Everyone knows that you are supposed to dress up for a first date, right? Something eye-catching with your hair and makeup done perfect. Well, I guess you could say I slept through that day in Growing Up a Girl 101. Sad to say that I have been on my share of first dates, and I have never "dressed up" for any of them. Sounds crazy I know, but I swear there is a method to my madness.

I don't dress up for first dates. Curling my hair, wearing fancy clothes, and lots of makeup just isn't me. I'm pretty much a tomboy; I like baseball tees, sweatshirts, and jeans. I do not wear a dress unless I absolutely have to. Contouring my face, glittery eye shadow, and lipstick isn't something I do. Usually I throw on some mascara and eyeliner and call it good. I do not want to give some false impression of who I am. I won't show up on our first date wearing six-inch heels and have nicely curled hair because I feel like that is what he will see me as in his head and I will need to live up to that expectation every time he sees me. I wore a camouflage shirt and a pair of work boots on a date once. It's what I felt comfortable in and the way I see it. if I'm comfortable I can let my personality show and that will (hopefully) win him over. I'm not looking for someone that just wants me to be pleasing to his eye or to be a pretty little accessory to his arm at parties.Let's be honest here; if he wants to continue seeing me when I show up just average looking on our first date, he most likely is not looking for a one time thing.

Now let's say he asks me on another date and soon we become a couple, he will have seen me when I'm looking pretty average (t-shirt and jeans on) so when I dress up it's something special and something he will appreciate not something that is to be expected every time we leave the house together. If he doesn't mind if people see us together when I look like a 5 instead of a 10 he's a winner in my book. Then the day comes where I'm just not feeling up to it to even look average, so I'm wearing sweatpants and no makeup. This won't be quite as big of a shock to him if he has seen me without makeup on before. He knows what my "real face" looks like and likes me the way I am. Not shocked and disgusted when my eyelashes aren't full and long, my eyebrows aren't perfectly shaped and filled, and my acne isn't covered up.

All in all whether you dress up for a first date or not is a personal preference, but I would highly suggest not. It's a great feeling to show up and know that he is looking at and talking to the real version of you. It makes you more open and pleasant when you are comfortable in what you are wearing. When you're comfortable with the way you look and feel,your personality and inner beauty will shine through and that's what will help you find a worthwhile man.