A very popular syndicated program is coming out to interview me tomorrow. They’ll also take me shopping and highlight me pick out a “date” outfit. See, a while back I decided to have a “first date wardrobe.” It consists of 4 outfits that I wear on first dates. These outfits evolve as fashion (and my size) evolves.

Now let me explain, first dates aren’t necessarily the very first date. By my calculations, guys notice how you look for the first 3 outfits and after that, they’ve decided whether you are consistently beautiful or you just got lucky the first time. That’s why 3 outfits are necessary (the 4th outfit is standby in case the third one is at the cleaners). Guys don’t actually pay attention to what blouse I’m wearing or the color of my sweater. No. Guys think about the overall package. And in creating my “wardrobe” I decide what I want that overall package to say. For example, I have one outfit that says, sophisticated with a subtle sexiness. Another first-date outfit says, chic and daring. I know these things because I have spent countless hours on my first-date-wardrobe. Not only does it consist of clothes, but makeup and hairstyles, as well.

When you open the door and he sees you - be it first, second or third date, there’s an instant thought going through his head. This thought is what I refer to as ones package. However, what I have come to realize is that every woman has two packages; an “open the door here I am package” and an “open my mouth here I am package.” I’ve got the door package down. But the mouth package will require much fine tuning. The things I say to him on these dates are as important as how he physically sees me. When I talk and bad mouthing my ex or monopolize the conversation with talk of all my wonderful attributes, I find I'm not so charming. Where I once thought my “slightly quirky, yet quick witted” open mouth package was a winner, I have learned that it’s equivalent to wearing a jogging suit on a first date. So, I am determined to work on the mouth package with as much diligence as I put towards the door package.