I’m a male member.

I’m Saito, a column writer ♪ As for clothing, I’ve never really had any problems. Of course, when someone shows up in a lovely outfit, I think, “Wow,” but I’m not particularly bothered when they don’t. Even if someone’s outfit isn’t appropriate for the restaurant, the staff are trained to accommodate them by lending them suitable clothes, seating them in a private room, or arranging a table in a less noticeable corner. There are women who make me want to buy them clothes and help teach them, but only when they’ve clearly made at least some effort to dress appropriately for the occasion. For example, their clothes may be lovely, but their jewelry doesn’t match at all. You can support someone perfectly well without spending a lot of money. This is slightly off topic, but there are also quite a few women who can turn heads simply through the presence they give off, even in jeans. From the questioner’s perspective, I suppose it feels like they were so close… yet not quite there.

I’m Mamiya from Universe Tokyo, and I’ll answer your question. Our staff are supposed to help the women who come in for interviews get offers, so of course, if their outfit is unfashionable, we have them change into something more appropriate. I’m sorry we disappointed you when you came for the date. We should have posted photos of both their everyday clothes and their designated outfits. We also need to make sure to explain during the interview and orientation that jeans aren’t appropriate. That said, I don’t think we failed to tell them. It’s possible they simply ignored the advice. I previously held a fashion workshop for papa-katsu women, but the women who attend those events generally don’t need to be told anything. It’s like dieting: the people who most need to lose weight are often the quickest to ignore the advice. Changing someone who isn’t interested is difficult. If you like a woman but she lacks fashion sense, try taking her shopping with you. Going to the women’s section can take a little courage, but if you get the store staff on your side and choose things together, it can actually be quite fun. I highly recommend it.

I’m Marika, a female member. I’m a bit late to the discussion, so I’ll add my thoughts based on the other answers. > I’d like you to come in casual clothes that aren’t too flashy. I saw this template for the first time recently, but since we were meeting in the lobby of a nice hotel, I went in a dress and high heels. It turned out not to be a problem. Still, it’s hard to know exactly what people mean by “casual.” > Basically, a suit is workwear, so you could call it a uniform, right? That’s true, but men who wear suits all the time often look pretty bad in their own clothes. It’s not uncommon to be disappointed because they looked so stylish in a suit. If he were my boyfriend or husband, I’d have to do something about his non-suit wardrobe, but if he’s my papa (a male supporter), it’s fine as long as he looks presentable when we meet. So if you’re not confident in your casual clothes, I think wearing a suit is perfectly fine.

I’m a male member, “Paper Airplane.” I’ve selected “Please come in casual clothes that aren’t too flashy,” so I’ve never had any trouble deciding what to wear. Everyone has shown up in lovely outfits, which I’m secretly happy about. I’d feel uncomfortable wearing something that might make us look like we’re on a formal date, so that hasn’t happened either. Also, I don’t make reservations in advance, so I can choose the restaurant or destination—from stylish to more down-to-earth—depending on what she’s wearing. I also have a lovely, stylish but not overly expensive place in mind where any outfit is fine, and the food is unbelievably delicious—so good that I’m impressed every time I go. I have absolutely no sense of fashion, so my wife always tells me, “Don’t wear that when you go out with me—wear this instead.” These days, she buys all my clothes, and I wear them when I go out. I honestly can’t remember the last time I chose and bought clothes for myself… Except at Uniqlo. Even when I buy something at Uniqlo and bring it home, my wife and daughter bombard me with criticism: “Why would you buy something like that?”

I’m Kazu, a male member who always selects “I’d like you to come in casual, understated clothing” when making an offer. For first dates, I only go to restaurants without a dress code, and so far, I’ve never had a woman show up to the meeting spot in an extremely short skirt. So I haven’t had any problems. You can check someone’s everyday clothes in their private photos, but there really aren’t that many women who upload private photos. With new members, there are practically none. I also started wondering whether my own outfit might make women feel uncomfortable, since I always wear jeans—even when staying at luxury hotels. That said, I’ve never considered going in a tracksuit (lol). I’m extremely uncomfortable with the idea of going outside in a tracksuit or shorts. Adding this after reading Megumi’s answer: Oh no—I use the kind of outfit that wouldn’t draw disapproving looks at a golf course as my standard for deciding what to wear on a date.

I’m Maezawa from the President’s Office. > If I had known beforehand what she usually wore, I would have chosen a restaurant that suited her style and the overall atmosphere. Universe is run by people, so we can accommodate all sorts of requests. Some men specify a dress code, and we pass that on to the woman. Usually, it’s something vague like “casual formal,” but to be honest, this approach sounds better than it actually works. I’ve had women ask, “What exactly should I wear?” and found myself at a loss. So I think it’s better to say something specific, such as, “I’m thinking of taking you to this restaurant,” and give them the name of the place. Most women will look up what kind of restaurant it is and dress accordingly. Of course, some women won’t go that far, so it may be a good idea to add, “Please wear something suitable for this restaurant.” Clothing can actually be quite an issue. For example, some women love jeans and don’t even own a skirt. Lifestyles have become more diverse, and they can still look great in jeans, of course. (笑) Even in that case, if you bring up the points above, she may tell you, “I only have jeans.” If so, I think it would be perfectly fine to switch to a place where jeans are appropriate. > Is there no way to include photos of both outfits? People have suggested that before, so older staff members probably include one photo of the person dressed up. The newer staff may not have been informed about it, though. > Since I’m asking this, I’d also like to know whether women have ever been bothered by a man’s outfit, partly as a reminder to myself. The most extreme example was probably a man who showed up at the meeting place wearing a tracksuit. I remember the woman getting angry and saying, “I went to the meeting place dressed properly, and he was wearing a tracksuit. Can you believe it? That’s unbelievable.” I’m sure many people prefer casual clothing, but apparently a tracksuit is taking it too far. (笑)