What To Wear On A Blind Date

Blind dates, regardless of how you come by them, can be viewed with genuine enthusiasm or all-out dread. You have been set up by a third party with a stranger, and you will meet them for the first time in what would be considered an anxious state. You want your first impression to be memorable for all the right reasons, not the wrong ones.

It is fair to say that humanity is judgemental, and clothes do make the man or woman when it comes to imparting a first impression to the world. When you head out on your blind date, you want to wear clothes that suit your unique body shape and type, hint at your personality and project a confident, positive image.  

In this article, we endeavour to teach you which wardrobe pitfalls to avoid and how you can dress to impress the world at large.

What To Wear On A Blind Date

“A study from Social Psychological and Personality Science found evidence that a single glance at someone for 33 to 100 milliseconds was sufficient to form a first impression, with judgements on character and personality made within 60 seconds.”

Without any conscious decision having been formed, our subconscious has already performed a full body photon scan, read their aura field, picked up on the vibe they are emitting and formed an assessment of that person and they you. In the few extra milliseconds, your conscious then assesses their appearance, hair, clothes, posture, smile, teeth, personal hygiene, and scent appeal.

It happened that fast! Less than a minute to gain your first impression of your blind date, and they you. It makes speed dating appear to be dragging things out with a five-minute cap on the conversation. So, how do you improve your chances of success on a blind date and make a good first impression?

Choosing The Perfect Blind Date Outfit

Choosing an outfit to wear on your blind date will fill some with elation and others with dread. Either way, if you are not a stylist by profession, and you don’t know what your colours are and are not or what shape your body type is, it can be impossible to dress to impress regardless of your budget.

As celebrity stylists Suzanna and Trinny have repeatedly shown the world via their books and TV series in the UK on what not to wear, you can still dress to look a million dollars from a thrift store if you understand your dimensions and body type and you choose clothes that highlight your best features and play down your flaws.

If you don’t have that inside information, it can be a challenge to work out what to wear when meeting someone for the very first time. Then we get to the different dress codes and what time of day or night your date is occurring. There are also different dress codes for different venues and specific footwear for entry into some locations. Dressy casual is usually the best call up until 6.00 pm. After 6.00 pm, the dress code flips to evening wear, which is significantly more formal than dressy casual, but not as formal as ball gowns and tuxedos. Suits for men and cocktail dresses for women come out to shine when the sun drops below the horizon, figuratively speaking.

Assess The Blind Date Location

Your first port of call is to establish where the date will occur, if it is indoor or outdoor, and what you will be doing. If you are going to wander around the street markets in the middle of summer, or conversely, in the middle of a white winter, you will need to dress in the appropriate clothing and footwear. If you are taking the action option, such as rock climbing or skating at a roller rink, you will dress differently to sitting in a fine dining restaurant. Knowing the venue where you will meet your date means you can make a phone call or check their website for their specific dress code if they prefer one.

How Men Should Dress For A Blind Date

You don’t have to wear expensive designer clothes or name brands that advertise a multinational’s business free of charge; however, you should look like you tried to put your best self forward. Actions speak louder than words, and your appearance will make a statement about you the moment your blind date sets eyes on you.

Printed T-shirts are all the rage for men in 2022, and that trend is growing stronger as we move into 2023. While there are some amazing designers making statement high-end print T-shirts, they can look too laid back if worn on their own. They need to be paired with a smarter blazer style jacket or go for a collared crisp white dress shirt over the top but unbuttoned. If you can’t imagine the right look, visit a newsagent, and pick up a copy of the latest GQ magazine or any magazine aimed at the new age man and flip through the pages to see what the latest trends in clothing are and how a stylist puts an outfit together. Take the image to your local retail store and have the staff help you pull together a similar outfit.

Kicks, trainers, runners, or a statement pair of running shoes have their time and place and could be worn on a daylight hours date if the date takes in a lot of walking or exercise. However, never wear your scruffy, smelly gym or jogging shoes. Unless your first date is in a beach bar, give the flip-flops and plastic Crocs a miss too!

Blind Date Outfits For Women To Wear

You know you bought that $500 dress on sale but have never had anywhere special enough to wear it that did it justice. Don’t be tempted to dress up to the nines like a desperate B-grade celebrity screaming for attention. Comfort should be your first consideration. Blind dates can be nerve-wracking. You want to feel relaxed and happy in an outfit that doesn’t cut you in half when you sit down or restrict your breathing if you go with a corset or one of those fat slimming suits.

Shoe choice is critical here. High heels can be a big mistake. Anything with a pencil-thin heel, or more than two inches in height, can be considered ridiculous and impractical. If you are not used to wearing heels and walking in them, you can look outright ridiculous, teetering along, constantly throwing your arms out like stabilisers to prevent yourself from falling face-first into the ground below you. If your date is inside a restaurant, your feet will be hidden under the table most of the time anyway.

