Guest Post: How to Dress for Your Online Dating Profile Photo

In online dating profile photos, the right clothing and colors make a huge difference! Today’s guest post comes from the always-fabulous Catherine Montalbo, Personal Image Consultant. My Facebook and IRL friends are well aware of my gratitude for Catherine’s guidance on my own wardrobe, and of my particular love for my personalized “color fan.” She has generously agreed to share her wardrobe for online photos tips with us.

How to Dress for Your Online Dating Photo
By Catherine Montalbo, Personal Image Consultant

Your online dating profile photograph needs to convey the most attractive version of you, and the focus should be on your face, not on what you are wearing! If you wear clothes that are distracting, unflattering, or do not photograph well, that is what the viewer will focus on, instead of YOU.

In this post, we are addressing what to wear on your top half, since this is what will be visible in your primary or headshot photo; but, do still wear a nice pair of pants or a skirt during your session, because even if the skirt or pants don’t show, you’ll be surprised at how dressing well head-to-toe helps elevate your attitude in a photograph.

General considerations

Dress like you would if you were going out for a casual-but-nice dinner. Bring several choices of outfits to give your photographer options.

Wear clothes that fit you well. Not too tight, not too loose. There is a tendency for people who are overweight to wear baggy clothing, thinking it camouflages the excess weight, but the opposite is true: it will make a heavy person look heavier.

Conversely, too-tight clothes are never appropriate.

The color fan: a guide to your color DNA

In terms of color, if you have not had a custom color analysis and are not sure which colors flatter you best, a quick solution is to wear the colors that are in your eyes or your hair. These will always look great on you.

As an alternative option, you can wear the complements (opposites) of those colors.

For example, someone with brown eyes will look amazing in deep violet or purple. Complementary color matching can be somewhat tricky, so if you aren’t sure, either have your colors analyzed or stick to your hair and eye colors.

Solid colors are safest. Prints, black, red, white, bright colors, and skin tones all present problems. Prints and bright colors may distract the viewer. Clothes that match your skin tone will either make you look washed-out if you are fair-skinned, or if you have darker skin, will prevent your face from being the main focus. Unless you have dark hair, black can be overpowering, red will only look great if it’s the right red for your skin tone, and unless you’ve had your teeth whitened, wearing white could make them look dingy.

No matter what you choose to wear within these guidelines, make sure that you feel comfortable in your clothes. If you are uncomfortable, that will translate to your photograph!

Tips for Men

Get a haircut one week before your photo shoot, and shave and/or trim facial hair the day of your shoot.
No T-shirts, unless worn under your dress shirt.
For an alternate look, bring a sweater to wear over your collared shirt.
Bring a sport coat just in case you want to try a dressier look.
No turtlenecks. They crowd the face and shorten the neck.
Button the next-to-the-top button on your shirt.
If you have chest hair and it shows above your shirt collar, trim it.
No hats or caps (if you are truly dressing to impress, this should be obvious).

Tips for Women

Wait one-to-two weeks after coloring your hair to have your photograph taken.
No turtlenecks (as discussed above).
Avoid shiny fabrics or those with metallic threads.
Avoid embellishments such as bows, ruffles, ribbons, or sequins.
Do your makeup as you would on a normal day or for going to a nice dinner. Don’t overdo it. No shiny or glittery products.
Wear your hair down in your photograph.
Keep jewelry small, classic, and minimal. Nothing dangly, oversized, or trendy.
No hats or caps for you either, ladies. In fact, no hair accessories at all.

Finally, DO wear your most important accessory: a great smile!

Catherine Montalbo believes that looking your best can be a formidable tool for improving your life and achieving your goals. With over a decade of experience in fashion, styling and wardrobing individuals, her understanding of color and style as well as her ability to approach the concepts of image and wardrobe strategically, enable her to create individualized and powerful image plans that give her clients the confidence to go out and achieve their goals, whether personal or professional.

Learn more at www.catherinemontalbo.com