So you've been one a bunch of first dates in your life and you think you know all that there is to know? If your answer is "no" this is for you, if "yes" stop being cocky and start reading!

What a woman expects of us on a first date changes as they grow older and go through different phases in their lives. In High School, it was easy to get by solely on good looks, a leather motorcycle jacket and enough cash to buy dinner at a fast food restaurant and a Tuesday night movie. Now women are more experienced and particular about what they want from their date. Your punctuality, manners, style and personality will play a large role in whether you'll be just having dinner, or breakfast too.

Call Ahead
Ensure that reservations are made. Make sure that your restaurant knows you are coming, get yourself on the guest list, and buy movie tickets online. A first date can be stressful enough, nothing can add to it like having to wait for a table, waiting in line at the lounge or lucking out when the movie is sold out.

Remind Her
Give her a call the day of just to make sure the date is still on. She should already know, but calling to make sure is a good gesture, if she doesn't remember then you just saved your evening from a girl who isn't worth it. Also toss on something about how you're looking forward to the date. This will let her know that you are looking forward to seeing her and may influence her to wear that sexy red number she's been saving for a special occasion.

Dress Up
Although a pair of stonewash jeans and a band shirt may be great for bar night with the boys, she's going to want her date to be a bit more sophisticated. First think about where you are going. Classy restaurant? Try a pair of black flat front pants or khakis (Hilfiger and RW&Co) and a dark coloured solid button down shirt (Tip Top and Jack Fraser) will do the trick. More Casual Setting? Go with a pair of DARK coloured bootcut jeans (Levi's and The Gap) and an un-tucked fitted vertically striped button down shirt will be perfect. Make sure you choose the right accessories to go with your outfit since women tend to notice details. Don't wear your Timex Ironman digital watch, wear a coat that goes with the outfit such as a cashmere pea coat or a leather coat of a similar style (motorcycle jackets don't count!), and don't wear anything that resembles a running shoe!

Hygiene
We may find our goatee or chinstrap to be cool, but it's more the likely that she'll disagree. Get yourself a new razor blade and remove it from your face. Shave with the grain first and then against the grain to make your face super smooth. Make sure you use a good quality razor (Shick Quattro, Gillette Mach3) as well as a rich shaving cream and aftershave balm (Neutrogena, Nivea). Brush your teeth well and use mouthwash with a crisp scent that isn't too overpowering. Deodorant and Cologne is a must, try and select a scent that will be easy for her to remember, but yet isn't so common that most losers out there are wearing it. Like most people know, "Scent is the strongest sense tied to memory" you want her to think of you every time she smells that scent.

Pre-Game Warm-Up
When you're sitting at a romantic dinner or at a movie it's easy to want to just skip all the talking and formalities and get right to business in the bedroom. However she's highly likely to disagree with your approach and walk out on you. The "date" is a must so you have to contain yourself. This may be a shocking revelation to some of you, but the secret to holding out until you're past midnight romp is simple, masturbation. Before you head out on your date, relieve yourself at home and you won't come on to her as hard as you would have. Remember, good things come to those who wait.

Pick Her Up
Being fashionably late is fine; it usually consists of arriving 5-10 minutes after you said you would. The problem is that most guys AIM to be late, and when you add problems that will actually make you late on top of that, you end up being REALLY late and the date is off. Aim to be on time, if you end up being early take a quick cruise around the neighborhood to kill time before you pick her up. Don't pick her up in your old rusty beater, it's almost as bad as wearing a shirt from a thrift store, take a cab, that way you can also consume a bit more alcohol then the legal driving limit which is great if your date is being a bit stiff, she can meet your 1985 Oldsmobile another day.

Chivalry
Chivalry isn't dead; it's just been given a horrible name by men who think that they can do it without being extremely annoying. If you have a chance to hold the door for your date, go ahead, but do it in a gentleman like way. Don't emphasize what you've done by saying something like "After you madam" it makes the gesture cheesy and she won't be impressed or appreciate it. Make sure it seems as though it comes naturally (and it should!). If you have some problems, practice on random women. I always hold the doors for women in malls and such, and I even had one woman say "wow, what a gentleman!"

Compliments
Many men have major problems dropping compliments, mostly because doing this requires the compliment to be well worded and they have to keep you looking like a gentleman. The best compliments come from noticing details such as a girl's accessories, hair, nails etc. Try to stay away from more sexual areas such as her chest, butt, legs etc. If something really looks horrible about her stay away from it, if you try complimenting her on it she'll know you are lying and it won't gain you any points.

Watch What She Eats
I once had the embarrassing experience of ordering a Steak when on a date with a woman who turned out to be a vegetarian. Although this doesn't sound like a big deal, I could have offended her and eating the steak in front of her and could have insulted her beliefs. Watch what your date's preferences are, listen to what she's saying when she's looking at the menu and let her order first. When you look at the menu get a few ideas in your head, after she orders, select something from your mental list that is similar to what she orders. When it comes to ordering drinks, settle for water or a diet soda first, later on you can order a drink but make sure the alcohol is equal or less to of that that she orders.

Good Conversation
Be sure to be the one starting conversations, and try to focus the conversations on her rather then yourself. Ask her what she does for a living, interests, favorite movies, books etc. Keep yourself looking intelligent and sophisticated. Try and stay away from topics that will get you in trouble such as heavily opinionated politics (war in Iraq) or religious issues. Get it to a point where your conversation starters cause her to do most of the talking, and you to do the listening; this will help you learn more about your date and women love a guy who can listen.

Eye Contact
Making eye contact is much more important that the average guy thinks. Making eye contact shows that you are genuinely listening to what she has to say, it also gives her a sense of connection. Look deep into her eyes but don't stare, and look away every once in awhile to show that you aren't in some kind of daze. Some women I've talked to even say that a man making eye contact with them is almost a turn on, so it's in your best interest to do it, no matter how hard it may be. So change your sphere fixation from her chest to her face and you'll gain some valuable points!

The After Dinner Date
After your date is finished give her a hug and MAYBE a kiss on the cheek, depending on how well your date went. A kiss on the cheek is the farthest your lips should go unless she invites you for some more. Invitation is key; you don't want to look like a female craving pervert. Unless your date went extraordinarily well don't invite her back to your place, it looks like a cheap shot at getting her in bed. If she invites you back to her place, try to resist since women tend to prefer men that aren't easy, but if she persists, go for it.

Next Month - The After Dinner Date