Styling a Fur Boots Outfit: Your Winter Inspiration

Going out on a date is always exciting, though of course, the first question is always what to wear. In a new relationship, you can feel extra pressure to show up in a perfect outfit, and in an established relationship, you may feel pressured to keep it interesting for your partner. Regardless, our guide gives you inspiration so you can go into your next date with confidence.  Whether you’re going out to your favorite bar and want to mix things up, or you’re heading off to a gala, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite date night outfit ideas.  7 Date Night Outfit Ideas for Your Next Night Out If you’re tired of the same outfit rotation for your date nights and want to mix it up a little, you’re in luck. We’ve rallied our top seven date night outfit ideas so you can get inspired for your next night out with your sweetheart!  Sparkly Mini Dress for Glamorous Vibes There’s nothing that screams glamour quite like a sparkling cocktail dress. Go with bold colors like red or hot pink for all eyes on you, or a classic black for a glamour-meets-sophistication look. If you’re looking to add a bit of playfulness to your glittering look, choose a printed dress, or one with off-the-shoulder sleeves or ruffles around the skirt.  When choosing accessories, keep jewelry demure so your sparkly dress is the star of the show. Make sure you try your accessories on with your dress before your date night so you feel confident that your look is cohesive.  Pants and a Jacket for a Polished Vibe If it’s a chillier time of year and you’re dying to go out, pants or trousers with either a matching jacket or one that offers chic contrast can be the perfect date night solution. Pants that are flared or have a wider cut are super trendy and pair nicely with a more form-fitting top or one that shows more skin.  Unless you’re looking for a more serious vibe on your date, you may want to keep your shirt on the fun or whimsical side, or pair a plainer top with a statement necklace. A bodysuit can also be a great pairing, especially for a more active night out.  All-Red for a Hint of Fire If you want your date to know that you’re a passionate person, an all-red outfit can be the perfect way to embody it. For a more formal look, choose a red formal dress; for something a bit more casual, you can go with a co-ord or a red cocktail dress. Pair with red shoes and a matching red bag to complete your look.  Not totally sure about all red? Trade red shoes or accessories for a complimentary color like gold, beige, or pearl instead for a less monochrome look.  Tailored Pencil Skirt and Blouse for a Day-to-Night Look If you’re going from a day at the office to a date night out, you can effortlessly transform your look from day to night with the right makeup and accessories. Switch out office footwear like pumps or flats with statement boots or glitzy sandals, and add a bold lip for a nighttime vibe.  You can also choose a shirt or skirt that has a bit of a shimmer so it’s still office-appropriate but elevated.  Formal Dress for a Very High-End Night Out This may just be an excuse to buy a really fancy dress, and that’s okay! If you’re in need of a formal look for a formal night out, look at long dresses in formal styles. Darker colors tend to be more formal than pastels, but don’t let that stop you from getting the pastel dress of your dreams if the event calls for it.  When you’re thinking about a formal dress, be sure to keep in mind details like silhouettes, colors, and necklines that make you feel confident!  A Glam Romper for Whimsical Vibes  Rompers are the perfect solution for people who want the ease of a dress but with the added range of motion. A romper with glam touches like sequins or beading can be great for dates that involve activities like being at a carnival, mini golf, or lots of dancing. Like dresses, rompers come in just about every color of the rainbow (as well as just about any print), so the sky’s the limit. For date night, darker colors and more muted prints will add a touch of formality to your look, so keep this in mind.  A Co-Ord Set for a Casual Meets Cool Look If you’re heading on a date that’s not quite formal but not quite casual, a co-ord set makes you feel effortlessly put together. A lot of co-ords tend to be made of cropped tops and high-waisted skirts, making them whimsical in silhouette, but since they match, it adds a flair of uniformity.  Solid-colored co-ords make great backdrops for accessories, whereas printed co-ords tend to be more eye-catching on their own.  Dark Jeans and a Flowy Top for Casual Date Night The right pair of jeans can make you feel super confident and cute, and with the right top, they can be transformed into a fabulous date night outfit. You may not want to pull this one out on a very formal night out, but if you know you’re heading to a more casual bar or restaurant, this outfit can be just the thing.  Tops in pastel colors like pink, blue, or mint green are effortlessly feminine and offer a contrast to the dark jeans. Choose tops with details like ruffles, bell sleeves, or lacing at the chest for an extra dose of femme vibes.  How Do I Accessorize My Date Night Outfit?  It’s going to depend on what your outfit is, as well as what time of year it is. For instance, on a Valentine’s date in the winter, you’ll want to make sure you choose a jacket that complements your outfit but still keeps you warm. You may also want to add cold-weather accessories like a scarf or gloves.  When you’re putting an outfit together, the general accessories you’ll want to consider are your shoes, bag, jewelry, and any hair accessories. Outfits that are more neutral, like a black cocktail dress, will give you more accessory options than printed or busier outfits. If your outfit calls for it, you can also think about complementary scarves, belts, or hats.  How Do I Wear My Hair for a Date?  Above all, you’ll want to be comfortable and have your hair in a style that makes you feel confident. If you prefer wearing your hair up or back, you can add in some glitzy barrettes or clips for a touch of date night glamour. If you like wearing your hair down, you can wear minimalist jewelry that makes your hair the star, or wear a dainty headband for a minimalist look.  What Should I Not Wear on a First Date? Be sure to avoid any clothes that don’t make you feel your best. You’ll also want to keep overly casual clothes like pajamas at home. Even if it’s a more casual date night, you still want to make a good impression on your date.  Staying Confident and Cute With Our Date Night Outfit Ideas Dates always come with a few butterflies, but choosing what to wear for date night doesn’t have to be overly stressful. When you’re thinking about your outfit, always choose pieces that make you feel cute and confident; this will help lay the foundation for having a great time on your date! 

