What to Wear to a First Date

Typical dress code: Smart Casual — Polished but not formal — no jeans or sneakers with a suit jacket, but no tie required.

First dates call for smart casual: polished enough to show you made an effort, relaxed enough to feel like yourself. Think chinos or tailored trousers with a button-down or knit, leather shoes that aren't sneakers—the sweet spot between trying too hard and not trying at all. Skip the suit jacket with jeans combo and leave the tie at home.