You have probably been dating for a few years now. But you have to remember that a first date is a first date and that means that there are a few rules to follow. One of these rules has to do with the way that a man dresses. Of course, on the first date, you want to have a special evening; something that will leave a lasting impression. And a lasting impression is one that can be achieved just by being aware of the things that you wear before going out for an exciting night out with a friend and potential future mate.

• Wear a dinner jacket – You don't have to wear a suit and you don't have to look uptight by putting on a tie. But whatever it is you wear, you can top it off with a nice looking dinner jacket. A dinner jacket is one that may look formal but it actually goes well with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. It doesn't make you look stuck-up and the image that you give off is actually one of friendliness and confidence. If you haven't got one in your closet yet, you better start thinking of investing in a great dinner jacket. A safe color for the jacket? Black; it's always the best bet.

• Don't wear a hat – A woman wants to see what you look like from head to toe. Wearing a hat not only hides your hair, but it also overshadows a part of your face, namely your forehead, eyes, ears, and nose (depending on the kind of hat you have on). A hat is also just too informal; it makes one look reserved and unapproachable. So leave the hat at home because chances are you are going out to dinner which means you are going out at night. There's no sense in wearing a hat out at night.

• Don't wear shades – Sure, shades may make you look cool and sometimes friendly. But the last thing you want to show is that you are interested in the way that you look and not in the way your partner looks. Wearing shades also hides your eyes and if there is anything a woman would like to look at it's your eyes. If you really must wear shades, however, do make sure to take them off when you are talking to your date, and only wear them if you need too. They should be used more for function than style when you are on a first date.

• Wear clean shoes – If you don't have a pair of new shoes that you would like to wear on your first date, make sure that you have a pair of shiny or clean ones at the very least. You don't want to show up at a woman's doorstep with dirty, tattered looking shoes. Shoes define a man's look and women are very particular with this. In fact, you should probably pay more attention about what kind of shoes you buy the next time you go out shopping for a pair. This will definitely make a world of difference in the eyes of your date.