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The ritual of dating can be an extremely tedious and in many cases, a sometimes frustrating process. There is the whole "getting to know each other" process that is usually the single most important part of any potential relationship. No matter who you are or how long you have known the person, there is always a first date and that single first date either makes or breaks the possibility of what's to come. It is without a doubt that first dates can be summed up as one thing: first impressions. In order to make the best first impression, it's all about how you present yourself and carry yourself. There is no doubt that what you wear is a huge factor in the type of first impression that you project. In order to ensure that you give off the best first impression possible, there are a few rules of thumb to follow.

Dress For the Occasion

In many cases, a first date usually consists of dinner and a movie or perhaps just meeting up for a drink somewhere; however, we are in a time where almost anything and everything goes in dating and it is possible that you may have to plan for an alternative activity on the first date. It isn't too out of the ordinary if you end up somewhere else such as a theme park or at a stable to do some horseback riding. If you are going to a restaurant for your first date, you will want to dress accordingly. If it's a dressy restaurant, the little black dress is almost always a sure winner and if it happens to be more of a casual location, then you can get away with either slacks or lets not forget about the endless ways one can dress jeans up. While looking adorable is always of significant importance, being comfortable takes priority over that. Make sure you know what you're wearing and more importantly, that you know it is comfortable. In other words, date night is not the occasion to try on that top that you know is adorable but it just so happens that you are still in limbo on whether or not you can actually move while wearing it. Save that top for a night out with your girls. That way, you'll get admired for wearing such an adorable top and if you're feeling uncomfortable, your girlfriends are always the ones to give you sympathy. If your first date is in a more casual atmosphere such as an amusement park, make sure to dress comfortable and in clothes that you will feel confident wearing. Always remember that it is possible to look cute and casual at the same time all while still maintaining a certain comfort level.

Don't Shower in Perfume

Everyone wants to smell good, especially on that first date, so it is no surprise that you may want to use a little perfume to kick off your look with a signature scent. While perfume can be your finishing touch and in many cases, attract people to you, it can also turn people off if it is used in excess. In other words, there is really such a thing as too much and if you just so happen to cross that line, perfume can start to serve the purpose of an overwhelmingly obnoxious guy repellent. When applying perfume there are a few tricks that will help you get just the right amount of scent without being overpowering. Layering a scented lotion with a light spritz of the perfume can give you a soft, yet lasting scent. Another option is to dab or spritz the perfume on your wrists and then proceed to dab the perfume on pulse points such as your neck. If you do this then if you feel you need more you can spritz your wrists again and repeat the process. In most cases, one spritz is plenty and more than that is extremely overpowering. Another thing you can do is spritz the perfume in front of you and then walk into the scent. This will give you a cloud of perfume to walk into and will leave you with a sheer blanket of scent.

Keep Makeup to a Minimal

If you pick up any fashion magazine or any women's magazine, there is almost always some article or tidbit that mentions that men like women who don't overdue it on the makeup. While men may be clueless about what it takes for a woman to look nice, minimal makeup is usually the way to go for a first date. Let's face it, women usually try to create makeup looks that they feel are glamorous and sophisticated. For example, the smoky eye look is an all too popular look if you're heading out to a club or a party but it can be a little too dramatic for a first date. Look at it like this. You are going to want your date to be looking at you; not looking at your makeup. It is without a doubt that some looks are so strong and dramatic that they can be slightly distracting at times. Also, depending on where you are the lighting will have an effect on how your makeup looks. If you do a smoky eye and are in a dimly lit restaurant, you can get away with it; however, if you are in a well lit restaurant it will appear that you have raccoon eyes. When it comes to what to wear on your lips, stick with something subtle and natural looking. After all, if the date goes well you might get a kiss goodnight and you don't want your date to be thinking that if he kisses you with that ultra bright lip color then both of you will resemble Bozo the clown by the end of the kiss. He might decide against a goodnight kiss based on that factor alone. In addition, lets not forget that sometimes dark lipstick can be tricky and if it migrates, you may end up with slightly colored teeth. Any woman who has ever fallen victim to the notorious lipstick on the teeth situation knows that dark lipstick is not worth the risk of that potential embarrassment.

Remember To Wear Comfy Shoes

It is no mistake that us girls love our shoes. In many cases, we'll run the risk of sore feet for a week just to have the perfect pair of shoes to polish off an outfit for a special occasion. When choosing shoes for your date, carefully consider what pair you're going to wear. While looking cute is always a factor, your comfort level takes priority. Imagine finishing up with a fabulous dinner and your date decides the night shouldn't end there and asks if you'd like to go for a stroll through the park. You decided to wear your black pointy-toed shoes that you knew would compliment your outfit; however, they tend to pinch your feet. You have two options. You can either take off your shoes and go for a stroll or you can keep your shoes on and look forward to a day and night of sore feet. Wouldn't it have been easier just wear comfy shoes? Being cute doesn't mean you have to sacrifice being comfortable.

While dating can be a strenuous process in itself, putting your best foot forward and feeling confident about how you look can make the process all the more fun. In addition, what person doesn't want to go into the dating world knowing they look fabulous? Have fun dating!