Opt for wedges or platform shoes if you want something a little more formal or sexy. Try a low kitten heel to give a little sexy muscle definition to your calves without the grade-three sprained ankle you twisted in the five-inch stilettos. 

Avoid mini and micro dresses and skirts shorter than your mid-thigh. Having to constantly tug down something that rides up and then reveals your ‘lady garden’ when you sit down shows you are uncomfortable with the outfit of choice. Besides, what is your intention anyway? Are you looking for a hit-and-run hook-up or a potential relationship? Respect yourself if you wish to receive respect from others.

What You Should Not Wear On A Blind Date

There are some obvious rules that govern every situation and scenario. Being clean, tidy, and presentable is a must for everyone, every time. 

• Don’t drag trousers or shirts out of the dirty laundry basket.
• Never wear a stained or soiled article of clothing. That includes underwear, boys!
• Use an iron or a steamer to remove the creases, crumples, and vagabond appearance.
• Never wear anything with rips, holes, tears, broken buttons, or faulty zippers.

Clothes left in the washing machine or that aren’t aired or died fully after washing can gather a musty, dank, wet dog smell that is instantly noticeable, and unless your blind date has a fetish for the wet dog smell, it won’t make you a good first impression. Smell your clothes, and use your nose and sense of smell to check your outfit before you put it on. 

There are fabric scents on the market you can use to give stale clothes a fresh scent quickly and easily, but nothing covers or disguises the scent of wet dog or cigarette smoke. Also, ensure that you are not covered in their hair or fur when you leave the house if you have pets. Your date might be allergic to your pets, and your blind date turns into a medical emergency before the drinks have been ordered.

What Not To Wear On A Blind Date

In many ways, deciding what you should wear is easier to narrow down by removing all the options you should not wear. Here are some obvious ‘non-wearable’ things to look for when selecting what to wear on your blind date.

• Ill-fitting clothes. Too loose or too tight. If you bought it back when you were a different size, and you are now slimmer or sporting more weight, if it is too small, it will highlight any areas of weight on your person in all the wrong ways that detract from your overall aesthetic. If it is too loose, it hides your body entirely, and you look like you are wearing a garbage bag. Either version says you have spatial difficulty or are in denial of your current weight versus your ideal weight. If you can’t get the fundamental basics right on the first date, dating you would be a massive mistake as you are not quite ready for the challenges of a relationship.

• A sporting logo emblazoned shirt, jacket, jumper, sweats. Unless you are specifically going to see that team play their sport for the date and you are both supporting that team in that role. Side note: don’t blend teams or clubs. Don’t wear a Nix hat with a Lakers shirt and Bulls shorts with Air Jordan kicks.

• Slogan Tees and tops. These are fun and fine for later dates, but you don’t want it to be the focal point for the first meet unless your date is intended to be that laid back and casual, like a date at a roller rink or playing mini golf. Avoid any prints that could be offensive or controversial to the public and your blind date. While you might be making a statement, and that is your right to do so, ask yourself if the statement needs to be made at the time and place you are meeting someone for the first time.

• Prints and colours that clash or combine and leave you nauseous. Have you ever stared at a stripy shirt or a floral print dress for a while and felt nauseous? If your outfit style or colour combination is likely to induce nausea, do not wear it on a blind date. 

• Too much flesh! You might have amazing pecs or bountiful breasts that leave men drooling, the perfect pair of model pegs or kickboxer thighs that are the envy of every bodybuilder. Your blind date isn’t the place to flaunt your money maker or flex your muscles. Flaunting your assets and putting them on display might be a major turn-off for your date, who appreciates a more modest and demure approach. Conversely, while most women love a ripped rig and well-defined biceps, sitting across from you while every other woman in the surrounding area is visually undressing you and eyeing you over, can unleash some women’s insecurities. Even if she is secure in herself, she may have a genuine disinterest in dating someone so high maintenance whose ego needs constant validation and attention. Keep it classy, sophisticated, and timeless.

• Brand new shoes. Never break in new shoes on your blind date. Always wear in new shoes well ahead of time so you can ascertain whether they need to be accompanied by products to prevent rubbing or blisters from forming. A simple polish and buff might be all that is needed to restore a pair of shoes you are comfortable in and make them appropriate for the date. 

