When it comes to date nights, the accidental faux pas can explode in your face. How could you know that their arguably insane ex was wearing the exact same shade of blue? Or that the person sitting across from you, looking a little sweaty and with rolling eyes, thinks Rouge Noir nails trigger?
Perfume? A Proustian minefield, as anyone who has read Prince Harry’s book knows. One sniff of Van Cleef & Arpels’ First evoked his mother’s physical presence so powerfully that he could hardly bear it.
Shoes? Come on, who hasn’t been mortally put off by the footwear of a potential love interest? Superficially, yes. But that’s the human race for you. We can’t help it. We are committed to making fast decisions when it really matters. No one promised it would be the right decisions.
So we — by which I mean the committee of the stylist, photographer, and makeup artist who were in the studio with me — came up with this look, which will (hopefully) bypass such barriers to romantic bliss.
Lisa wears: patent leather shoes, £250, ME+EM; 30 Montaigne East-West Bag, £2,550, Dior; Silk shirt, £100, Sezane; Trousers, from a selection on Sassi Holford
Classic heels that are easy to walk in – you don’t really want to come across as the kind of person who needs to be brought to the table. Monochrome outfit, but with the light color on top so as not to be too harsh. A blouse that isn’t over-the-top with frills, but differs enough from a basic that you won’t be mistaken for the staff.
Focus on this as you will most likely be seen from the table. Perfectly cut trousers, but not from an obvious designer, because oversized black trousers are the hallmark of a troubled mind.
Okay, maybe I’m being harsh, but have you seen how critical everyone is out there?
Not wanting to come across as completely vanilla, we added a Dior bag, which might weed out some Marxists, but not if they’re French. If you love a nice bag and you’ve gone out of your way to buy one, why else pretend? Unless you’ve told everyone you’re vegan… As for jewelry, it’s pretty much what you’re into – you need to show some of your personality.
Lisa wears: pearl and crystal earrings, £145, Soru; Diamond and yellow gold earrings, £250 each, Otiumberg; Gold plated bracelet, £115, Missoma; All other jewelry is from Lisa
Don’t be tempted to overdo the makeup if that’s not your usual style. Wrong message and no one wants to find out in the middle of the evening that it’s all smeared. That said, here we’ve layered and blotted out red lipstick, a notorious repellent for men who would otherwise fall out at your lips on the first date (if you want them to fall out, you can always surreptitiously wipe it off after two drinks). ).
If you’re eating, I’d advise against a bright lipstick, as it can wear off in uneven areas, rather softening the worldly image you’re going for.
That is it. Making sure all your clothes are ethically sourced and avoid endangered species is a good rule of thumb at all times. Good underwear, clean hair, nothing uncomfortable (that still applies to your 900th date with the same person, by the way). Ultimately, it’s about making an effort – enticement rather than grand deception.
Try this one
Clockwise from top left: Silk shirt, £230, With nothing underneath; Gabardine Stretch Trousers, £375, Joseph; Bottega Veneta The Classic Leather Mini Shoulder Bag, Hire From £55 Per Week, Cocoon
Clockwise from top left: Silk shirt, £195, Lyia; Elegant Lipstick in Pop, £37, Victoria Beckham beauty; Patent leather shoes, £130, Boden
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