Whether it's your first date or your 50th, piecing together the perfect date night outfit can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking task. The goal is to bring out the best version of you while also dressing appropriately for the occasion. However, when you're also up against various weather-related conditions and vague dress codes, figuring out what to wear can almost feel impossible — and that's where we come in.
We're big believers that date night outfits should look and feel effortless. During the warmer weather months, that may translate into a simple frock with sandals and your accessory of choice. Less is more, after all, literally and figuratively. However, it's also possible to look stylish and stay warm when date night coincides with cooler weather. Our advice? Never underestimate statement outerwear or the power of layering. Remember: Your style shouldn't come at the expense of your comfort. Still, you don't want to show up underdressed for a more formal affair, or you'll feel uncomfortable in another sense.
To help spice up your date night attire, we turned to some of our favorite street-style stars for inspiration. These myriad outfit formulas are sure to accommodate every mood and taste, whether slipping on elevated loungewear for a movie night or freshening up your favorite skirt for dinner reservations.
Ahead, 20 date night outfit ideas to try out, stat.
A Coordinated Set
Co-ords have become the fashion trend that date nights need and deserve. Manifest candlelit dinner vibes dressed in a matching set that's both sexy and super comfortable.
Your Coziest Pajamas
Watching a movie and ordering in calls for comfy attire, and what's more comfortable than actual loungewear? Monochromatic sets will give off the illusion that you put in real effort to put together a cute outfit for the occasion, but at the same time, prints can be pretty fun, too. Whip out your favorite pair of PJs, and if you and your significant other can color coordinate, all the better.
All-Black Everything
If there's any fashion technique that is always on-trend and works for every signature style, it's the all-black outfit. It's chameleonic: No matter what your date night plans entail, black on black is always subtle, classic, and appropriate.
A Jumpsuit
Jumpsuits will be your saving grace when you're low on time before a date. Loud patterns and bold colors like pink and orange are a statement all their own, so reach for dainty accessorize and neutral footwear. However, if your jumpsuit is an earth tone or boasts a subtle pattern, gravitate toward statement jewelry, belts, and footwear that add pops of color.
An Oversized Shirt
Haven't you heard? Oversized shirts are ready-made dresses. Transform your top — button-down, T-shirt, blazer, etc. — into a shirt dress by adding a belt and styling to your liking. You can dress up the ensemble with costume jewelry and funky handbags, keep things casual with sneakers and a beanie, create contrast with baggy jeans, or throw on a pair of over-the-knee boots and be on your way.
A Blazer Over Anything
Blazers add an element of sophistication to even the simplest, everyday outfit, so slip one over a plain white or graphic T-shirt and play around with bottoms like jeans, cigarette pants, roomy joggers, and leggings. Nothing's off limits.
Leather Bottoms
There's something about leather that boosts an outfit's cool factor. Faux leather leggings and joggers are especially popular and look fantastic when paired with graphic T-shirts or mock turtlenecks. However, let us not forget the impact a leather jacket or boots can have on an ensemble. These additions can add an instant edgy mood, so have fun with them.
A Sweater and a Slip Skirt
You look your best when you feel your best, right? So, pick your favorites and focus on accessorizing for the evening's vibe. A classic sweater and jeans combo is an ideal option, or you can trade your denim for a simple silk skirt. As for accessories, sneakers and a crossbody are fit for a casual outing, while heels and statement jewelry will make this outfit work for more formal plans.
Elevated Loungewear
Gone are the days when sweats translated to a lazy day uniform. Now, they're elevated, celebrity-approved, and work for anything and everything, from running errands to Zoom meetings and, yes, even date nights. Upgrade your favorites with layered necklaces or a statement chain, a sleek crossbody bag, and a clean pair of white sneakers.
The Lampshade Look
The pantless look Ariana Grande made famous is the kind of street style that requires minimal effort and exudes confidence and sensuality — while also being incredibly laid back. Plus, chances are you already have an oversized sweatshirt and thigh-high boots in your wardrobe, so you can put the money you planned to spend on a new outfit toward food instead.
A T-Shirt and Jeans
Jessica Simpson wrote an entire ode to T-shirts, and there's a reason why the song ("With You") is still beloved years later. T-shirts are the linear definition of comfort, easy to throw on, and there are countless ways to style them. Plus, if you can feel comfortable and confident around your partner with nothing but a T-shirt and jeans on, you've found a winner.
A Micro Mini
With the return of Y2K style came the micro mini, and to be honest, we're not mad about it. This skirt option can be equal parts sexy and sweet, depending on how you style it.
Go the preppy route for your date night by grabbing a button-down, ankle socks, and loafers, or lean into the skin-bearing aspect by slipping on a cutout top and heels. Want a combo that feels weirdly comfy? Pair the tiny bottom with a chunky sweatshirt and sneakers.
Sweater Vests
Even if you're unable to ransack your grandparents' closets for this must-have piece, you can take a page from their book and invest in a modern option. Sweater vests are the ultimate layering piece.
Whether date night is in or outdoors, there's always a way to throw it over your look to add a quirky, cool detail. Not only is this retro item of clothing super versatile, but it can also be worn any time of year — even in the summer without a layer underneath.
A Mix of Casual and Formal Pieces
Have fun with your date night outfit. Mix and match patterns that speak to you, experiment with color, and blur the lines between casual and formal wear.
For instance, pair trousers or a tennis skirt with a baggy tee or graphic sweatshirt, or go casual with your bottoms and add a formal blouse (think puffy sleeves, sequins, and tailored cuts).
Your Favorite Dress
Just as classic as a skirt and heels, a dress and boots create the perfect date night outfit for any time of year. If you're heading out to dinner, layer a sweater or cardigan on top and consider a pair of tights, depending on the weather. Staying in? Opt for comfortable footwear like flats, sneakers, or Megan-Fox-approved slippers.
Amped-Up Basics
Basics work beautifully for date nights because they can be dressed up or down, depending on where you're headed. Take a white tank top, for example. You can pair the piece with jeans, a knit cardigan, and sneakers if you're just catching a movie, or add a maxi skirt and wedged sandals for dinner on the terrace.
Alternatively, you can just as easily upgrade a basic white tee and jeans with the addition of jewelry — think bangles, layered necklaces, and classic hoop earrings. Poke around in your collection and see where you end up.
A Canadian Tuxedo
If you're thinking "an all denim everything ensemble is so Y2K," that's the point. Styles from the early aughts are having an umpteenth wind, and modern takes on the Canadian tuxedo (think Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's all-denim looks at the 2001 AMAs, just not as dated) are among the lot.
You could opt for different shades of denim (black over blue, perhaps) or mix-and-match cuts à la Bella Hadid, who paired a denim corset with a micro-mini jean skirt.
Athleisure
If sporty is your style, grab your favorite pair of biker shorts and a cropped tee or sweatshirt. Add a pair of clean sneakers, and you're just as prepared for a hike as you are to grab ice cream on the boardwalk.
Cute Cutouts
Looking to add some zing to your date outfit? Cutouts could be the way to go. Bare some skin in a top with a peek-a-boo shoulder for subtle sex appeal, or go super flirty by full-on flossing with skinny straps.
Playful Outerwear
As much as we love denim and leather jackets, consider swapping out your go-to outerwear to refresh your date night look. One daring and darling option for cooler evenings is the cape. From classic to puffers, capes come in various styles and can be worn as a key layering piece for those in-between temperatures.