When dating, we look for different qualities in a person, from a favorable personality to good looks. Although they say we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, many of us do. Not only do want to be able to connect with someone on a mental and emotional level but also on a physical level. Appearance can say a lot about a person.

In fact, according to research, 85% of people agree that having a profile picture on an online dating website is important. From this statistic, this alone tells us that most people find appearance important when it comes to finding and meeting with a potential significant other.

Based on the latter statistic, we not only want our future partner to have good looks, but we also understand that from their perspective, they may expect us to have good looks as well. As a result, we, of course, want to look our very best, especially on the first date, to make a good first impression.

With the following tips, you can creak the perfect date-ready look that will not only pique the interest of your date but also help you feel the most confidence, even with those first date jitters.

Going out to a five-star steak restaurant, it’s pretty obvious that the dress code is probably a little more upscale than, say, shopping at the mall. Likewise, enjoying a picnic in the park probably necessitates casual clothing like shorts, a sundress, or sandals. 

However, other types of dates like going out for ice cream or visiting the aquarium might not have a very specific dress code. In these scenarios, your best bet is to wear comfy and casual clothing with a semi-formal twist, like a cute jumper paired with fabulous jewelry or a casual collared shirt with decent pants.

When in doubt, always refrain from wearing diamond jewelry, holey or distressed articles of clothing, or very loud colors or prints. The goal in these scenarios isn’t to look like royalty nor look homeless. Maintain a favorable balance when uncertain.

We all want our hair to look nice, especially if we’ve been in dire need of a trim or redye. However, heading off to the salon or barber a few days before a first date is a bad idea. This is especially true if you’re experimenting with a completely different haircut or color and/or getting work done from a hairstylist or barber you’ve never been to before.

Although it’s true that going to the salon or barber can certainly boost our confidence, especially if we are unhappy with how our hair currently looks, you may find yourself less confident and more vulnerable on a first date if your new hair isn’t what you expected. If you must do your hair differently, try doing it a week or two before the date.

Not all dates require a lot of walking. For instance, a date at the movies or a nice dinner typically only involves walking to and from the venue. However, other dates like bowling or going for a jog in the park certainly involve more physical activity. Nevertheless, wearing comfortable shoes is important.

The last thing you’ll want to do is wobble into a restaurant in uncomfortable heels to greet your date or limp with every step you take as you and your date explore the great outdoors together. Rather than experience these embarrassing moments or having to take off your shoes to enjoy the rest of your night, opt for cozy shoes right off the bat.

They say eyes are the window to your soul. They can certainly say a lot about a person and what they’re feeling. In fact, for many, eyes are one of the most attractive features on a prospective partner and tend to be one of the first things they look at on a person.

Whether you have green eyes or brown eyes, it’s important to showcase the beauty of your eyes. Dark brown, purple, or taupe can highlight blue eyes. Neutral browns, purple, red, or pink can bring out green eyes. As for brown eyes, consider wearing blue, burnt orange, or red to best accentuate your eyes.

Putting on an outfit and slapping on makeup, we often try to hide the physical parts of us we don’t like, like our face freckles, acne scars, body rolls, scars, and cellulite. In reality, what we should be focusing on is emphasizing the features we love about ourselves.

Features you may want to emphasize might be the shape of your nose or lips, the color of your eyes, or your long legs. With the right outfit or makeup look, you can bring attention to these features in the right ways. Even if your date doesn’t pay much attention to these features, at least you can feel confident in your own skin.

If your goal is to find a serious, long-term partner rather than a one-time fling, you’ll want to avoid wearing articles of clothing that are too distracting. This doesn’t just imply that you should refrain from wearing clothing that’s too physically revealing; this also implies that you shouldn’t look like a walking disco ball, detracting from your personality.

Although your first date clothing should certainly make a good first impression and can look a little flashy, especially if you’re going on a fancier date, you won’t want your date to only to remember the way you looked rather than the conversations that went on and the moments that were shared together.

One of the best ways to make a casual outfit more glammed up without going too over the top is to opt for quality jewelry. Simple things like gold or silver chain necklaces, fun rings, or charm bracelets can make a boring outfit more dressed up and put together in a snap.

Finding decent jewelry for an affordable cost, however, isn’t always easy. Fortunately, there are many sources that offer nice jewelry that won’t break the bank. Find rings here among other fun accessories for a favorable cost.

Often, we’re so caught up with looking nice that we forget that our appearance can act as a mirror, reflecting our personality and lifestyle. For instance, wearing a lot of bright colors, our date might presume that we’re fun, energetic, confident, and outgoing. Wearing dark colors, they might think we’re reserved and more to ourselves.

Regardless of your personality, there are articles of clothing of certain colors and styles that can rightfully reflect your boldest personality traits. Even if there isn’t much conversation your date, at least you know your appearance can help speak on your behalf.

One of the best ways to make a date success is to always be your true self. We’re not just talking about your personality but also your appearance. The two tend to play hand in hand. “Faking it until you make it” doesn’t work on dates. Eventually, your true personality and physical appearance will shine through.

If you want your date to like you for you, aim for an appearance that you actually love. For example, wearing girly clothing when you normally dress more masculine or fixing yourself up nicely when you only wear cargo shorts and old t-shirts is going to trick you and your date into thinking you’re somebody different.

What you choose to put on your face or body or do with your hair is going to draw certain people to or away from you, so you might as well attract the right people from the start. You can be candid with your appearance and fashion sense while still staying within the dress code for the date.

It’s normal to feel nervous before a first date. In our heads, we expect the worse. Will we accidentally reveal something stupid? Will we do something silly? Will our breath smell bad? Would if our date doesn’t like us, but we like them or vice versa? Maybe you’ve had a bad experience dating in the past and expect something similar to occur again.

However, one of the keys to presenting your best and most confident self on a first date all comes down to your appearance. Although we all want to glam it up on the first date, sometimes the best thing you can do is refrain from looking like someone you’re not and aiming to look like your true, genuine self without trying to hard to be.

Remember that on a first date, your appearance is not just about how attractive you are but also about what your personality entails. So, let your personality play a leading role in your first date look to boost your chances of finding a life-long partner who likes you for you.