What to wear to a First Date with an Indian Woman? A Men's Personal Stylist explains the 3 best outfits!
I asked this question to myself over the years, and I am pretty sure you also must have asked the same question to yourself just like any man living in the 21st century.
Now I could answer this question as a Personal Stylist who has styled men over the years for various occasions and dates but i decide to put forth this question with my female connections most of whom are Personal Stylists themselves who have styled men over the years for dates.
A first date is one of those occasions that is of utmost importance in a man’s life. It is kind of like a first interview with the only difference being that this partnership has the potential to be lifelong!
When it comes to suggesting some first date outfits, as a Personal Stylist I could suggest some great outfits for you to rock but for this blog I decided to bring in a female eye to the topic, hence I decided to hold a Poll for the best outfit a man can wear on a first date with an Indian Woman.
Read till the end of the blog to know the results of the Poll ” The Most voted outfit by women for a first date”
Here’s what we will discuss on this blog:
- Why looks and first impressions matter on a first date?
- Colors and their Psychology for a first date outfit
- The Most voted outfit by women for a First Date
- The Best outfits to wear on a First Date with an Indian woman
- First Date Outfits – A Men’s Personal Stylists perspective
Why looks and First impression matter on a first date?
Now, if you are one of those people that say looks do not matter, it is all superficial!
Just hear me out once!
I just want to ask you, the reader a question. What kind of a woman would you like to date? How does she look?
Do you find her attractive? Do other men also find her attractive? Does she have good hygiene and a good sense of fashion? Does she have smooth, silky hair?
Kind of like the woman that you just saw now on the screen?
Well, if your answer was yes, then let me ask you something on the contrary.
Would you really date a woman who had really bad hygiene and dressed in a very shabby manner?
Or rather would you really even think of dating someone whom you were not attracted to?
Forgive me for sounding blunt, but in real life you would probably not even look at her a second time if she crossed you on the streets!
You see, we are psychologically wired to form opinions about a person in the first seven seconds of meeting them.
So, if still you dress in your ill fitted tees, PJs and shorts all the time (like an overgrown teenager) combined with your crocs/rusty sneakers with a bad haircut and a grooming routine that consists of a cheap facewash or a bar of soap and expect to date someone who looks like a runway model.
Then I am sorry to inform you my friend, but you have a really bad case of the double standards.
You attract what you are in your life!
If you wish to date a woman that is well groomed, presentable and someone who is attractive then you also need to start paying attention to your grooming and Personal presentation, the attraction part will automatically follow if you already have a strong purpose in your life!
Your clothes should start conveying your Purpose in life.
Sorry to sound like a motivational speaker.
And trust me, I know it is hard trying to change your routine which you have been following for decades, but it is possible! This is coming from someone who took more than 5 years to turn their Personal Presentation around as you can see on the pic below.
If you want to speed up your Style transformation, then read my article on whether or not you currently need a Personal Stylist & how to transform your Personal Presentation.
Colors to wear on a First date
Colors invoke a variety of different emotions in us. Hence, understanding colors a little bit will work in your favor.
Colors can be helpful in terms of helping your date perceive you in an advantageous way.
For e.g., when we see Purple, it very often makes us think of royalty and luxury, even back in Roman times purple was the color of royalty. Hence, you will see a lot of luxury brands today try to incorporate purple palettes in their product lines like Ralph Lauren
Now, you do not have to get too crazy thinking about colors and figuring out what colors to incorporate in the outfit you choose for your first date.
As your Men’s Personal Stylist, your boy’s got you covered! You mainly need to focus on three colors – Red, Pink and Blue.
Allow me to explain!
1. Red:
Now why the color Red? Well, psychologically red is a very strong color and it can invoke very strong emotions within us.
It represents Passion and desire. But it can also represent anger, dominance and ambition.
There is a good reason why the President of USA wears red ties and all the Valentines greeting cards are red in color.
So if you can include this color in your date outfits or your workwear wardrobe, then it can be extremely advantageous to you.
Now Red is a very strong color so you must incorporate it in very small amounts in your wardrobe.
Keep it restricted only to your accessories like a Maroon Red or Rose Red Pocket Square, Ties, Ruby red cufflinks and lapel pins etc.
DO NOT show up to your date wearing a Rose Red Silk Shirt unless you want to look like the Traffic Signal!
2.Pink:
Add a little bit of white to Red and you get Pink. The more amount of white color you add, the lighter the shade of pink.
