What to Wear to Dinner: Smart, Romantic Outfit Ideas
From neighbourhood bistro to tasting menu: how to dress for dinner so you feel comfortable, polished and a little romantic.
When deciding what to wear to dinner, match the outfit to the restaurant, then make sure it looks good sitting down. For most places, tailored trousers or dark jeans with a beautiful top, a knit-and-skirt combination or a simple midi dress is right. Add a smart layer and shoes you can walk in, and you are ready for almost any table.
What to wear to dinner: start with the restaurant
The venue sets the tone. A quick look at the restaurant's website or photos usually tells you everything: tablecloths and sommeliers suggest dressing up; open kitchens and shared plates suggest relaxed polish.
Dressing for a particular restaurant has a long history. In 1947 Christian Dior named one of his cocktail ensembles after Maxim's in Paris; the V&A, which holds it, describes a black wool dress with a velvet bow, cinched waist and ribbed silk petticoat, worn with a tulle hat and long gloves. Today's dress codes are far looser, but the instinct remains: a good dinner deserves a little thought, and knowing what to wear to dinner is mostly about reading the room.
Dinner outfit ideas by venue
The neighbourhood bistro
Aim for relaxed and pulled together. Try straight-leg jeans with a lace or silk top and a soft cardigan, or a knit dress with ankle boots. Leave the heels at home if you are walking; polished loafers or sleek boots look just as considered.
The smart restaurant
A smart casual dinner outfit is the most useful formula you can own. Tailored trousers in black, charcoal or camel, a fine knit or a lace blouse, and a blazer or long wool coat work in almost any upscale restaurant. For a dress, choose a midi in crepe, satin or knit.
The tasting menu or special occasion
Long dinners call for comfort and a little ceremony. Choose fabrics with some give, avoid tight waistbands and pick a dress or set you can sit in for three hours. A lace midi, a slip dress with a cardigan or a sharp trouser suit with a silk camisole all feel special without being stiff.
Dinner at a friend's home
Dress as you would for a nice restaurant, then soften it: a knit set, relaxed trousers with a pretty blouse, or a jumper over a slip skirt. Bring a layer, because dining rooms vary wildly in temperature.
The smart casual dinner outfit formula
If you are still unsure what to wear to dinner, use this reliable approach.
- A clean base. Dark jeans, tailored trousers or a simple skirt.
- A top with texture. Lace, silk, fine knit or something with an interesting neckline.
- A structured layer. A blazer, a tailored coat or a neat cardigan.
- Polished shoes. Loafers, ankle boots, pointed flats or a slim heel.
- One finishing detail. Earrings, a red lip or a small leather bag.
This works for a weeknight with friends, a work dinner or a date, and it adapts easily to the season.
Knitwear and lace for dinner
In autumn and winter, the softest restaurant outfit is often knit with lace. A lace top under a V-neck jumper, a lace-trimmed slip under a cardigan, or a knit top with a lace skirt are all warm, comfortable and quietly romantic.
The two crafts sit naturally together. The V&A notes that Shetland lace knitting developed in the 1840s, once transport links to the mainland improved. It is an openwork style of knitting that echoes the delicacy of lace itself. For outfit combinations, see our guide on layering lace under knitwear.
The case for all black at dinner
Black is the easiest restaurant outfit there is. It hides spills, looks smart in any lighting and needs very little thought. Gabrielle Chanel saw black as a chic symbol of modernity, and the V&A notes she used it across silk crepe, chiffon, satin, velvet and georgette, with black-on-black embellishment rather than colour.
The trick is to mix textures so the outfit does not look flat: matt wool trousers, a lace top, a satin or leather shoe. Our guide on how to wear all black explains how to make it look rich and interesting.
Practical details that matter
- Sit test. Sit down in the outfit before you leave. Check the waistband, the hem and whether anything gapes.
- Sleeves. Wide or trailing sleeves can end up in your plate. Choose a fitted or three-quarter sleeve for long dinners.
- Colour and food. If you are eating anything with sauce, darker colours are more forgiving.
- Coat check. Your coat will be seen on arrival and departure, so make it part of the outfit.
- Bag. Choose something small enough to sit on your lap or hang from the chair.
Dinner for a date or a celebration
When dinner is also a date, add a slightly more romantic element: a lace top, a bare shoulder or a deep red lip. Our guide to date night outfit ideas has more suggestions. If it is your birthday, this is the moment for the dress you have been saving; see our birthday dinner outfit ideas.
The Notte & Noir Knit & Lace Set was designed with exactly this kind of evening in mind. You can see it in the first collection.
