A night out at the bar is an opportunity to dress your best. For some, choosing bar outfits is part of the fun of going out to a bar in the first place!

Others may struggle with this task. Don’t worry if you’re one of them!

Choosing the best bar outfit for a night out doesn’t need to be as difficult as you might assume. If you wish to learn how to dress right for the bar every time you head to one, the following guide should help.

Factors to Account for When Choosing Bar Outfits

There is no single bar outfit that’s universally ideal for every setting and occasion. The perfect bar outfit for one evening might not be the right choice for another.

Factors to consider when selecting bar outfits include:

The Type of Bar You’re Visiting

A dive bar and a fancy mixology bar might technically be the same type of establishment. However, the overall vibe at each is likely to be significantly different.

Consider this when choosing bar outfits. You may feel perfectly comfortable sporting jeans and a casual top if you’re visiting a dive. On the other hand, a night out at a high-end cocktail bar may justify wearing something more eye-catching, like a flashy cocktail dress.

Whether the Bar Is Indoors or Outdoors

Indoor seating is an option at most bars. However, maybe you’re heading to a bar that also offers unique and attractive outdoor seating.

Account for this when putting together bar outfit ideas.

In a cold climate or season, a longsleeved dress might help you remain comfortable and stylish while drinking al fresco. If you’re visiting a swanky rooftop bar or beach bar in a warm region, perhaps a traditional evening dress would be the better option.

The Dress Code

Do you think the bar you plan to visit strives to achieve a sense of luxury? If so, you may want to check the website or call the bar to ask if there’s a dress code.

Dress codes at bars are not common, but they’re also not unheard of. If you find a bar does have a dress code, narrowing down your choices for bar outfits may be easier.

Bar Activities

Again, accounting for the type of bar you’re visiting is key to choosing bar outfits. Additionally, it’s smart to think about what you’ll be doing at the bar.

A night at the bar doesn’t have to merely involve drinking and chatting with friends. For example, maybe you expect to dance while at the bar. If so, you’ll want to choose an outfit that makes you feel confident while also letting you easily rock your favorite dance moves.

Length of Stay

Knowing about how long you expect to stay out at the bar can help you make various choices when putting together a bar outfit. 

Maybe you’re heading out in the early evening, but you anticipate staying out late into the night or early morning hours. Account for how the temperature may change over the course of your night if so. You may want to pack a jacket to complement your dress or gown in case temperatures drop while you’re out. 

Accounting for how long you plan on staying out can also help you choose footwear. At the very least, you may want to bring along a pair of reasonably comfortable flats you can slip on if you think you’ll be out for several hours.

The Crowd

Yes, going out to the bar with friends is a chance to have fun with fancy bar outfits. Just keep in mind that your favorite garment could become damaged easily in a crowded and rowdy bar.

You shouldn’t feel you can never justify including a high-end garment as part of a bar outfit. On the contrary, wearing some of your fanciest dresses or gowns may be half the fun of visiting the bar with friends.

Just remember that you may be taking a risk if you visit a crowded bar while rocking clothes that can easily tear or stain.

If you expect the bar you’re visiting to attract a large and potentially very active crowd, you might feel more inclined to stick with outfits that aren’t as valuable to you.

Current Trends

Some types of garments and outfits are timeless. For example, a classic ball gown is a style of garment that’s virtually always welcome at a formal event.

If you’re choosing casual bar outfits, however, you may want to research current fashion trends. Doing so can help you select a bar outfit that feels fresh and of-the-moment.

Casual Bar Outfits for a Fun Night Out

Are you and your friends heading to a bar where there’s no dress code and the overall aesthetic is decidedly casual? Bar outfit ideas to keep in mind in these circumstances include:

Strapless Scuba Cocktail Dress

Casual doesn’t need to mean unimpressive! For example, this gorgeous strapless scuba cocktail dress won’t call too much attention to itself in a bar with a relaxed atmosphere. However, it will also ensure you don’t merely blend in with the crowd.