• Too much makeup. Makeup can be an asset for anyone who wasn’t born gorgeous. When applied by an expert, it can turn anyone into a cover model. When applied by a novice, it can be nice in moderation, and less is more. However, choose the wrong colour foundation for your skin tone, or apply it with a concrete trowel, and it is a major turn-off. If you are not comfortable in your own skin without the makeup, you are not ready to be in a relationship, and you still have some work to do on your self-esteem and loving yourself for who you are, as you are. If your blind date isn’t into you a la Naturelle, then they are the wrong person for you. Eventually, they are going to see you without the war paint and the mask you hide behind. You can’t bait and switch to such a degree that without makeup, your date would never recognise you in a lineup.

• Perfume and Cologne. In moderation, the right scent for your body chemistry is a heady aphrodisiac to behold. Overdo it with a heavy hand, and it can be overwhelming and a turn-off. There is no such thing as one scent for all people. Body chemistry is as individual as fingerprints. You need to try and wear several different brands of perfume or cologne for at least an hour to see how they change on your skin over time. They might start smelling delightful but become unpleasant when the base notes kick in. Ideally, everyone should have one signature scent for day wear and one special occasion scent, men and women alike. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers to sniff your wrist or neck and then gather their feedback until you find a scent you like that the majority also like on you. Some people get to wear a lot of scents well, and some are lucky if they can find two scents they can wear well.

• Sunglasses. At least not initially. Unless you meet outside and wear prescription sunglasses you need to see; your first greeting should be made with naked eye contact. Even if you have to remove the sunglasses for a moment to make that eye contact and then return them to your face with the caveat to your date that explains you are photophobic or wearing prescription sunglasses, and they are free to wear their own if they would feel more comfortable. You could also opt to move inside if the venue has indoor seating.

Blind Date Drinks Attire

It is best to keep things fairly low-key when you meet someone for the first time. That way, if the blind date does not go well, there is no spark, or you would rather stab yourself in the thigh with knitting needles than spend another second in their company, you can politely thank them for their time and leave. It also means you have more clothing options than a high-end establishment requires. When meeting a stranger, it should always be in a public place.

What Day And Time Is The Blind Date Occurring

If your blind date is scheduled for 7 pm on a Saturday night in a popular upmarket venue, it will have a very different vibe and dress code to a blind date occurring at 1.30 pm as a late Monday lunch, or an 11.00 am brunch on a Sunday by the beach. Think about and choose an outfit that blends in with what the rest of the world would be wearing around that time and in that location.

Know Your Blind Date Venue

A pint in a quaint outback country pub beer garden in summer has a different vibe to sitting in armchairs by a roaring fire mid-winter with snow on the ground or falling. The venue you choose to undertake your blind date might be a trendy city-centre bar with banging beats, or an old, not-so-popular Irish Pub that was once the place to be. You will look and feel ridiculous in your fluorescent clubbing outfit surrounded by farmers with cattle dogs or wearing goth clothing in a high-end bar surrounded by $10,000 oil paintings, abstract sculptures, and high-priced artworks.

Will Your Date Be Indoors Or Outdoors?

Even during the summer months in Australia, an alfresco evening may get chilli once the sun sets. Layers can help if you are unsure what the night may fully entail. Take a light jacket or shawl, a coat or a five-star-rated thermal snowsuit if the season requires you to dress appropriately.

Generally speaking, dress for coffee dates the same as you would dress for a weekday drink if it is a traditional cafe. For dinner, go slightly dressier with a long dress, skirts, jackets, chinos, collared shirts, and smart trousers. Give trainers and blue jeans a miss.

Related Blind Date Questions

What Do You Wear On A First Date In Winter?

Layer up. Interiors can be overheated and stuffy, but you might develop hypothermia outside waiting for a cab or walking to another bar if you are not dressed for the appropriate weather conditions. A hat, scarf, or shawl can be useful to protect from rain and sleet en route, and you can always carry a pocket umbrella that fits into a handbag. Smart boots are versatile, practical, comfy and stylish for both men and women and easy to walk in if you are bar hopping.

How Does A Blind Date Work?

Blind dates are aptly named in that neither of the dates knows the other party. The date is arranged by a third party, typically a mutual friend, sporting acquaintance, work colleague, or family member. Someone who believes that you both have a chance of hitting it off amicably. You will be told where the date is to be held, what time to be there, and given details to help you recognise your date. You will often wear or carry an item that instantly reveals you to your date and vice versa. Romantics might opt to wear the same flower in their hair or on their lapel etc.

Is Online Dating Consider As Blind Dating?

Technically no. Meeting someone you’ve met via online dating isn’t usually classed as a blind date, but rather as the first date. This is because a blind date requires a third party to make the connection. With virtual dating, you make your own connections, and there is no third party involved. You might have chatted in text format, seen photos of each other, or explored social media profiles and pages before your first official date. There is nothing blind about knowing who you are going to meet, what they look like and everything you can stalk about them from the big WWW world as you undertake your detective-style background clearance check on them in a bid to vet out the weeds and only meet up with the roses.