Now, Pink is a very romantic color so of course you need to think about adding this color in your “first date” outfit.
The Color Pink represents femininity, romance, tranquility, playfulness and Charm.
That is why you will see a lot of pink in the products and ad campaigns of brands that cater to a female audience/clientele .
Now, before you say Pink is a “Feminine color” , let me change your mind and say that it can be one of the most masculine colors that a man can wear and it looks frickin amazing on a Brown/caramel skin tone as it compliments the warm tone of your skin.
But that does not mean that if you have a lighter skin tone, you can’t wear pink! Just be careful about the tone of pink and keep it a little darker to create contrast with your skin, so that you do not appear washed out.
In terms of including Pink in your wardrobe, you can do so by including it in the accessories and base pieces of your outfit/wardrobe.
For e.g. Pink t-shirt or a Pink button up shirt. To include in accessories you could go for something like a Rose Gold metal strapped watch like shown above.
If you are feeling a little brave, you can even rock a Pink chinos like shown above to your date. But fair warning, this one is not for the faint of heart!
3.Blue:
The most “Masculine” color known to man. And one of the most favorite and common color you will see men wearing .
Blue represents Stability, Protection and Reliability. All of which are considered masculine traits.
Now the color blue has been for a long time a staple in menswear wardrobe forming about 70 to 80% of today’s men’s wardrobes.
Now the great part about the color blue is the fact that if it is in a muted tone like Navy Blue or Midnight Blue, it becomes very easy to style it. You don’t need to sit and learn the color theory in order to match it.
For eg. If you have a Navy blue Trouser like our Super 140s Neapolitan High Rise trouser, then you could virtually style it with anything from a plain white tee all the way to an odd coat or blazer!
To include the color blue in your first date outfit you could include it as a base piece or an outerwear/statement piece.
For e.g. A light blue button up shirt or a Navy Blazer/trouser/coat etc. as shown in the pics above. You could even include blue as accessories in your date outfit like a Pocket square or a striped tie.
The Most Voted Outfit by women for a First Date
Now this was a poll I did on my LinkedIn with my female connections, most of whom are Personal Stylist for Men and have helped a lot of men pick the right outfit for a first date.
Now here’s what I found.
It’s about simplicity rather than flamboyance.
You should look like you put in some effort in picking your outfit for the date but at the same time it should also not feel like you are just trying too hard.
Now, I expected that the ladies would vote for something like a Well Fitted suit or a Nice blazer with some odd trousers.
But the most voted outfit for a First Date were some simple well fitted T-shirt and Jeans.
The Perfect outfit, not too relaxed and not too formal! Let’s discuss how you can style this simple combo as a first date outfit.
Now I want to place some emphasis on the word “well fitted” in the well fitted t-shirt and jeans combo.
If you do not nail the fit on the Jeans and the T shirt then this outfit can very easily go off the tracks. Make sure both the t-shirt and jeans fit you to a tee!
In terms of the Jeans, go for something that has no ripping or fading on it. You can never go wrong with a dark wash indigo.
If you like to buy your Jeans from Levis you can go for the Levi’s 501, Levi’s 511, Levi’s 512 or the Levi’s 513 if you are a little bit on the bigger side like me.
In terms of the t-shirt simplicity is your friend. do not got for any crazy designs or logos on your tee and in terms of the color, you can never go wrong with a classic white!
My recommendations include the classic white tee from Jockey or the brand True Classic.
The best part about this outfit is the fact that this outfit can serve basically like a blank canvas for layering.
You can virtually layer anything with this combo ranging from a casual blazer to a simple bomber jacket like shown above.
I personally like to tuck in my tee into my jeans for a more preppy look that also makes my legs look longer.
But if your t-shirt is the right length then you may also leave it untucked.
I always recommend carrying a light jacket with you or layering over this outfit, even if it’s warm outside just in case you might need to hand over your jacket to your date afterwards if it gets a little chilly! (wink wink)
Other Best Outfits to wear on a First date with Indian Women
Research about your Date a little!
So, one of the best ways to make a great first impression on your Partner is, believe it or not Research!
It’s just like an interview; to make a great impression you research about the company. In the same way a little bit of research about your date will be a great advantage to you.
Now I am not saying that you should go out there and be a Stalker.
But do just enough research about her likes and dislikes, what she likes to wear, what are her food choices etc.
Not only will this help you plan the perfect first date outfit but also plan the date venue,timing, food etc.
