How to Dress for a First Date – Smart, Casual or Somewhere In-Between?
Author: Stylist at TellarDate: 2025
First impressions matter—but that doesn’t mean dressing up to the max. The key to first-date style is balance: you want to look sharp, feel confident, and still be yourself. Whether it’s drinks, dinner or coffee, here’s how to get it right with smart, casual, and in-between looks that work every time.
1. Understand the Setting
- Coffee or a walk? Casual, clean, and easygoing layers.
- Dinner or a wine bar? Elevated staples—smart casual done well.
- Outdoor plans? Functional outerwear and weather-aware style.
2. Smart Casual – The Go-To for Most First Dates

What to wear:
- A fitted overshirt or wool shacket
- Dark slim jeans or tailored chinos
- Minimalist trainers or suede loafers
- A plain crew neck or polo shirt (tucked optional)
Brands to trust:tellar.co.uk to make sure your shirt doesn’t gap, your jacket doesn’t bunch, and your jeans sit just right. Fit confidence = date confidence.
- tellar.co.uk take care of the size.
The Tellar Fashion Hub is the World's Largest, 100% Free, Fully searchable, Fashion Library. Filled with 4000+ Honest & Unbiased posts, written by our expert stylists.
No adverts, no sponsored posts, no subscriptions. We are 100% free to use.
We are paid by affiliates, but we never allow brands to influence our recommendations.
Honest, Unbiased, Accurate & Free.
