday in the office right through till Sunday afternoons spent having a meal at the local. 
 

Most Importantly, Be Yourself

The most important thing about dressing for a first date is that you are yourself. Yes, make an effort, but do not change who you are. If your date expects their partner to wear a suit and you are a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy, how long will you keep that up? Keep it simple, do not start as someone else in the first place. You will know by the end of your first date if there is a spark or not, so be who you are. My best advice is to check out who they are and bring along your best self. How have your first dates gone?

For help identifying what clothes and styles work for you, check out my personal styling packages and get professional help before you go.

a couple on a date sat on a picnic blanket
A couple on a date sat looking at a view

What Next?

The information given in the post is the best of my knowledge at the time of writing. If you are embarking on anything new get professional advice if required.

If you enjoyed this post and wish to create a capsule wardrobe, I can help you create one quickly and easily. Get started immediately with one of my personal styling services or book in for a complimentary consultation

  • Personal Styling Gift Vouchers – Save up, ask for them for gifts or put towards any of my services. This is the ideal way to afford a personal stylist whatever your budget!
  • Capsule Closet Success Membership – Receive a copy of the Seasonal Capsule Essentials Ebook twice a year worth $19 and gain access to the Capsule Closet Success Course worth $200. Join our private community for support and advice and submit questions every week and have them answered live in our weekly live check-in sessions. 
  • Premium Personal Styling – A personalised colour analysis and body shape style guide, a live wardrobe edit, a personal shopping and a curated Lookbook
  • Personal Styling – 
  • A personalised Colour Analysis, a Body Shape Analysis And Style Guide, a Live Wardrobe Edit
  • A wardrobe Edit – A 20-minute zoom call to discuss your needs and to highlight any particular problems you want to address in the wardrobe edit. A private Pinterest board to pin styles and colours you love. A 60 minutes live video wardrobe edit
  • Colour Analysis And Body Shape Styling –

  • The Capsule Closet Stylist Colour Analysis looks at the natural colouring in your hair, eyes and skin tone and shows how you can complement your natural colouring in your clothes. The Body Shape Style Guide teaches you how to make the most of your best assets, hide what you do not like, find clothes that complement your shape, and choose the perfect fit.

Still Not Sure?

Book a discovery call with me where we can discuss colour, style, decluttering, body shapes and much, much more.  I can identify where you most need help and point you in the right direction. 

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**Please Note This Post Contains Affiliate Links

Capsule Closet Stylist is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Program, Shopstyle and LTK, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn commission incomes by advertising and linking to Capsuleclosetstylist.com 

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Capsule Closet Success testimonials

'When you join the membership it isn't generic it is tailored to your needs. Michelle considers each individual person and provides advice and guidance based on their needs. I have learnt so much since I joined I feel like I could sit an exam on it now! Honestly, without a doubt if you feel like you are lost with what to wear, you don't know what suits your body shape or your shape has changed, you've lost confidence, you're starting a new job, or you want to minimise your wardrobe, Michelle's membership is without a doubt for you. You can not get better for the price, I have looked!'
Rachel
UK
I joined Michelle's facebook "capsule wardrobe challenge" in June 2020. I loved her approach of starting off with a concept of what colours and styles you were attracted to, followed by what your lifestyle required functionally. It helped me assess my existing wardrobe with a checklist in mind instead of feeling overwhelmed and indecisive. I found the video format and weekly check-ins easy to follow and explained each stage of building a capsule well. She has been quick to answer any queries I have and to offer her professional stylist's opinion with a gentle manner. I am most grateful for Michelle's overarching aim to help her clients "find their happy place". This membership is about being comfortable in your own skin, not about being super fashionable, and that is exactly what I needed. Thank you for helping me find my confidence again. 😊
Helen
Australia
There is no doubt in my mind that having a personal stylist online is worth the investment. In fact, at the end of the day I will spend considerably less while looking and feeling so much better. Why? Because I will never again mindlessly spend and spend and spend on clothes that just aren’t right for me and that don’t make me happy. I think we all dream of that wardrobe that makes us happy and confident, but it is so easy to just give up and just wear something. I know I did. And that is just plain crazy because I love clothes! I have always been attracted to styles that I lacked the confidence to try out. Now, with the help and guidance of Michelle, I can finally explore those styles with confidence knowing that whenever I run an item by Michelle, she will give me her honest feedback on whether or not it will fit with my colors and with how I want to look and feel. In short: Michelle’s advice really is priceless. I feel an A-lister in the garments I have purchased since becoming a member! Pssst: One secret, you don’t have to become a minimalist if you don’t want to. Michelle is not about legalistic minalism, she is all about you finding out what works for you and that – along with her very deep knowledge of style – is why I think her membership works for me when in the past nothing else has.
Sisse
Denmark
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