How Do You Pick an Outfit for a First Date When You’re Nervous About Being Judged?
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- June 7, 2025
You’re not alone. According to a survey of 2,000 adults, a whopping 89% are nervous on first dates. That’s understandable considering how many places negative judgment can come from. 34% deliberate whether to go for a formal handshake, a kiss on the cheek, or a hug. 39% of all those polled admitted to having an alcoholic drink before the date to calm their nerves.
First date fears come true for some. 14% were stood up, 20% sat through a boring date, and 34% had nothing to talk about. What you can control about first dates is how you dress for them. Clothes make up a good portion of any first impression, and those are formed in as little as milliseconds.
Past experiences, the elephant in the room
We alluded to the role of first-date experiences in dating anxiety, but what about the role of past relationships? Overcoming past relationships can not only help put the past behind, but also improve your future dating and relationship prospects. 75% of respondents in a survey conducted by OnePoll shared that their past relationships were a learning experience, and 60% were working on self-improvement in that context. The vast majority – 93% – believed their efforts would help them find “The One.”
The poll, which covered 2,000 US millennials and Gen-Z singles, also found that 50% of women and 61% of men felt they were the reason their most recent dates went poorly. Three-quarters of men said they knew exactly how they messed up. 39% were late for their dates, another 39% didn’t offer to pay for the date, and almost half (46%) spent too much time looking at their phone.
However, 69% of women and 80% of men felt future partners would see their dating history positively. The poll also found how people were working to improve themselves with future relationships in mind: exercising (37%), going to therapy to work through past relationship trauma (37%), getting more sleep (36%), reading books on self-improvement (35%), and making self-care a priority (33%).
The best first-date attire choices for girls and guys
Summer is coming in the Northern Hemisphere, and pairing a neutral midi dress with comfortable block heels is a classic first-date choice. It feels put together, but it’s not too fancy. A quality white T-shirt and jeans always work for a casual first date. There is a reason it’s a classic outfit idea. If the weather is cooler, girls can take this up a notch by pairing jeans with a classic trench and button-down shirt.
Men can opt for chinos and a linen shirt on warmer days and switch it up for a long-sleeve shirt on cooler days. Opt for an unstructured sports jacket if you don’t want to look too casual. Straight-leg jeans don’t limit physical movement, but ensure a fitted silhouette, all the same. Choose a slim button-down shirt if you want to exude elegance but not appear too formal.
If you’re trying to decide whether the fit, style, or color is most important, focus on the fit. Even the trendiest, most expensive outfit in the most flattering color will fail you if it doesn’t fit well. Ill-fitting clothes wreak havoc on physical attractiveness. They can make you look sloppy, fatter, and shorter. Properly fitting clothes allow you to look good even when they’re just jeans and a T-shirt.
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