There are signs you’re obsessed with your first-date outfits, if you’re actively dating, and with fashion in general. These include your clothes having taken over two or more closets without any intention of throwing out any garments on your part. You can’t decide whether you should buy clothes or groceries. You might have two closets of clothes, but you can never find anything to put on, and you never wear the same outfit twice on first dates.
Social media’s impact
Social media is great for staying in touch with friends and family who live far away and for following interest-based groups or niche-related news. They’re not as great if you fall victim to their emphasis on appearance. With endless images of influencers, celebrities, and even friends showcasing flawless outfits online, many begin to worry that their own style won’t measure up.
This can lead to an obsession with picking the “right” outfit, fearing judgment not just from their date but also from the possibility of being posted online. Social media’s impact on dating has been such that some people get caught up in how their clothing will be perceived, turning what should be an exciting experience into a stressful one.
When signals conflict, body language takes precedence
An elegant, thoughtfully put together outfit can clash with signs of anxiety and lack of confidence, like avoiding eye contact or biting your nails. When signs conflict, body language prevails. In other words, your date may perceive you as anxious and insecure rather than confident. Body language says more than clothes ever could, and it’s worth exploring. Here are a few useful tips.
If your date asks you if you want another drink while nodding their head, they want you to stay. Asking the same question while shaking their head means they want to call it a night.
People in casual relationships maintain eye contact for 45% of a conversation on average, whereas couples in love do so for 75% of a conversation.
Women tilt their heads 25 degrees or more when flirting and around 15 degrees in a neutral conversation. The social look is when the gaze goes eye-eye-nose, while the intimate gaze goes eye-eye-mouth or further down, like the collarbone or neck.
If they ask a question and raise their eyebrows at the same time, they don’t care what your response will be.
If your date looks away from you, they likely want to avoid the subject of your conversation.
Americans want to date – and experiment – more often
According to a 2025 YouGov survey, most US adults don’t go on dates as frequently as they would like. In fact, 39% of partnered adults rarely or never go on dates with their current partner or spouse, and the majority of single people – 69% – seldom or never date. Not only do people want to go on dates more often, but they also try out new date ideas and experiment, including with their first-date outfits.
Bottom line
Due to these and other factors, some people become obsessed with their first-date outfits, while others don’t. If you tick the boxes for fashion obsession and agonize over what to wear on first dates, you might be in the first category. More than half (55%) of people form a first impression in seven seconds, and what you wear is a big part of that, but the date will last more than seven seconds (we hope), and the conversation is more important than what you wear.
An insightful question, such as “What is something you want to learn or get better at?” will help you understand if your date is looking to improve themselves and in what way. It might reveal their aspirations and interests, and you can consider whether these align with yours. Similarly, “What’s your dream job” will let you find out what inspires or motivates them while discovering traits and values that may match yours.