You found someone to go out with you, but now the day of the date is bearing down, and you haven’t picked an outfit. It can be very difficult to choose which outfit to wear when you’re more focused on being a presentable person. We asked dating experts from steamylocals.com to share their opinion on what better to wear on a first date. You cannot go wrong with these choices!

Make the most of your wardrobe

The biggest mistake that people make when they’re picking out clothes for a first date is believing they need a new outfit. The chances are good that you’ve acquired some very nice attire over the years, and there is no reason to dismiss all of it out of hand. So, the first tip is to make the most of your wardrobe. Depending on your particular style, you can bring back something older, mix things in a new way, or just use the accessories that you already have. Not only will that save you the stress of shopping for an entire outfit, but it will ultimately save you some money, too.

Look like yourself and be comfortable

Dating is a difficult process, to say the least. People tend to attempt to make themselves be the person that their date wants to see instead of being true to their nature. Now, the problems that exist with that mindset are numerous and far-reaching. However, as the topic pertains to clothing, not wearing an outfit that exudes “you” can lead you to become very uncomfortable physically and mentally. On the physical side of things, you might wear an outfit that is more revealing than you like or that is too tight. You might stumble in heels that are a fair bit taller than you’re used to wearing. On the emotional side of things, you could be compromising a carefully constructed persona that you’ve built over time. You’re not a lady in red; you’re more of a “tights and sweater” girl. Will it hurt you to slip into a little black dress once in a while to look and feel great? No, probably not. When you’re on a date, though, you can find yourself physically uncomfortable and distracted from your date. You might also inadvertently set expectations in the mind of your partner that can become an issue down the road. These are abstract ideas, but the important thing is to always be satisfied and cozy; you’ll have a much better time this way. 

Fashion outfit don’ts for a first date

There are many things that you don’t want to do when you’re going out on a first date. When it comes to outfits, there are fashion mistakes guidelines in place that have become common knowledge or at the very least commonly cited throughout the years. These are some of the things to keep in mind when you’re dressing up for a night with your date!

• Always wear freshly cleaned clothes
• Don’t try to be a fashion icon (Don’t wear a runway look; it’ll just make both of you uncomfortable)
• Leave something to the imagination 
• Let the type of date dictate the outfit (Don’t wear heels to the beach- things like that)
• Don’t wear anything that isn’t comfortable or makes you feel confined

Impressive outfit ideas

Now that we’ve thrown at you all these different rules about what to wear and what not to wear, one question remains. What should you wear? We’ve come up with a few outfits that are nice, interesting, and can help you stay comfortable while you’re out with a partner. 

• Tough Leather Jacket + Skirt
• Maxi Wrap Dress
• Slinky Slip Dress
• White Blouse + Skinny Jeans
• Silk Cami + Jean Shorts or Skirt

These items are versatile and can be adapted to suit all sorts of dates. The leather jacket and skirt can work for a night at a bar and the slip dress for dinner and a show are two examples of how these outfits can be utilized. Keeping these outfits in your closet will ensure you have something to wear no matter what your partner wants to do. As long as you change them out once in a while to match current fashions, you’ll be ready to go!

The first date is a very significant milestone. It can be the start of something new and beautiful. There’s no reason for it to be uncomfortable for you at all, and when you follow the advice we’ve provided, it won’t be. Focus on looking and feeling your best, and your date will be a memorable one for all the right reasons. Although fashion is always changing, there are still some outfits that are mainstays. Stock up your closet and never fret about what you’re going to wear again!

Maybe that cute guy you’ve had your eye on for a while has finally asked you out. Or maybe you and your husband are finally getting an evening to yourselves while the kids spend time with grandma and grandpa. Be it an exciting first date or a married couple’s long-awaited date night, you’ve got to make sure you enjoy it to the fullest! As always, the devil’s in the details, so keep the things listed below in mind to make sure the evening is unforgettable.

Get your sexy on with some daring lingerie

Nothing can heat the atmosphere up quite as well as some sexy lingerie from Obsessive Shop ! Be it thigh-highs peeking out from under your skirt or a lacy black bra subtly visible from underneath a close-fitting white top, the key is to get his imagination going long before you get home. 

