The key to first- date fashion? Minimalism and comfort

THERE ARE VERY FEW SCENARIOS THAT WILL unerve you quite like a first date: Your first day of university, landing your dream job, moving abroad, getting caught on the phone in the bus line. These all seem minor compared to the palm-sweating anticipation we endure before meeting a complete stranger. What if he’s completely different from what you remember? What if he has a weird voice? What he doesn’t offer to pay for a drink? (There is nothing more cringe on a first date). All of these are out of our control, but what we can get right every time is what to wear. It’s one of the most frequently asked questions, and I always tell unsure women that simplicity is the key. First date dressing should be is as basic as it gets. Why? Because you want to feel completely at ease for the night; you’ve already been dragged out of your comfort zone. You also don’t want to look like you’ve tried to hard - or really tried at all. Aside from looking low-key, you want him to notice you, and not just what you’re wearing. For me, first date essentials mean rooting out skinny jeans and a cashmere jumper with a pair of heels or a silk blouse with wide leg trousers. It’s seductive charm, in subtle measures, without laying it all on the table. The enduring appeal of minimalism, especially on a first date, is that you seem approachable and probably not fixated on what you look like. But what if you you haven’t quite grasped the hang of minimalism? What if you’re overly ambitious and don’t shudder at all at the thought of a bodycon dress? My advice is to pick one asset to show off. While I do applaud those who have the confidence to show off some skin, on the first date this can be off-putting. That’s not to say that you should stow away your favourite mini forever, but easing someone into all the quirks of your wardrobe needn’t be rushed. You can save the fashion bells and whistles for the third and fourth date when you have a better idea of what he is thinking. What you wear on your body is just as important as your face, so if your eyes and skin start to glitter under the lights at the table - then it’s probably because you’ve over-loaded on the make-up. Find a good balance. Try not to overdo it, but don’t under-do it either. You want to look like the glow on your face is au natural and not thanks to Charlotte Tilbury. Fingers crossed - he’ll spend most of his time looking at your face while on the date, so don’t let it be too distracting.