Cocktail-Length Dress

A cocktail-length dress like the one above is another option to consider if you want to strike a balance between being casual and standing out. Fortunately, when a bar’s vibe is fairly “chill,” you may be able to get away with wearing flashy colors or choosing fun accessories. If you’re not in a formal setting, you don’t need to worry about whether your outfit is too loud.

Romper

A romper is often a smart go-to choice for a casual bar outfit. One of the many reasons the romper style is so popular is because it looks good on many different body types.

Casual Winter Outfits for the Bar: Ideas to Keep in Mind

A bar outfit that looks stunning may nevertheless be the wrong choice if it doesn’t keep you comfortable! If you’re heading out to a bar in winter, particularly one where you may be drinking outdoors, consider these casual winter outfits:

Jumpsuits

A jumpsuit might not be the only garment you choose for a casual winter outfit when heading to the bar. That said, a comfortable jumpsuit that covers your legs may be a good starting place for a cold-weather bar outfit. To keep warm, add a matching jacket or other such garment.

A-Line Dress

An A-line style dress, like a romper, is another style that tends to look impressive on many bodies. Although some types of A-line dresses are too fancy for a casual night at the bar in winter, many are relaxed enough for this type of occasion. As with a jumpsuit, you can wear a jacket if necessary to stay warm.

High Neckline Gown or Dress

Choosing casual winter outfits for the bar often involves selecting garments that cover a reasonable portion of your body, sometimes with a higher neckline type. The more you cover, the warmer you’ll be!

That’s not to say covering up means being too modest or hiding your looks. For example, this full-length gown could look gorgeous while also offering the coverage you need to remain comfortable.

Formal Bar Outfits for a Fancier Evening

Not all bars demand casual outfits. On the contrary, some establishments encourage dressing up. When heading to such a bar, consider such outfit ideas as:

Fitted Lace Gown

A gentle but luxurious material like lace can offer the right touch of high-class style to elevate a casual garment into something more appropriate for a semi-formal environment. For example, the above fitted lace gown may allow you to move easily throughout the bar while still indicating to everyone that you dressed right for the occasion.

Mermaid Silhouette Dress

A mermaid silhouette is a popular style because of how classy and tasteful it looks. You may choose this type of dress if you want to look elegant without appearing excessively flashy.

As always, make sure the accessories you choose contribute to the overall effect you’re trying to achieve. If you’re sporting a subtly beautiful mermaid silhouette dress, complement the look with a matching bag that’s equally luxurious.

One Shoulder Dress

A one shoulder dress is a style that proves how small details can transform a garment. By simply removing one shoulder strap from a dress, a designer can turn something undeniably impressive into a truly eye-grabbing item of clothing. Most importantly, such a garment may look perfect in a classy bar setting.

Additional elements like sequins can make such a dress stand out to an even greater degree than it already does. Of course, you’ll have to account for the overall atmosphere of the bar and the event to determine if sequins would be too distracting.

Tips for Choosing Jackets With Bar Outfits

Whether you’re sporting a casual winter outfit to the bar or you’re wearing something more formal and classy, bringing a jacket is smart during cooler months.

Tips for choosing the right jacket for your outfit include:

• Either choose a jacket that matches the color of your dress, or choose one that contrasts with it. A contrasting color scheme may work when your goal is to draw attention to your dress.
• Choose the right jacket length based on the length of your dress or gown. If you’re wearing a very short dress or gown that shows off your legs, your jacket should come fairly close to matching its length. If you’re wearing a full-length dress or gown, it’s best to wear a jacket that’s fairly shorter.
  
• Consider choosing a jacket you can easily drape over your shoulders. Doing so helps you stay warm while keeping your arms free. Additionally, some find this style of wearing a jacket looks more stylish with a dress.

You may also consider belting both your dress and your jacket with a single belt. You’ll create a uniformity of shape that can ensure your jacket matches the rest of the outfit.

Choosing Bar Outfits: Essential Advice to Keep in Mind

Always remember that choosing an outfit to wear to the bar should be an enjoyable process! These tips should merely help you start getting ideas. Apply them, but also be sure to let your own taste, style, and imagination guide you as you put together the perfect ensemble!