The Best First Date Outfits If You’re Stuck For What To Wear

Nothing prompts an existential wardrobe crisis like coming up with an outfit idea for date night. And if it's a special occasion like Valentine's Day, a birthday or an anniversary, it makes it ten times worse. Of course if it's a first date, you might as well take the afternoon off - because you're going to try on at least six outfits before finding The One. Do you keep it classic in a LBD? Or do you go casual in cargos and clogs? There's no one-style-suits-all formula when it comes to first date outfits but the key is to wear what you feel comfortable in. So, if you need a little date night outfit inspo, scroll below for some ideas for wherever you're heading.

Research your location

This is step one! Are you having picnic in the park? A drink in your local pub? Or a swanky three-course dinner at the restaurant you've been waiting to try since seeing it on the 'gram? All require slightly different outfits (and heel heights, crucially) so make sure you know the venue before you commit to an outfit.

Stick to your staples

While it may be tempting to blow half of your pay-packet on a pre-date splurge (we’ve all been there, Carrie Bradshaw charged four - or was it five? - outfits before her first date with Jack Berger), don't forget about your go-to pieces that speak to your personal style and always make you feel confident. These include your blazers, your basic tees, your jeans and your trainers; essentially, the pieces you wear day in, day out.

Don’t be afraid of wearing colour

If most of your wardrobe is black, this might not apply to you. But if you're open to spicing things up, a squeeze of lime, for example, could really shake up your look, especially if it's a blind date and you can tell them to look for the person in the green top/skirt/dress.

Choose comfortable shoes

Hobbling around with a blister is never a good look on a first date, which is where comfortable footwear comes in. Having said that, it doesn't have to be trainers or nothing. Just look at Bella Hadid, who wore logoed platform loafers with a mini skirt suit for a recent outing in New York. A summer alternative? A flatform leather sandal with a pumped-up sole that will add height while, crucially, remaining comfortable.

Always bring a jacket

If everything goes well, you might stay out later than you intended, as a casual coffee date turns into a spontaneous bar crawl. Don't let goosebumps kill the mood. Gigi Hadid's throw-on-and-go leather biker jacket would be the perfect cover-up for a cardigan-and-jeans combo or something more dressy like a fluid slip dress because of its casual-but-you-tried vibe.

Wear something memorable

The phrase 'dress to impress' is a hackneyed one at best, but why not choose something that will stick in your date's mind as interesting? Whether you do that with a statement co-ord like Lori Harvey's, a puff sleeve or a fun accessory (do you dare wear Crocs?), they're guaranteed to walk away thinking you're anything but boring.

Slip on a killer dress

The ultimate one-item-wonder, a slinky dress is a first date failsafe. Take Greta Lee's racer-backed, ravishingly pink gown as your inspiration, looking out for jersey-style fabrications that will fit you like a glove, while keeping your make-up to a minimum save for a swipe of red lipstick.

Wear what you feel good in

Only you know the answer because only you know your style, but if you want to feel confident, it always pays to stick to what you know. If you're a midi dress person, wear a midi dress. And if you're looking to put a new twist on a favourite - say, a simple black pencil skirt - take your cue from Zoë Kravitz, who wore hers with a cut-out swimsuit from Saint Laurent. Chic!

Should I wear jeans on a first date?

Why ever not? In other words, you can absolutely wear jeans on a first date. In fact, one of the most beloved outfit combinations of all time includes a pair of true blues, the tried-and-tested 'jeans and a nice top' equation.

What is acceptable to wear on a first date?

Hopefully, by now, you've grasped that it's really down to preference when it comes to getting dressed up (or not as the case may be) for a first date. As long as what you're wearing is appropriate for the venue - a vertiginous pair of heels, for example, might not be a suitable choice if you're heading off on a ramble through the countryside together - the world's your oyster. Remember, comfort on the inside as well as the outside is key.

Renee Washington, Grazia's Digital Fashion and Beauty Assistant, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie.