Let's talk about what we wear to dates, especially first ones, so that we can get a feel for what we should or shouldn't be rocking.
Style seems to come as second nature to me, even if I hadn't always noticed that. I get complimented on it routinely, so it's a field I think I've got locked down.
On the surface, Australians don't appear to be natty dressers, but a huge subsection of my city takes style seriously, and this is evident once we're overseas.
Furthermore, my city, especially the inner city set, tends to be pretty judgemental about appearances; wearing skinny jeans in a certain crowd or a shirt with your top button undone in another will get you looked down on.
I feel undressed these days in just a T-shirt, doubly so for dates; so I almost always start off with a button up shirt, in a smart casual pattern, such as this Ben Sherman tattersall print:
![[Image: 304511770_zm_1.jpg]](http://www.myer.com.au/wcsstore/MyerCatalogAssetStore/images/40/406/3387/100/1/304511770/304511770_zm_1.jpg)
If it's someone I already know, say through social circle, I might eschew that in favour of a knit top, like this one:
![[Image: 42346_230911_124179.jpg]](http://assets.countryroad.com.au/ProductImages_Display/COMPMEDIUM/1/42346_230911_124179.jpg)
I have a merino one like this without such a low V-neck.
Nights here are cool even in summer, so I'd wear a leather jacket in a cut like this:
![[Image: 3306223700_1_1_17.jpg?t=1453801946376]](http://static.massimodutti.net/3/photos/2016/V/0/2/p/3306/223/700/3306223700_1_1_17.jpg?t=1453801946376)
Except that mine has a self-belt, 4 buttons and no epaulettes.
I've recently gotten a leather double rider jacket for a more casual alternative.
![[Image: schott-perfecto-jacket-with-no-one-inside.jpg]](https://iwouldcoco.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/schott-perfecto-jacket-with-no-one-inside.jpg)
Below that, either black or red jeans. Mine are corduroy for extra detail, and skinny:
![[Image: hugo-boss-brown-cotton-alabama-corduroy-...e16b8a.jpg]](http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/5/3/hugo-boss-brown-cotton-alabama-corduroy-men-s-pants-38x34-2498dc78ca44e45f8089cf597de16b8a.jpg)
To round it off, boots (kind of necessary as I've added an inch to my height on Tinder/OKC). I like the differing details to be subtle, so I usually rock blue Dr Martens 1460s:
![[Image: img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=77071819]](http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=77071819)
Or Gore-Tex and leather combat boots slightly different to these:
![[Image: MilitaryBootBlack,0.jpg]](http://www.goreprotectivefabrics.com/cms-images/503/547/MilitaryBootBlack,0.jpg)
Would dressing up any further be overdoing it? I have a naval jacket exactly like this but without the collar tabs that I'd like to wear in place of the leather:
![[Image: leoX8YF.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/leoX8YF.jpg)
I don't think it's as stiff as a suit, especially as I wouldn't be wearing a tie. I'd like to experiment with different jackets without being too dressed up.
Style seems to come as second nature to me, even if I hadn't always noticed that. I get complimented on it routinely, so it's a field I think I've got locked down.
On the surface, Australians don't appear to be natty dressers, but a huge subsection of my city takes style seriously, and this is evident once we're overseas.
Furthermore, my city, especially the inner city set, tends to be pretty judgemental about appearances; wearing skinny jeans in a certain crowd or a shirt with your top button undone in another will get you looked down on.
I feel undressed these days in just a T-shirt, doubly so for dates; so I almost always start off with a button up shirt, in a smart casual pattern, such as this Ben Sherman tattersall print:
![[Image: 304511770_zm_1.jpg]](http://www.myer.com.au/wcsstore/MyerCatalogAssetStore/images/40/406/3387/100/1/304511770/304511770_zm_1.jpg)
If it's someone I already know, say through social circle, I might eschew that in favour of a knit top, like this one:
![[Image: 42346_230911_124179.jpg]](http://assets.countryroad.com.au/ProductImages_Display/COMPMEDIUM/1/42346_230911_124179.jpg)
I have a merino one like this without such a low V-neck.
Nights here are cool even in summer, so I'd wear a leather jacket in a cut like this:
![[Image: 3306223700_1_1_17.jpg?t=1453801946376]](http://static.massimodutti.net/3/photos/2016/V/0/2/p/3306/223/700/3306223700_1_1_17.jpg?t=1453801946376)
Except that mine has a self-belt, 4 buttons and no epaulettes.
I've recently gotten a leather double rider jacket for a more casual alternative.
![[Image: schott-perfecto-jacket-with-no-one-inside.jpg]](https://iwouldcoco.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/schott-perfecto-jacket-with-no-one-inside.jpg)
Below that, either black or red jeans. Mine are corduroy for extra detail, and skinny:
![[Image: hugo-boss-brown-cotton-alabama-corduroy-...e16b8a.jpg]](http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/images/5/3/hugo-boss-brown-cotton-alabama-corduroy-men-s-pants-38x34-2498dc78ca44e45f8089cf597de16b8a.jpg)
To round it off, boots (kind of necessary as I've added an inch to my height on Tinder/OKC). I like the differing details to be subtle, so I usually rock blue Dr Martens 1460s:
Or Gore-Tex and leather combat boots slightly different to these:
![[Image: MilitaryBootBlack,0.jpg]](http://www.goreprotectivefabrics.com/cms-images/503/547/MilitaryBootBlack,0.jpg)
Would dressing up any further be overdoing it? I have a naval jacket exactly like this but without the collar tabs that I'd like to wear in place of the leather:
![[Image: leoX8YF.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/leoX8YF.jpg)
I don't think it's as stiff as a suit, especially as I wouldn't be wearing a tie. I'd like to experiment with different jackets without being too dressed up.