Though I am a neutral gal at heart, summer date night outfits call for all the bright patterns, eye catching prints and vibrant colors in my opinion. If there is a season to upgrade your wardrobe and incorporate something more bold, summer is the time to do it. After spending nearly 15 years in NYC, summer dinners were a religion in the city. Outside dining was in full swing, the heat had cooled off, the people watching was epic and almost any cute summer outfit went in terms of what to wear. Keep it fun, keep it casual, keep it super dressy – deciding what to wear to dinner has so many options. And there are plenty of ways to stay chic and comfortable while enjoying nights out in summer. Here is a round-up of outfit ideas you can wear to your next summer dinner.
10 Summer Dinner Outfit Ideas
Summer Dinner Date Outfit Idea
Dress | Sandals | Sunglasses | Bag
Whether it’s a first date or 10th date, you can’t go wrong with a colorful mini dress for a summer date night. It’s comfortable for the heat but can easily be dressed up or down with accessories. Throw on some kitten heel sandals and a clutch for a more elevated look or some flats and shoulder bag to keep the date outfit more casual. I love that this dress has long sleeves so if you are inside with the A/C, it’s more comfortable!
Vacation Dinner Outfit Idea
Dress | Bag (similar) | Sunglasses | Sandals
Bold prints, bright colors and patterned summer dresses seem to be a necessity in the hot weather, especially when on vacation. This tie waist printed mini dress is bold but not too vibrant that you couldn’t wear it past your vacation. Simple neutral accessories that the ones I’m wearing are a great option for vacation because they can go with nearly every outfit so you can save space in your suitcase. I also swear by these clear shoes by Schutz because they go with literally ANY outfit. I have had them for years and they have become my #1 worn shoe in the summer.
Casual Dinner Outfit Idea
Blazer | Tee | Jeans | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses | Necklace (discount code: MAREE20) | Belt
A night out with friends or an impromptu bite to eat on the weekend can still be an occasion to wear something chic. You can never go wrong with a chic blazer and wide leg jeans. Add bold accessories to give the outfit more interest. I also like to push the sleeves up to 3/4 length because it makes the blazer look more styled. I actually ordered these elastics on Amazon and use them to keep the sleeves in place.
Birthday Dinner Outfit Idea
Dress | Cardigan | Sunglasses | Bag | Sandals
As someone who has a TON of black in my closet, I still like wearing it during the summer. There is something so chic and stylish about a predominantly black outfit. I threw on some embellished sandals to dress the outfit up which is perfect for a birthday dinner. If you need something to throw over your shoulders if the restaurant is chilly, choose a cardigan with a print or texture to stand out against the black dress.
Dinner with Friends Outfit Idea
Dress | Sweater | Belt | Bag (similar) | Shoes | Sunglasses | Necklace (code: MAREE25)
When you want to look polished and put together, but still keep things casual for a dinner out with friends – go for a monochromatic neutral look. So much of my closet is neutral tones so it’s so easy to create an interesting outfit with very little effort since all the colors work well together.
Desk to Dinner Outfit Idea
Tweed Jacket (similar) | Tee | Pants | Belt | Sunglasses | Shoes | Bag (similar)
To be honest, this was usually my scenario when it came to summer dinners when I lived in NYC. I was at work all day and if I had to go out after, I would put together a look that could work for both places. Black and white is one of my favorite color combinations that works year round. Black trousers are appropriate for almost any occasion so for daytime you could wear the flats and tweed jacket but perhaps change into strappy sandals for evening. I would probably still wear the tweed jacket in the evening but add a bold lip.
Anniversary Dinner Outfit Idea
Dress | Bag (similar) | Shoes | Sunglasses
To be honest, I want to wear this dress for every single fancy occasion I every will go to. The dress, the print, the fit – it is absolute perfection. It’s the perfect summer date outfit to wear for a special night such as an anniversary dinner. I once again went for my clear heels because it adds height and elongates the leg and doesn’t compete with the dress. It really lets the dress stand out.
Laid Back Summer Dinner Outfit Idea
Tee | Jeans | Shoes | Bag | Belt (code: MAREE20) | Sunglasses | Necklace (code: MAREE20)
While this outfit is simply a white tee and jeans which is the epitome of a laid back look, adding a studded belt and small kitten heel sandals makes it a great look to wear out to dinner. This pair of jeans is one of my favorite styles I have purchased all year because they are the perfect slim straight leg in a classic wash that goes with anything.
Cute Casual Summer Dinner Outfit Idea
Shirt (discount code: MAREE15) | Jeans | Shoes | Belt | Bag | Sunglasses | Necklace (discount code: MAREE20)
These are the same jeans as I shared in the previous outfit but styled with a more dramatic top. My clear sandal collection is steadily growing because there is truly no better shoe option that goes with any and all looks. This is a great date night look or perfect for a summer night out with friends where you want to still be comfortable but look polished and chic.
Beach Dinner Outfit Idea
Dress | Shoes | Bag | Sunglasses
If you are planning on a beach vacation or if you live near the beach, a cute printed shirt dress is exactly what I would wear for dinner. These sandals are super casual and comfortable but the gold details on them make it a great choice to wear for a night out. I would perhaps switch out the bag to something more fun for vacation but if you want a bag to wear with a ton of different outfits, then stick with this neutral style.
If you are in need of more summer outfit inspo, check out my post about what to wear to a summer concert and what to wear to a casual summer wedding.
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