Kevin Cortez|Reviewed
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You'vemadeValentine's Day dinner reservations with your date. Maybe afterward,you'll head over to the theaterand have anight out at the movies, or perhaps you and your partner willenjoy a simple walk inthe park. Romantic, sure, but consider this: Do you have any idea what you're going to wear?
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The perfect Valentine's Day outfit can have the power to transform your night froman everyday event to an actual special occasion.To help us present four smart-casual outfit ideas, we tapped celebrity stylist Erin Noël, who's worked for Rag & Bone and Neiman Marcus,for her recommendations on somecertified date night wardrobes. She gave usfour simple outfitscentered around a fewstaple pieces: a relaxed two-piece suit, the bomber jacket, a modest vest and a cable knitsweater.
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1. Thisclassic suit with a hint ofcasual
For a classy look that isn't too formal,Noël recommends a two-piece suit that'stoned down in color and accessories. "Skip the tie," she advises. Instead,"utilize a pocket square as an accessory.Try it out whilewearing acollared shirt—gray, color and white works well.”
TheSlim Italian Wool Suit Jacket and Pantfrom Banana Republic flatters the body well. The jacket comes in short, regular and tall sizes 32 to 50, while the matching pant comes in waist sizes 28 to 44, and lengths 28 to 34. One reviewer claims this suit feels like "luxury."
Wear the jacketopen, with a casual shirt underneath, such asthe top-sellingSlim-Fit Wrinkle Resistant Shirt from Banana Republic Factory. You can grab one in white, gray andnavy, or you canopt for something more colorful andwith a geometric pattern. It comes in regular and tall sizes XS to XXL.
Noël recommends finishing off the look with a pair of brogues—i.e., laced leather shoes—to keep your outfitelegant and clean. A traditional pair of brown brogues could work well, and this pair of Lawson Oxfords from Vince Camuto fillthe bill. It comes in sizes 8 to 13 and in medium and wide widths. If brown isn't your style, opt for black for a more formal appearance.
- Get the Slim Italian Wool Suit Jacket for $175 at Banana Republic
- Get the Slim Italian Wool Suit Pant for $120 at Banana Republic
- Get theSlim-Fit Wrinkle Resistant Shirt for $49.99 at Banana Republic Factory
- Get the Vince Camuto Lawson Oxfords for $89.99 at DSW
2. This effortless, laidbacklook tied together with a bomber jacket
You can dress laidback and still achieve a sharplook—it just takes is a single piece to tie it all together. Here, the glue thatmakes that effortless outfit cohesive is a bomber jacket. Noël suggests grabbinga suede bomber jacket and pairing it with a thin crewneck sweater and a pair of chinos for an easy, cool-guy appearance. Depending on thelocation of your date, finish it off with either some dress shoes or casual sneakers.
For an alternative to the typically pricey all-leatherbomber jacket, this Vegan Suede Bomber from Banana Republic Factory is sure to impress without busting your budget. This jacket, which comes in sizes XS to XXL, is lined with a jersey knit for soft insulation and features two front welt pockets. Pairit with this French Terry Crewneck from J.Crew in gray, available in regular and tall sizes XS to XXL,to create a mellow contrast against the bomber's tan suede.
As for bottoms: The popular J.Crew 770Straight-fit Stretch Chino Pant offers plenty of range for styling options. These chinos are available in waistlines30 to 38 and come in a variety of colors, like white, gray, black and khaki. Thefan favorites have been a mainstay for yearsand, according to one reviewer, are "the best chinos J.Crew has ever offered."
To make your outfit more formal, opt for thepair of Lawson Oxfords from Vince Camuto(in the photo above), or reach for acleanall-white pair of Reebok Club Memt sneakers, availableat DSW. These casual sneakers go with practically anything in the closet and can spruce up your entire 'fit with a pristine pop of white.
- Get the Vegan Suede Bomber for $90.99 at Banana Republic Factory
- Get the French Terry Crewneck for $69.50 at J.Crew
- Get the770Straight-fit Stretch Chino Pant for $79.50at J.Crew
- Get the Vince Camuto Lawson Oxfords for $89.99 at DSW
- Get the Reebok Club Memt Sneakers for $64.99 at DSW
3. This outdoor-ready look that pairs a vest with denim
If you'll be celebrating Valentine's Day in a cold climate, Noël has a winter-appropriate outfitto try. "I’ve been watching a lot of Yellowstone, so I am very into the vest and denim look," she says."Try layering your favorite sweaterwith a vest and pair it with somedenimand Chelsea boots for an outdoor winter date."
This L.L. Bean Waterfowl Sweater Vest is a simple merino wool piece made more visually interesting by thetexture ofribbed knit. This vest, a favorite at L.L. Bean with near 400 reviews and a 4.7-star average rating, has a microsuede collar, fleece-lined pockets for extra warmthand is built to repel rain and moisture. Throw it over a plain-colored sweatshirt and you'll stay warm and stylish. You can grab the vestin XS to XXXL in heather blue, tanand two shades of gray.
For your lower half, reach for the prototypicalpair of denim jeans: Levi's 501s. These timeless blue jeans haven't changed much from their original 1873 design and maintaina straight fit and come in a variety of washes. Grab a pair in lengths 29 to 36 and waist sizes 28 to 42, in dark, medium and light hues of blue. Go lighter for a casual lookor darker for more sharperstyle.
Tying this all together is a pair of clean-lined, pull-on Chelsea boots. For those, we recommend the#500 Blundstones. We tested a pair of Blundstone bootsand can vouch for their versatility, durable leather and long-lasting durability.
- Get theL.L. Bean Waterfowl Sweater Vestfor $99 at L.L. Bean
- Get the Levi's 501 Original Fit Jeans for $69.50 at Levi's
- Get the #500 Blundstone Chelsea Boot for $199.95 at L.L. Bean
4. A cozy cable knit sweater and a pair of jeans
If you want the easiest of date-night 'fits, Noël recommends wearing a cozy cable-knit sweater with a pair of jeans and, depending on the occasion, sneakers or loafers. Grabbing a cable-knit sweater, instead of a typical cotton crewneck, gives an interesting texture to an outfitthat helps spruce it up with sophistication. But with a pair of jeans, it makes for a casual and carefree look that your date will see as a laidback vibe.
For a classy cable-knit piece that's both comfortable and versatile, this Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater from L.L. Beandoes the job. The stitchwork shows off thick knits and a ribbed collar and hem for a timeless texture, while reviewers love it for its excellent fit and soft fabric feel. Dress this with another classic jeans style, the Levi's slim fit511. This trim model is available in waist sizes 28 to 38 and lengths 30 to 36, and in a medium blue wash, black and two variations of dark denim.
If you're going out for a casual dinner or movie, grab a pair ofNew Balance 327s in a neutral pair of colors like gray and white. These sneakers have a slightly exaggerated outsole for a modern look, and New Balance superfan Richie Roxas claims the shoe is a must-have model that's "insanely comfortable."
Want fancier footwear? Opt for a pair of loafers and consider a pair ofG.H. Bass Weejuns. The Larson colorblock model in black and white is a popular pick for those wanting a bit of contrast to their penny loafer. Whiletesting the footwear, we found the pair of leather shoes to be both very comfortable, versatile and a solid entry-level shoe for those unfamiliar with the style.
- Get the L.L. Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater for $99 at L.L. Bean
- Get the Levi's 511 Slim Fit Jeans for $69.50 at Levi's
- Get the New Balance 327 for $99 at New Balance
- Get the Larson Colorblock Weejuns for $130 at G.H. Bass
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