What to Wear to a Casual Date

Dressing formally is easy. It is dressing well for a casual occasion which is a challenge for most men. You need to strike the delicate balance between being stylish and being relaxed. You would not dress the same for a casual date such as getting coffee, going for a walk or having a picnic in the same way you would dress for a fancy dinner date. You must still put in effort to maximize your best features and show off how stylish you can be. You may not normally dress up for a stroll through your local botanic gardens, but it is respectful to your date to put some time into your appearance.

No suit jacket

You may think that borrowing elements from your suit is the key to dressing for dates. Unfortunately, you are going to look quite silly sweating it out in a suit jacket, sipping your latte in a cute little caf?. You definitely want to have a jacket or sweater of some sort, particularly in cooler weather, but utilising a formal jacket is a poor tactic. Your date will think that you do not have enough creativity or enough clothing to make up a better outfit. Try to pick an interesting jacket to show off your sense of style- think patterns and colors, and keep it in season.

Casual shirt

The best option for your top half is a casual shirt. You do not want to be in a baggy tee-shirt or a fancy white shirt. You are aiming for the middle ground. A polo shirt is a laidback choice, or show a bit more style with a short-sleeved shirt with a cool pattern (spots or stripes are always good choices). Pair it with some fairly nondescript pants. Dark denim wash jeans are a safe but stylish option. A casual date is not an occasion to be wearing a crazy new style of pants that is hot off the runway.

Not your dress shoes

The cardinal rule of impressing women is to always wear nice, well-maintained shoes. This does not mean reaching for your dress shoes. Hopefully, you have more options in your shoe-wardrobe than your beat-up runners and your formal shoes. A pair of classy but informal shoes is the way to go for a casual date. Light brown loafers are an easy choice. Above all, make sure your shoes are in good condition; scruffy shoes can ruin your entire look. It is also important that they are comfortable; you will not be presenting the best version of yourself if you are wincing in pain.

Don?t over-accessorise

A few finishing touches to inject personality into your outfit does not go astray. You should be aware of the pendulum swinging too far the other way for casual dressing. Keep your accessories simple and sleek. Hats, ties and bowties are not an option for a casual date, but a small amount of jewelry is a good idea. Note that nervousness may cause you to fidget, so you do not want to be choosing accessories that you are prone to play with.