Outfit 1: The Classic Kurta and Pajama
Never Sleep on a Pair of well fitted Kurta and Pajamas. Trust me, Indian women love to see a well fitted Kurta and Pajama on a man, especially with the sleeves rolled up!
Why is this the perfect first date outfit to wear when an Indian woman is your date?
Well, this is just about the perfect outfit you can wear if your date likes to rock more traditional outfits like Sarees and Kurtis herself. Your Kurta & Pajama will perfectly compliment her Saree/Kurti.
And what’s even more awesome is that the Kurta and Pajama will look good on every body type since it’s cut away from the body and is also extremely comfortable.
This is outfit is perfect for a coffee or a lunch date too!
In terms of colors, you can go for the classic muted Marron Red, the light pink or the ocean blue like shown above.
Keep the embroidery and the designs to a minimum as this is not really the kind of Kurta that you are going to wear to a wedding!
Now if you would like to add a little bit of structure and zest to your outfit and elevate it a little bit, you can very easily do that by adding a classic tailored Nehru Jacket/ Sleeveless Bandhgala to your Kurta.
This is my favourite way to style a Kurta Pajama! To me, a Kurta just feels incomplete if I wear it without a Bandhgala or a Nehru Jacket.
And a tailored Nehru Jacket is something that every man should have in their wardrobe especially for the hotter months.
It’s something which is even more versatile than a Blazer in my opinion and you could style it in multiple different ways to look tailored and smart even in the summer!
Outfit 2: Dinner at a Fancy Restaurant
Now what if your Date Venue is at some super fancy restaurant. Well, then you need to start dressing things up!
But you still want to keep it relaxed as this is not really a Board meeting.
The Outfit I recommend for this particular occasion is a Classic Navy Blazer with Brass buttons combined with Light Wash denim, a White OCBD shirt and some chukka boots with matching belt and watch.
In my opinion, you can never really go wrong with this classic outfit no matter what your skin tones, build or body type.
This outfit is something any man can rock!
And I again insist on the blazer as a first date outfit ensemble as afterwards, if she starts feeling chilly, you can always remove your blazer and hand it over to her like a classic gentleman for some extra bonus points!
Now I know what you are thinking. How do I rock a Blazer in the Indian climate where it is hot as balls for most of the year?!
Well, in such a case I suggest that you watch the construction. material and lining of the Jacket to make it more warm weather appropriate.
Yes, it can be done!
Might I suggest our Super 140s Custom Navy Blazer with Brass buttons for the same.
It is made in a Super 140s Australian Merino wool and is quarter lined which makes it extremely breathable and a Blazer that you can actually wear year-round!
And it is custom made to your unique measurements via our Virtual tailoring system with a 30-day fit guarantee so that you can shop worry free!
Which brings me to another important point.
The Fit!
Make sure if you decide to pull off the above outfit, everything from the Jeans to the shirt and the Blazer fit you perfectly!
Otherwise, you risk looking like a steaming pile of hot mess!
First Date Outfits - A Men's Personal Stylist's Perspective
As said before, a first date is very much like a first interview. In an interview there are two parties who meet and see if they will be a good fit for each other.
A date is a similar deal, where two people meet with each other for the first time and see if they could be a good fit for each other. The only difference is that this partnership has the potential to be lifelong.
Henceforth, your First Date outfit should reflect the best version of yourself & you should put your best foot forward!
Your clothes are a form of Non-Verbal communication that speak about you and what kind of a man you are without you even opening your mouth and talking about it. It is therefore essential that your wardrobe and your clothes are in line with the kind of man you view yourself to be.
As told before, you only really get seven seconds to make that first impression. So, you should use that to your absolute advantage!
And I want you to be practical as well, if a woman saw you at a bar with your friends, what do you think? Will she really take the time to get to know you, the kind of man that you are.
OR like the 99% of the women (& other human beings) out there she is going to form an opinion about you and what kind of a man you are in the first seven seconds.
And then decide on the spot whether she wants to take this date to the next level or not!
That’s why I am here to actually help you as a Men’s Personal Stylist, and other men like you pick the perfect first date outfit which will be unique to you and your specific circumstances and work only for you!
Click on the button below to book a 60 min 1:1 Call with me as a Personal Stylist to discuss your Personal Wardrobe and Outfit for a Date and other important occasions in your life.
I hope that this blog helped you in your Menswear Style Journey and I will see you again in the next one!
Till then keep it smart and keep it classy!
