With cuffing season in full swing, many might be feeling a strong urge to find someone to cosy up with for the colder months.While everyone has their own unique preferences, there are some common ‘icks’ that could instantly turn off a potential match.
Whether you’re navigating the dating scene for the first time, or are a seasoned swiper, Suit Direct surveyed 1,000 Brits to uncover their biggest dating icks, including profile picture blunders, fashion faux pas’ and the instant turn offs when meeting someone for the first time.
The biggest profile picture icks:
With 42.6% of respondents revealing that a profile picture is the very first thing they notice on a dating app, it’s clear just how critical that initial image is to making a positive impression. But not all photos hit the mark — some, in fact, are instant deal-breakers. So, what are the biggest “icks” when it comes to dating profile photos?
Topping the list, almost four in 10 (39.8%) said they’re put off by group photos where it’s hard to tell who the profile actually belongs to. No one wants to play guessing games right off the bat. Close behind, shirtless photos take second place, with 35.7% of users saying they find this display off-putting. And the third most cringeworthy offender? Photos with exes awkwardly blurred out — an instant ick that leaves a third (33%) of people unimpressed and questioning if the person is really ready to move on.
Other profile picture blunders that made the list include swimsuit photos (29.5%), poorly lit or low-quality images (26.3%), overly posed images (26%), and overly ‘flashy’ images, where the person is posing with expensive items (24.4%).
When it comes to making a strong first impression, these stats highlight some pitfalls to avoid. A clear, genuine, and solo profile picture is far more likely to get a right swipe than one that leaves potential matches wondering, “Who am I even looking at?”
The biggest turn-offs when meeting someone after connecting on a dating app
After finally securing a date, the excitement of meeting someone you’ve connected with online can be tempered by a few in-person turn-offs. When asked about their biggest dating deal-breakers, Brits had quite a list.
Poor hygiene and grooming took the top spot, with over two-fifths (43.6%) of respondents saying this was an immediate turn-off. Close behind, 38.6% cited bad breath as another deal-breaker — an instant way to kill the romance. Additionally, with 20.5% of people sharing that they’ve been catfished in the past, it’s no surprise that 34.4% reported being put off when their date doesn’t quite match their profile photos.
Some of the other major turn offs include a lack of manners or respect (34.2%), inappropriate or offensive jokes (20.6%), and talking only about themselves (17.5%).
Fashion faux pas on a date:
With more than two in five people (42.5%) admitting they would leave a date early if their date’s fashion choices were a turn-off, it’s clear that style can make or break a first impression.
So, what are the biggest style faux pas that Brits just can’t stand? Topping the list are mismatched colors or clashing patterns, which turn off 30% of respondents. Poorly fitting clothes aren’t much better, with 28% saying baggy or overly tight outfits are an instant red flag. Finally, attire that’s too revealing is a deal-breaker for a quarter (25%) of Brits, suggesting that understated style often wins over outfits that reveal too much.
Other fashion choices that turn Brits off include overly dressing for the occasion (23%), wearing outdated fashion trends (21%), and wearing sunglasses indoors (20%)
How Brits address turn-offs:
When it comes to handling turn-offs on a date, people have various strategies for managing the situation. For some, minor annoyances aren’t worth dwelling on — in fact, a third (33%) of respondents say they simply ignore the “ick” and focus on more positive aspects of the date.
Others take a more direct approach: 40% mentioned they might bring up the issue in a lighthearted way, aiming to address the turn-off without creating awkwardness. Meanwhile, 19.4% prefer a more subtle exit strategy, choosing to avoid a second date rather than confront the issue. And for the bold few who feel comfortable enough, 6% even offer a bit of fashion advice if they think it would help.
Body language expert reveals signs your date isn’t in to you:
To help Brits pick up on subtle cues that a date might not be interested, Suit Direct consulted body language expert Inbaal Honigman.
When asked about key body language signs to watch for, Inbaal explained, “First, look for points of contact and mirroring. The points of contact are hand holding, a hand on the arm or shoulder. If you find the other person’s presence appealing and comforting, that’s already the burgeoning of attraction. When there is no shuddering away, when there is no turning away, and you have eye contact, that leads to all the mirroring.”
Inbaal also shared the importance of mirroring: “You want your torso to be facing their torso. Facing towards is a good sign. Facing away is not a good sign. It gives the feeling that they’re looking for an escape route.”
She emphasized that eye contact and facial expressions can be a key indicator: “The expression that you’re looking for is that of interest and somebody who’s into you will look directly at you, if shy, maybe a little bit downward. Somebody who’s not interested will look over your head to the side of your face fidgeting, trying to break eye contact and their eyes escape.”
“Where the eyes look, the rest of the body leads. So, if somebody’s staring at the door or staring at the waitress, that’s not a good sign.”
When it comes to gauging genuine interest, Inbaal shared that “body language never lies.” She advised, “I think when you try to make a decision in dating, go initially with the body language because the body language never lies, whereas people can say well-mannered things and can complement or carry an interesting conversation just because they’re polite because they’re good conversationalists. That doesn’t necessarily have any bearing on how much they like you.”
For a quick assessment, Inbaal suggested checking the knees:“See where the knees are. A person’s words can lie to you quite easily and in a way, having good manners is very similar to lying. We’ve been conditioned to lie whereas the body language never lies, so if somebody leans towards you when they’re complimenting you, they very likely mean it. If they keep their distance while they’re complimenting you, then that could be just words without any intent behind them.”
“Attracted to you or not, I would say start with where the knees are to determine whether they are being sincere or not. Where are the knees, are the knees pointing towards you? Are the knees crossed and keeping you on the outside? Are the knees pointing far away?”
By noticing these subtle cues—eye contact, alignment, and even knee position—you can get a clearer sense of whether a date’s interest is genuine or merely polite.
For more information on dating icks, please visit:https://www.suitdirect.co.uk/styleguide/features/biggest-style-icks-on-dates