Prep your props for later

Are you expecting the night to end at your apartment? Make sure you prep all of the props you might need beforehand so you don’t have to fumble around in the dark for them as soon as you get in the door. Candles, wine, massage oils, or maybe even a crop or feather duster, if a mix of naughty and nice is your thing — you do you, girl!

Send a flirty message beforehand…or two

As with the lingerie, it’s all about heating up the atmosphere, little by little, until he’s going crazy with desire. Keep in mind that moderation is key, though, so send one, maybe a maximum of two messages — not ten — otherwise you might just stress the poor guy out. Something along the lines of “So excited for later, can’t wait to see you!” is all he needs to keep him thinking about you until you finally meet. If you’re feeling especially daring, you might follow that up with a seductive lingerie selfie. Talk about driving a guy wild with anticipation!

Keep conversation light and fun

No matter whether you’re spending the evening with that new guy from work or your husband of ten years, steer away from serious, potentially buzz-killing topics. Nothing is less sexy than going on a rant about impending global doom after having way too many drinks. If this is your first date, don’t worry! There will be plenty of time to discuss your views on politics and religion in the future. And if this is a night away from the kids, make the most of it, damn it! Flirt, joke, and generally just focus on having a great time…in the restaurant and later on.

Be yourself!

He invited you out, so he definitely already likes you for who you are. So yes, make an effort to look pretty and sexy, but don’t feel obligated to get so dolled up he won’t recognize you. Unless dolled up is your go-to everyday look, in which case feel free to go full Barbie! 

This is the night you’ve likely both been waiting for for quite some time, so take a moment to figure out how to make the absolute most of it. Best part is, if all goes well, there’s lots more where this date came from!

Prompted by falling brick-and-mortar store traffic, the woes of retail, and Amazon’s looming threat, a growing number of brands are joining forces. It’s mostly a matter of synergy, the whole being more significant than the sum of its parts, but in the rapidly expanding world of American commerce, it’s a trend that seems to be taking hold.

Branding and fashion are joining forces in a big way. And not only are businesses in these areas booming but, as fashionbombdaily.com reports, other trends are joining forces with them, 149’s guide being one of them.

Buy It or Build It?

When companies are looking for ways to expand, most ask themselves, “Should we buy it or build it?” The answer to that question is usually pretty easy to answer.

If your company is a big brand and wants to attract a new customer segment, you could stretch and create a derivative. That can be dangerous since you could overextend your resources. This is especially true if you plan to move away from your current customer base. Sometimes, however, the strategy works, as in the case of one American apparel retailer that recently announced its plans to introduce a line of fashion products that infused with CBD that included as part of its pitch the claim to reduce soreness in wearers.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

There can be little doubt that 2020 was the year that brands and fashion merged and will probably continue to merge. As good as that new might seem, there is usually one question remaining. That is what will be left? Certain people will be sacrificed, especially when it comes to individual departments like HR and accounting, which are duplicates anyway.

Still, the bigger question is what the remaining company will look like. This is where brand value comes in since. Obviously, each company in a merger wants to be the surviving entity. Fortunately, the choice of who wins and who loses is usually apparent when it comes to brands apparent, even from the beginning. And in the case of management, what matters most isn’t the company, it’s the brand and the identity it takes with it.

Not a Cure-All

So, when you blend a brand with fashion, which comes out the winner? The customer, of course, when that merger is done right. The customer doesn’t care as long as they get what they want. Better yet, if the blending is done well, the transition will be transparent to the customer.

Of course, the result is that when things are done right, the customer experience will improve. Even with changes, things like brand story and product curation will continue to evolve. But there is also a marketing advantage when brands and fashion merge. The market is freed up and, more often than not, more and better products are introduced.

So, What Does Amazon Have to Do With This?

With companies changing forms due to merging, they usually still feel like a lion—Amazon—is licking its chops ready to devour them at any moment. And rest assured that the pressure won’t end anytime soon, but it should be realized that the most important difference is the planning that goes into a merger of brand and fashion that will determine who survives and for how long.