Summer Lovin’ With Match.com

What does it take to make a summer date as hot as the summer weather?

"With summer officially in full swing," says the blog of Match.com, "we polled our Match.com members to find out this year's summer dating essentials to help heat up their love lives - from tips on picking the perfect place for a summer date to fashion do's or don'ts."

Ladies, if you're headed to a sizzling summer date, here's what the men of Match.com think you should wear and what you should leave at home:

• Copped tops: Some men - 12%, to be exact - think that midriff-baring shirts don't belong on a date.
• Your bikini: 34% of women said that they'd be willing to wear a bikini in front of their dates, but only after they'd seen each other 1-3 times. Men, on the other hand, were more comfortable with their beach bodies - 23% said they would don a swimsuit on a first date.
• Braided hair: Boys dig braids! 63% of men said that they like it when women wear braids in their hair.
• White pants & short skirts: 81% of men think their dates look great in white pants, and it should come as no surprise that a whopping 92% are firmly in favor of short skirts.
• Thong swimsuits: Save your thongs for the bedroom - 53% of male participants said that it's not acceptable for a woman to wear a thong swimsuit on a date at a pool or beach.
• Giant sunglasses: Most men think the bug-eyed sunglasses trend should be for celebrities only. 56% said they aren't into it.

The ladies of Match.com offered the following style advice for men on summer dates:

• Your abs: They may be phenomenal, but women would prefer that you keep your shirt on. 80% said that a guy shouldn't walk around shirtless on a date, no matter how toned his stomach is.
• Skinny jeans: Ditch 'em. 68% of women said a man should never wear skinny jeans on a date.
• Speedos: Speedos are definitely a spee-don't. 91% of women said that a man should never slip into a speedo for a date.
• Polo shirts: A polo shirt and khakis are the preferred uniform for men on summer dates. 93% of women expressed a preference for this look, while 87% opted for the polo shirt and shorts.
• Shade: Visors are a huge turn off, said 84% of women. Stick to aviators (favored by 75% of women) instead.

The Match.com survey also found that, although 1% of singles still prefer to meet a date over coffee during the summer, the majority prefer to meet in cooler locations, like a deck or patio. And for those who are wondering whether or not a summer fling is a good idea in the first place, 49% of participants said that they'd had a summer romance that turned into a long-term relationship.

For more information on this dating service you should check out our review of Match.com.