It’s about that time of the semester when actually getting up in the morning and getting dressed is an impossible struggle. I’ve been pretty much resorting to cycling through a few pairs of joggers and hoodies for the past few weeks, not really paying too much attention to how well I dress around campus. But I figure that I, along with others who find themselves struggling to find the motivation to put themselves together in the morning, just need a little kick to get them motivated. And, as luck would have it, the rapid approach of Valentine’s Day provides just that.

Christine Watridge | Student Life

Love is in the air, and with it comes a desire to impress. Whether it be your significant other, that person in your Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. class you asked out, the top person on your Datamatch list or just a group of friends you’re spending the day with, a lot of stress can come with trying to look as good as possible for your Valentine. So I have a few tips on how to look great on your V-Day date, no matter what your plans are.

For starters, make sure to dress for your occasion. If you plan on going to the 801 Chophouse, you probably want to wear something classier than you usually wear, like a blazer or even a casual suit. But don’t show up to your first date in full black-tie if you’re just meeting at Seoul Taco. You may look good as hell in that well-tailored power suit, but you’re gonna look ridiculous given the setting, and may even scare off the other person.

This may go without saying, but clean yourself up. Take a shower, get a haircut, wash your clothes before putting them on, put on deodorant and cologne/perfume, etc. Make sure you smell good and that your hair is well kept and not greasy. Just do everything in your power to make sure your body is clean and kept before you even think of putting on clothes. You don’t want to show up to your date looking like a million bucks but smelling like a three-week old gym sock. Again, this is probably obvious, but don’t discredit how important it is to just be clean.

In terms of a first date, don’t wear something too bright, flashy or over the top. If you really don’t know the person’s vibe yet, wearing something overly extravagant could come off as intimidating or overstimulating if the other person isn’t expecting it. That isn’t to say you have to show up looking like a nondescript gray blob; it’s good to interject some of your personality into how you dress. If you’re into the trend of wearing distressed, punky clothing, you could probably get away with a well-fitted leather jacket. But don’t wear a leather jacket covered in patches and chains over a t-shirt with a bunch of holes in it. Later down the road once you two really know each other that would be perfectly fine, but for a first impression it’s just too much.

Other tips I’ve given before also apply to this as well: Wear clothes that fit you properly, don’t wear something too beaten up or dirty and make sure everything is matching. To be honest, if it’s a good match it really shouldn’t matter to the other person how well you dress. However, showing you put in the effort to look your best for them is incredibly flattering. So don’t put too much weight on how you look, but know it can’t really hurt you to put in the effort to start the date with your best foot forward.