My first date in 16 years - what on earth do I wear

[CallSignCharlie]

After coming out of a long marriage I have been chatting to a very nice guy online and he's suggested meeting up for drinks in central London next weekend -
Which is lovely and I'm very very excited ( and will adopt all sensible safety measures) but arrggghhh , what on earth do I wear
I'm 5 ft 1 and curvy with large norkage- I'm 40 but hopefully look a little younger .my date is a trendy needia type and I really want to look good
I have some nice boot cut jeans, which could be dressed up with heels - but what kind of top- also I'm thinking jeans might not cut it for a sat night out in London
I also like the idea of a casual dress - but whee do I start
Any suggestion , ideas, tips - please

I'd wear a dress. Nothing too fancy - maybe a wrap dress from Fat Face with a soft (cashmere?) cardigan, opaque tights and heels. Red lipstick.

If it were just a pub thing I might do jeans, vintage style lace top and ballet flats (but I'm 5'6 so maybe boots if you choose this option?).

The thing is though - you will have your own style. Don't try and be a different person for a night.

I would though. always er on the side of dressing up. It's all part of the dating fun too. I LOVE having someone to dress up for. Even if it's a female friend I haven't seen for a while and want to look nice for.

Not a wrap dress and cashmere cardigan - it's a date, not a WI meet!

What's your budget? Do you like this ?

Jeans and heels perfect - bootcuts are possibly a bit dated, could you do skinnies instead? M and S '5 pocket jeggings' are very flattering and only £22 ish, with heels and a silky top you're done.

Agree that a wrap dress and cashmere cardigan is an absolute no.

What shops do you usually like and what is your usual style?

What are your legs like? How about a tube or pencil skirt, nice top, opaques, heeled ankle boots and a biker jacket?

Otherwise, agree that the M&S skinnies are v good indeed.

I would go for a dress for sure. Skinny jeans are very unflattering on most people

I'll have you know I look very pretty in my wrap dress and cashmere - more old school feminine glamour and rather busty too and and not WI at all - just goes to show different tastes though!

Still, Ignore what I'd do - what do you feel comfortable in?

Nice, well fitting jeans will always be a safe bet (I agree with the point about boot cuts). Spritz some sultry perfume and wear a nice lipstick and you'll be gorgeous. Good luck! I'll never get to experience first date excitement again you lucky thing xx

Ooh thanks for suggestions
I was worried about boot cut jeans being a bit dated too, but my legs aren't really that great for skinnies . I'm shopping tomorrow so might pop into M and S and try the jeggings on. It's a look I'd definitely go for if I was 6 inches taller and 2 stone lighter
I think the dress idea is great I like fat face ones but thought they weren't date-y enough
I wear a lot of skater style skirts / dresses with opaques and ballet flats but not sure I can do that with heels (and I'm definitely wearing heels)
Off shopping tomorrow so I'll check out skinny jeans and report back
( he's just messaged me and Ive now not butterflies thinking about it -eek:-) )

Good luck. I personally wouldn't recommend bright red lipstick - unless it is very much a part of your normal look. Could look a bit try-hard/off-putting. I'd keep it subtle - ditto the perfume. One person's 'sultry' is another's 'sickly'.

And I think you're right to give bootcuts a miss if he is 'trendy'.

Look for straight leg jeans there are a lot around, good style for those who don't want skinnies or bootcut.

A first date in an OLD situation is date zero - because you haven't actually met yet. It's a pre-viewing/assessment if you like: do we click? do we want to go on a first proper date. People who are seriously doing OLD will do lots of these so you need to be very relaxed about it.

Smart jeans and a glam top would be fine. You don't want to look like you've tried too hard. For this reason, I would very much advise against a dress - unless you normally are a dress wearer every day and this is your normal style.

The first real date - ie. when having met you at date zero they actually ask you out properly for a proper date is the opportunity to dress up a bit more/make more of an effort.