When dressing for a date, it might be helpful to think about how the fairer sex chooses their outfits. Women want to look nice not only for other people, but also to feel good about themselves. So when a woman sees a man putting no effort into his appearance, it’s easy to extrapolate that he just doesn’t care – about himself, or her, or both. Your date is going to read into anything you wear, so you might as well dress to impress.

To begin, remember to never over- or under-dress for a date. An extreme example would be wearing a tuxedo to a pizza parlor, but even an unnecessary tie or pair of cufflinks will make you look like you don’t know what you’re doing. At the same time, you don’t want to wear jeans and a t-shirt to a classy French restaurant. If you’re really confused about what to wear, walk by the restaurant before the date and see how most of the customers are dressed.

Next, pay attention to your colors! You can have the most stylish pants, shirt, and belt in human history, but if they clash with each other, the effect will be spoiled. Instead, choose colors that compliment each other, or stick to basics like black, navy blue, gray, and brown. In general, one bright color is probably enough for an outfit – anything else is an express train to clash city.

And of course, make sure you groom yourself before a date. Tame that hair and beard, take a pair of tweezers to those eyebrows, and take the entire package to the next level by applying a tasteful amount of cologne. Women love it when a guy smells good. I recommend Cool Water (by Davidoff) or AcQua Di Gio (by Armani).

Remember, first impressions really count, so put in the effort to make yourself look good!