Women are flocking to social media to complain about their dates not dressing appropriately for the occasion, opting for far too casual ensembles and unbrushed hair.
One common complaint on Reddit is ‘the amount of men who don’t dress up for a first date,’ with one person writing, ‘I’m not saying you have to pull up in a three-piece suit but there’s so many men who go on first dates wearing outfits that look like they just got out of bed.’
Angry commenters frantically urged men to dress up, especially since first impressions matter and many times, women said they put in effort just to show up and find a man wearing wrinkled clothing and old sneakers.
Some begged for the ‘bare minimum,’ asking for clean clothing, brushed hair, and a fresh scent.
Others did not understand why men would not dress for the occasion, especially if they chose a nice restaurant and showed up in shorts and an old graphic T-shirt.
While they did not want someone wearing a suit, at the very least they asked for clean clothing and grooming. Of course, it’s not just on first dates that this is an issue. Many times in relationships (even celebrity ones) the woman will be dressed to the nines, while the man wears a tracksuit or hoodie).
Now, fashion experts are telling the Daily Mail the worst outfits men can wear while dating, from athleisure to sweatsuits.
Stylist Heather Jude told the Daily Mail one major issue is that with the prevalence of dating apps, men are going on more dates than ever and putting in less effort in general, which can lead to sloppy dressing.
Women are flocking to social media to complain about their dates not dressing appropriately for the occasion, opting instead for far too casual ensembles (stock image)
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce stepped out in New York City with the pop star wearing sky high heels and an embellished coat, while he opted for a red denim jacket and matching pants
Kourtney Kardashian has started dressing down ever since she married drummer Travis Barker
‘Yes, she should like you for you and not what you wear, but what you wear is the first impression and that initial first impression is everything,’ Jude, based in Vancouver, said.
‘If you want your date to feel excited about your presence you should look like you want to be there,’ Jude said, adding, ‘Sorry to tell you but wearing a backwards cap, grey sweat pants, or your gym clothes is not the right first move.’
That doesn’t mean the outfit cannot be casual or show personality. Jude suggested wearing a favorite band T-shirt, but said it needs to be ‘freshly washed and ironed’ because ‘making sure basics look crisp and fresh is what makes them feel elevated.’
According to Jude, men should steer clear of ‘clothing with visible pilling or holes, something you’d never normally wear, and gym clothes.’
Fashion influencer Annemarie Hereford believes it’s best for men to avoid athleisure, unless the first date involves a strenuous hike or yoga class. ‘Not only is it becoming a dated look, it communicates that you didn’t put any effort in,’ Hereford, who has a background in fashion design, warned. ‘Match her energy by wearing something that at least has buttons on it.’
Hereford gave honorable mention to ‘no-show socks paired with short skinny jeans that expose your ankles,’ calling it ‘male cleavage.’
Menswear designer David Vassou warned that ‘baggy shorts, sweatpants, gym hoodies, or anything overtly branded often look too casual for most date settings.’
Vassou suggested avoiding baggy shorts, which ‘signal gym wear rather than date wear and are ‘often too casual for typical venues.’ The Jacamo designer said worn-out sweatpants are also a no go, because they ‘can look like loungewear and give the impression you got ready last-minute.’
Menswear designer David Vassou warned that ‘baggy shorts, sweatpants, gym hoodies, or anything overtly branded often look too casual for most date settings’ (stock image)
At the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards Ariana Grande was all dressed up, while her then beau Pete Davidson looked far more casual
According to Vassou, other outlawed items include muscle vests, baseball hats, sunglasses, gym shoes. Instead, he suggested tapered chinos or dark jeans, clean sneakers, a ‘relaxed but intentional’ smart casual polo, or a lightweight knit or casual shirt.
Personal stylist Patrick Kenger explained that the right outfit comes down to the venue
Personal stylist Patrick Kenger explained that the right outfit really comes down to the venue, so ‘if you show up to a Michelin star restaurant in the heart of Manhattan wearing sneakers and a backwards baseball cap, that doesn’t say much about your capacity to recognize and acknowledge the environment.’
But that does not mean the trick is to overdress, which can be equally awkward.
Kenger advised, ‘it’s just as much of a missed mark to show up at a weekend baseball game in a tux.’
His trick is to ‘estimate the average level of “fanciness” that people will be dressing at and bring it up one notch.’
