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Whether you love a casual evening or an all-out affair, dinner dates are an amazing way to spend quality time with loved ones and build both new and old connections. While drinks and coffee are solid for a first meetup, by date two or three, we're all ready to bring on the food—and with the slightly more involved plans comes the need for the ideal outfit. Luckily, having a lineup of looks for dinner dates doesn't have to be hard, and we have a plethora of outfit formulas at the ready to help you quickly put a look together for any restaurant or occasion. Ahead, see 22 straightforward and intentional dinner date outfit ideas, complete with tips from a fashion expert.
Meet the Expert
- Kate Bellman is the fashion editorial content director at Nordstrom. She has decades of experience in styling, e-commerce, and trend direction.
What to Consider
When determining the best dinner date outfit, the venue, vibe, and season should always be top considerations. If you're looking to dress up for a special occasion, a classic LBD and heels are sure to have you looking and feeling your most confident. For a first date, an elevated top and jeans are foolproof, whether you’re wearing flats or a sweet pair of kitten heels. In the colder months, a sweater dress and statement jewelry will help your look feel intentional while you stay bundled up. For a casual meetup with friends or family, you can also embrace laid-back pieces like a cozy sweater, loose-fitting jumpsuit, or sneakers. No matter which direction you go with your dinner date outfit, the key is mixing in a polished addition, be it a fun pair of earrings or a cool bag.
Creating a Dinner Date Outfit Formula
Outfit formulas and of-the-moment pieces are perfect for anyone looking to make a splash with their dinner date outfit. Retro-inspired looks from the '80s, '90s, and aughts continue to be popular, from ballet flats to cropped boxy blazers to playful denim moments. "We’re currently in the midst of the romantic trend, which by name alone is perfect to infuse into dinner date outfits," says Nordstrom editorial content director Kate Bellman.
Highlighting romantic tops and dresses as essential pieces, Bellman says details like voluminous and billowing sleeves, delicate necklines, and blooming floral prints lend themselves to dinner date attire. "You can style it as casual or dressed up as the occasion calls for, such as a beautiful, romantic top pared back with jeans, or go all in [by] pairing it with a full skirt and heels," she says.
According to Bellman, creating unexpected styling juxtapositions is another way to make a standout dinner date outfit. "There are so many dynamic outfit combos to make the romantic trend relevant for all types of dates," she tells Byrdie. "With the romantic dress as the anchor, there are endless combos to carry it from winter to spring, snow to sun, and intimate evenings for two to a summer wedding." Among her favorite styling ideas: Mixing a dress with a long, textural cardigan and lug sole Chelsea boots for a cozy winter date night, or dressing up your look with strappy sandals and a bold lip look for a wedding date.
To inspire your next dinner date ensemble, keep scrolling for 22 outfit formulas we love, from cute and casual to dialed all the way up.
