Style, Swipe, Like: What to Wear in Your Online Dating Profile

With online dating becoming less low-key and more of a daily social activity thanks to apps like Tinder, Raya, and Bumble, we’ve had an influx of reader requests asking what in the world to wear in your profile photos. If you think about it, it’s a pretty significant decision; whether we like it or not, the new wave of dating apps has shifted the focus away from what you write about yourself (leaving little room for this, if any) and toward the photos you post and how you’re presented visually.

To help us answer this question, we reached out to experts Greta Tufvesson and Nikki Lewis, co-founders of matchmaking service The Bevy, to impart some of their wisdom. Mixed in with some major don’ts such as bikini shots, Halloween costumes, and, of course, duck lips, was the key to a well-balanced profile:

Make sure to cover a few different looks. Think one in a dress from a girls’ night out to show your fun side, one casual look in your favourite pair of jeans, and more.

This variety will show more facets of your personality, in addition to taking the focus off of any one particular event, theme, or outfit. It makes so much sense that we’re wondering how we didn’t think of it ourselves!

Now, scroll through to shop a variety of outfits we think would make for a great profile!

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Shop the look: Iro Shavani Frayed Edge Collarless Jacket (£332); H&M Cropped Flare High Jeans (£30); And Finally MTV Print Tee (£25); Topshop Gallop Court Shoes (£60).

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Shop the look: Jacquemus La Robe Tennis Pleated Wool Mini Dress (£275); ASOS Curve Gold Plated Sterling Silver Coin Pendant Necklace (£22); Golden Goose Deluxe Brand Francy Sparkly High-Top Leather Trainers (£270); Frame Denim Le Muscle Slub Linen T-Shirt (£80).

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Shop the look: Need Supply Co. Sayaka Jacket (£70); H&M Ribbed Off-the-Shoulder Top (£13); Gianvito Rossi Leather-Paneled Suede Loafers (£445); Barbara Bui Two Pocket Military Skirt (£642).

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Shop the look: Self-Portrait High Neck Paneled Dress (£375); ASOS Marble Box Clutch Bag (£28); & Other Stories Gold Plate Earrings (£7); Chloé Ankle-Strap Velvet Sandals (£460).

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Shop the look: J.Crew Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats in Midnight Poppy (£158); Mango Satin Bomber Jacket (£60); Citizens of Humanity Melanie Wide Legged Culottes (£180); Topshop Petite Square Neck Plunge Bodysuit (£18).

Which look was your favourite? Tell us in the comments!

Opening Image: Shot by Gio

Editor-at-Large

Since starting as an intern back in 2013, Nicole Akhtarzad Eshaghpour has held several roles here at Who What Wear, and she is currently Editor-at-Large. It was a less expected route, seeing as she was graduating from business school at USC when this all began, but it has turned out to be the best one for her. Fast-forward to 2024, and she's moved to NYC from her hometown of Beverly Hills and spends her workdays a little differently from when she was an intern starting out. Currently, she focuses on a weekly mélange of shopping content. As far as her personal style goes, she's largely drawn to classic pieces and neutral basics but will always make an exception for something colorful, printed, or bejeweled as long as it's deemed worthy enough. After all, the only thing she loves more than a good party is dressing up for one. On weekdays, she can usually be found at home eating something delicious for dinner and trying to force her husband to watch Summer House.