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.
01of 22
A Romantic Top, Jeans, and a Bag
For a look that’s sweet yet casual, you can’t go wrong with a puff-sleeve top, straight-leg jeans, and a pearl-adorned bag.We love how the neutral palette here allows the silhouettes and details to take center stage.
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02of 22
A Mini Dress, Platform Sneakers, and Chunky Hoops
Offset a sweet, airy mini dress with platform sneakers for an easygoing yet romantic dinner al fresco. Finish the look with chunky hoops for a sleek, classic touch.
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03of 22
A Fitted Turtleneck, Printed Pants, and Heeled Ankle Boots
A cold-weather dinner date can be tricky to dress for, but a fitted turtleneck, printed pants, and heeled ankle boots are the secret to stellar style.Just add your favorite outerwear plus whatever statement accessories make you feel most confident.
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04of 22
A Romantic Dress, Strappy Sandals, and Statement Earrings
A romantic midi dress is perfect for a dinner date on a warm evening. Opt for strappy sandals and a pair of statement earrings to beautifully enhance the design without taking away from it.
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05of 22
A Fitted Knit Top, Trousers, and Flats
Trousers and flats are a solid go-to dinner date outfit for any time of year. We love an off-white pair with a fitted knit top tucked in and ballet mules to finish in warmer weather.
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06of 22
A Sweater Dress, Earrings, and Kitten Heels
A sweater dress is the ultimate dinner date look when there’s a chill in the air. Boots and tights are essential in fall and winter, but come spring, kitten heels and sculptural hoops feel fresh.
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07of 22
A Cropped Cardigan, Leather Pants, and Gold Earrings
Leather pants are a mainstay when it comes to dinner date outfits. For a subtly nostalgic take, opt for a colorful pair with a shrunken cardigan top and chunky gold earrings.
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08of 22
A Midi Moment and Lace-Up Heels
Whether with a dress, skirt, or coordinating set, a midi silhouette pairs beautifully with lace-up heels for a romantic dinner date ensemble. A square-toe shoe design feels modern, be it a sky-high stiletto or dainty kitten heel.
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09of 22
A Bodysuit, Trousers, and a Statement Bag
The easiest way to make a pair of trousers feel dinner date-appropriate? Pairing them with a bodysuit, of course. We love a low scoop back for a subtly sensual feel.
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10of 22
A White T-Shirt, Slip Skirt, and a Chain Necklace
It's more than possible to make a white T-shirt feel dressed-up enough for a dinner date outfit. Team your favorite with a slinky slip skirt and chain-link necklace for one of the easiest formulas ever.
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11of 22
A Leather Blazer, Trousers, and Loafers
A tailored look with subtle edge is a solid choice for a wide range of dinner dates, whether you're going to a business function or need a confidence boost as you head out to meet someone new. Pair black trousers with a leather blazer, then tie the look together with coordinating platform loafers and whatever accessories feel best to you.
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Abercrombie & FitchSloane Tailored Pant$90.00
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A Bold Cardigan, Lug Sole Boots, and Jeans
A rainy day doesn’t have to call for canceled plans. Instead, reach for a statement cardigan to pair with your favorite jeans and a glossy pair of patent leather boots—and don't forget your umbrella.
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13of 22
A Leather Dress, Simple Heels, and Earrings
A leather mini dress is a fun, sassy choice for dinner date, whether you're meeting up with your S.O. or a group of friends. It’s an edgier look, so streamline the rest via simple sandals and sleek hoops.
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14of 22
A Tank Top, Pretty Shorts, and Mules
There’s nothing better than swishy, light-as-air fabric for a dinner date in the heat. Pair some floaty shorts with a basic tank and a statement pair of mules for an effortlessly cool summer ensemble.
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15of 22
A Cropped Blazer, Slouchy Jeans, and Heels
Blazers are a constant staple with so many ways to style them, and the cropped variety is it this season. Team yours with a loose-fitting pair of straight-leg jeans and minimalist heels for a stylish offset.
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16of 22
A Midi Dress, Tall Boots, and Earrings
Transition your favorite summer dress to fall by pairing it with tall leather boots instead of sandals. It’s an easy-to-wear formula that effortlessly goes from your workday to dinner.
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17of 22
A Matching Set and a Statement Bag
Whether for vacation or balmy summer nights, a matching set is a heat-proof take on dinner date attire. Keep the outfit formula simple with a sleek, structured bag and your footwear of choice, be it sneakers, sandals, or high heels.
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18of 22
A Chunky Sweater, Jeans, and Delicate Chain
It couldn't be easier to make a chunky sweater and jeans feel appropriate for date night when you opt for an off-the-shoulder silhouette. Draw attention to your neckline by mixing in a delicate chain.
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A Playful Top, Long Denim Shorts, and Slides
A summer dinner date with friends is the time to showcase your spirited side, like with a bold, mixed-print peplum top. Long denim cut-offs and simple slides are cool offsets, which you can further enhance with ultra-delicate jewelry.
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A Jumpsuit, Necklace, and a Bag
A comfortable jumpsuit makes for an effortless dinner date outfit with the help of a modern chain necklace and bag. This one features pretty puffed sleeves for a romantic moment, plus the unique take on denim feels right on trend.
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A Crop Top, Wide Leg Pants, and a Shirt Jacket
A bralette-style crop top and wide leg pants are an ideal beach day outfit but trickier to take to dinner in town. The solution? Add an on-trend shirt jacket worn open, whether you’re dressing the look up with heels or keeping it low-key in slides.
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A Blouse, Capris, and Sambas
Capris are back, so next time you have a laid-back dinner date on a warmer day, take the nostalgic trend for a spin in tandem with pieces that lean into the retro-meets-modern feel. Here, a lightweight blouse and Sambas elevate denim capris in an unforgettable street style way.
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