Your mother may have taught you never to judge a book by its cover, but the fact remains. People will make assumptions about you based on the kind of first impression you make.
You convey certain things about yourself with the way you speak, carry yourself and, yes, especially the way you dress. I believe wholeheartedly in the concept of personal style and using fashion choices to reflect your personality and mood – but let’s face it, there are certain times in life we feel the need to make a certain kind of impression on somebody, and meeting your significant other’s parents for the first time definitely falls under this category.
Meeting the parents is a stressful ordeal no matter how you slice it. You likely agonize over everything from what you’ll call them, to how you’ll greet them the first time, to how much or how little you should steer the conversation. And let’s face it, no matter how much you believe that everyone should dress for him or herself, you probably also worry a bit about putting forth a certain sort of appearance for your first meeting with them too. Eliminate that aspect of it with these simple tricks.
Color matters: They say that if you want to appear confident you should wear red. I say you shouldn’t wear such a vibrant color when first meeting the parents. The color you wear conveys a certain mood – I would suggest sticking to lighter shades (think pale blue or white) to show that you’re mellow, stable and not trying to steal attention.
Nix the denim: Even if you’re meeting the parents for the first time under very casual circumstances, I would argue that you shouldn’t wear jeans for the occasion – choosing something a bit dressier will show that you respect them enough to put in a bit of effort. Black pants would make great option, as would a modest skirt or dress.
Cover it up: It goes without saying that this isn’t a time for your sexiest outfit. Stay away from anything too short or tight – this would include leggings-as-pants and micro mini shorts.
Wear conservative shoes: This is the hard part for me. I would urge you to put your highest heels away and reach for a pair of sensible, easy-to-walk-in shoes that are not too flashy or trendy. You want them to view you as dependable, not frivolous. Being interested in crazy shoes doesn’t make you frivolous at all, but that isn’t always clear to others – especially not people who will undoubtedly be looking a you with discerning eyes.
Keep your beauty game simple: Again, wearing a lot of makeup doesn’t make you frivolous but some people didn’t get that memo. Stick to neutral, natural-looking makeup (think tinted moisturizing, a bit of matte blush and a few coats of mascara).
Meeting The Parents? Here's What You Should Wear
