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Always make sure you have washed even if it means you go to the gym you were a member of but have never been to - it'll wake you up if you've had a long day and it'll make you clean and fresh for your big night out.
Always use deodorant there is no excuse!
Make sure that if you do have stubble that it's not too rough and that it's well groomed, women hate straggly beards and harsh sandpaper like stubble on their skin! Leave that look to a Sunday morning!
Always use aftershave but be aware of what and how much you use. like all good things aftershave goes off and if this is your first date in a while invest in the latest scent - but don't overdo it - less is more...
Make sure that your nails are clean and that they are not too long there is nothing worse than a man who has longer nails than his date!
Think of your whole 'look' when going out and also consider where you are going. If it's a five star restaurant/hotel then don't wear battered trainers, polish your brogues and wear them with style - if they are new shoes remember to score the soles you don't want to be doing a skating routine as you walk up to your date.
Look in every crevice for hairs!! Make sure you've plucked your nose, cleaned your ears, shaved the top of your neck and looked at your arm hairs - there's nothing worse than unsightly hairs growing from weird bits of your body.
What to wear:
Make sure that you wear something that you feel good in - it's probably best not to wear a suit you have never considered wearing before! Be safe and stick with what you know suits you!
Always wear clean clothes and make sure that the colours match and nothing clashes. So put away those gaudy ties you wear to work and go for a subtle understated look
A smart pair of dark jeans (no rips) and a white shirt/ t shirt and jacket always make a clean statement - added to this either some cool trainers (no running shoes) or a well polished pair of leather shoes and you have a safe look that is timeless - if it's good enough for George Clooney then its good enough for you!
Do consider where you are going on your date if it's a local bar you don't want to look like you are off to Ascot!
Trends to follow and not to follow:
Bright neons are in at the moment but OUT out out when on your first date - you don't want your date to think that you have old rave outfits in your wardrobe
Only wear skinny jeans if you have skinny legs! Full stop
Logo and embossed tee shirts can look really good and there are a great selection to choose from - go with the superhero or retro/ contemp feel.
Do not go with tee shirts embossed with rude or crass slogans - this never works!
Only ever wear sandals if it's a hot day and if you have nice feet! There is nothing worse than looking down on someone with dirty feet covered in mud
Celebrity looks admire/ don't admire
George Clooney and Brad Pitt have a strong sophisticated look that everyone should emulate - they wear clean lines and cool colours but nothing ever over the top! This is why they are the epitome of old Hollywood -a great look to follow
David Beckham has a unique sense of style that mixes ostentatious with sharp tailoring - like his tattoos - he really shouldn't have them but this juxtaposition of the clean cut and the rock star just seems to work very well. So a little bit of beckham can go a long way
Dermot O'Leary is one of those people that we always overlook but he wears great casual clothes - never looks over styled and looks comfortable in his clothes.
Never and I mean never try to look like Peter Andre - quite simply the world's worst dresser - he looks like Liberace on a budget! With ill fitting clothes and more fake diamonds that his wife could ever wish for this is one look that will and always will never be in fashion! Thank god!
Graham Norton is again one of those people you should never want to look like -I don't imagine people walk into a department store with a jacket Mr Norton has worn and says 'do you stock these'
Tim Westwood! Enough said!
Make Up
A little make up can go a long way - its good for men to look after their appearance and if it means you should wear some make up then do so. From covering spots and dark eyes to brightening up a tired complexion as long as you don't look like Dale Winton then there is nothing wrong. If you look at established brands that are bringing out more and more grooming products like NIVEA every day tan for me or Jean Paul Gaultier and his blusher range its all the rage..
My top tip is to buy touché eclait from YSL - just by dabbing a bit of it under your eyes and blending carefully can make your eyes look brighter and cover your dark skin or smokers liner -
Another tip is to use Vaseline - pop a small bit on your eyelashes, eyebrows and lips to neaten your hairs and make your lips nicely moist!
My First date disasters...
I always used to wear crisp white shirts and by the end of the date there would be either red wine, tomato sauce or some kind of stain there - so watch where you eat and what you drink!
Always make sure that you think of your date before you think of yourself - don't talk about yourself too much always listen and ask questions..
If you go in for the kiss make sure that the person on the date thinks the same way - I have been in so many situations where I have thought that its time for some action to be rebuffed with a kiss on the cheek!
When I was younger I was a prolific sweater - and I ended up smelling and having big sweat patches on my back - so what I did was never wear a jacket until you need to so that your skin and clothes get as much air as possible.. Sweating is never an option!
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