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(Phatforums News / Match.com) — What does the phrase “old-fashioned romance” mean to you? For some, it’s the glamour and intrigue of AMC’s hit show, Mad Men. For others, it’s a chocolate soda and a slow dance by the Wurlitzer. But one thing everyone can agree on is that we’d all enjoy a little more of it in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re longing for your very own nattily dressed Don Draper or a drive-in movie night with the girl next door, here are some tips for bringing a little old-fashioned style into your dating life.

Tip #1: Choose your wardrobe carefully
Part of the reason we feel nostalgic for the “good old days” is that people made more of an effort with their clothing back then when getting out of the house. They wouldn’t have dared to leave the house in sneakers or pajama pants, which seem to be the de facto uniform for college students now. When we think of the 1950s and early ‘60s, we conjure images of men in hats and women in silk stockings. Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner, a clinical psychologist and author of the forthcoming book, You Are What You Wear, suggests a few simple things for upping your style game and giving Joan Holloway a run for her money: “First and foremost, be true to yourself. Your clothes should be an expression of who you are on the inside. Keep your larger pieces — such as shirts, pants and dresses — simple. These can be purchased at relatively low price points while still maintaining longevity and easily working with other pieces.”

There’s no easy way around it — looking good takes effort. Try on as many pencil skirts or chinos as it takes to find the items that work best for you. Upgrade your choices and don’t be afraid to overdress a little. Baumgartner suggests that you “add flair with shoes, jewelry, belts and hats. The fit of Mad Men’s sixties silhouettes amplify everything that makes us fully male or fully female and remind us that an injection of glamour — even if only in the closet — is always needed.”

Tip #2: Be clear in your invitation that it’s a date
In the 1950s, there wasn’t much confusion about what constituted a date. People planned ahead and there were strict rules and protocols for behavior, depending on your gender. “Most individuals don’t yearn to return to an era of highly constraining roles,” cautions Dr. Helen Sheumaker, Ph.D., a faculty member at Miami University of Ohio in the American Studies department. “Rather, there is a desire to return to the formality of the clothing, manners, and even the idea of a date. Dates were considered to be events, even if the date was simply to attend a football game. Boys picked girls up at their parents’ houses; there was an occasion to attend, specific styles of dress to wear, boys accompanied their dates back home to their front porches, and so on.”

Today, an invitation to “hang out” often passes for a date, which can leave both people involved confused and unsure about how to act once they’re alone together. Bringing back old-fashioned dating can be as simple as specifying that you’re asking the other person out on a date and making specific plans ahead of time.

Tip #3: Hold back a little to be more intriguing to your date
You don’t have to have as many secrets as Don Draper to cultivate a bit of mystery. These days, people are eager to share even the tiniest minutiae of their lives on Facebook and Twitter. The end result: boredom and a terminal case of TMI. No one seems to have hidden depths to their character anymore, which is why the stoic men of yesteryear might seem so appealing. Set yourself apart from today’s reality show “stars” by refusing to spill every little detail; a first date is not an invitation to share your entire life story with a virtual stranger. Be coy when you’re letting someone new get to know you. After all, it’s a privilege, isn’t it?

Tip #4: Brush up on your manners
Good etiquette is never out of style. Little touches of courtesy — like opening doors and clearing the way for your date when she enters a room — go a long way toward creating a cozy, romantic vibe during your night out. Walk at the same pace that your date does, help her get into and out of her coat, and finally, call the next day to say what a nice time you had if you enjoyed yourself.

Tip #5: Leave the phone at home (or at least turn it off)
Old-fashioned romance is impossible to cultivate if you’re texting all night. Give your date the honor of your undivided attention. Wouldn’t you rather experience sparks in real time than constantly distracted by a beeping pocket or purse?

Tip #6: Take time to let things evolve naturally in relationships
In our era of instant gratification, it’s easy to forget that worthwhile relationships take real time to develop. Slow down and remember that a date is just a chance to get to know a little bit about someone who interests you. Melanie Gorman, a dating and relationship expert and director of YourTango.com, says: “I think bringing back some elements of old-fashioned dating starts with an attitude shift. It used to be that life, like coffee, had a chance to percolate before the perfect brew was achieved. Today, people seem to fall in love in mere hours instead of over several months. Courtship has taken a back seat and intimacy, for many people, is seen as a means to vet dates instead of the icing on the relationship cake.”

But all this rushing comes with a price: namely, disappointed expectations and misunderstandings. “What it all amounts to,” Gorman continues, “is that when relationships don’t evolve over time, they are filled with missing pieces that are supplemented with assumptions. By taking a realistic stance towards finding love, you do two great things: you give yourself space and time to fall in love with the right person. That piece of old-fashioned advice is one of the gems our parents and grandparents wish they could have shared with us.” In other words, give any new romance enough time to bloom at its own pace. Encourage the people you date to teach you who they are instead of jumping to conclusions because it’s easier and faster to move on to the next opportunity. Slow down and allow yourself to court and be courted — you might be surprised at how much fun dating can actually be when you stop thinking of it as nothing more than a numbers game!

Laura Schaefer is the author of The Teashop Girls and the forthcoming novel, The Secret Ingredient.

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