Prom is one of the most exciting events of the year, and the theme can add a layer of fun and whimsy to the evening (and to your prom shopping excursions). While not all proms have themes, many prom committees elect to have one to give an extra sense of celebration to the event.  Sometimes the prom theme can present a shopping challenge by being a bit offbeat or not like your usual style. If you’re not sure how to dress for the theme, we’re here to help.  Top Prom Dress Options Based on Theme When you get your prom theme, you may be asking yourself what kind of dress fits the bill the most. Below, we get into some of our top dresses for the most popular prom themes, so you can have a good place to start researching.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for Throwback Themes  The 80s, 90s, and 00s were known for neon bright colors. Vibrant tones like fuchsia, red, orange, and yellow will immediately steal the show, especially on a dress that has standout details like a dramatic sleeve. Statement jewelry was big in the 80s, so feel free to pile it on if you’re embodying this era. If you like to keep your colors more neutral, you can let yourself get inspired by silhouettes from the throwback era you’re nodding to. If your throwback prom theme doesn’t have an assigned decade, the 20s and the 40s had more muted color palettes and no shortage of dazzling gown silhouettes, like dropwaist flapper dresses.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for the Garden Party or Enchanted Forest Theme The garden party and the enchanted forest theme both take inspiration from natural wonders. Floral prints fit right in with these themes, as do romantic dress details like a corset bodice and ruffles.  A ball gown will be the most impactful for either of these themes, though a breezy, more fitted dress can be perfect for a garden party-themed prom, especially in a pastel color. Dresses can lean into a moodier, fantasy vibe for an enchanted forest-themed prom, in darker colors or with more dramatic fabrics like brocade.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for Casino Night Casino night brings an added sense of adrenaline to prom, which is already exciting in its own right. Darker colors and jewel tones tend to take center stage for casino night, as this theme tends to evoke luxuriousness and mystique.  Dresses that have a sleek, fitted silhouette will fit right in with this theme, evoking a flirty James Bond-type vibe. You can go over the top with shimmers like beading, sequins, and rhinestones, though, and still fit right in. If your heart’s set on a big princess gown, though, feel free to wear it anyway and commit to making an entrance.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for the Masquerade Ball A masquerade ball is a great excuse for a dramatic gown. Sometimes masquerade balls will be accompanied by color suggestions (a black and white ball, for instance), but in general, you can’t go wrong with any color (or print) that you desire. When you’re accessorizing your dress, don’t forget your mask!  If a big ball gown isn’t really your thing, you can still make an impactful statement with a more fitted dress. You can look at a more subtle mermaid-style silhouette for just a touch of drama, or go with a body-skimming A-line gown in a bold color like red or orange to stand out.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for the Hollywood Glamour Theme The Hollywood glamour theme is all about elegant glitz and glamour. This is one prom theme where neutrals like black, white, gold, or silver will fit right in, though if you’re looking for a showstopping moment, you can go red to match the red carpet.  Off-the-shoulder necklines and dresses that are cut closer to your body embody the vintage Hollywood vibe, especially paired with elbow-length gloves. Don’t be afraid to explore other silhouettes or dress alternatives like jumpsuits, though; alternative looks can still be totally on theme if that’s what you’re looking for!  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for Under the Sea Theme “Under the sea” is one of the most straightforward themes to dress for. The most common options for theme-ready dresses are sparkly, blue, flowy pieces, but you don’t have to stick with that to still be on theme. You can find inspiration in sea life like lobsters and go with a red dress, or deck yourself out in gold resembling a pirate’s treasure – the sky’s the limit.  When it comes to silhouettes, this is one theme where just about anything goes. A more flowy A-line dress will probably look the most sea-worthy, but mermaid dresses, sheath dresses, and princess gowns can all evoke the sea in different ways. Fabrics like chiffon and details like ruffles will add movement to your look, giving you an underwater effect.  Best Prom Dresses 2026 for An Evening in Paris Theme Finally, “an evening in Paris” is meant to blend a romantic vibe with a nighttime city vibe (that city being, of course, Paris). When you’re thinking about colors, this is one theme where anything can fit; pinks and reds can play into the romance of Paris, darker colors can represent nighttime, and lighter colors or metallics can evoke the stars.  The “an evening in Paris” theme can sometimes be tweaked to different cities, depending on the vibe your prom committee wants to evoke (for instance, “an evening in New York City.”)  Do I Have to Dress to My Prom’s Theme?  You definitely don’t have to dress to your prom’s theme. If you don’t find the theme inspiring, or you and your friends want to do your own thing, you can absolutely do so. Participating in the theme can be an icebreaker, and it may make you feel more connected to the event, but there’s no need to invest in a prom look you don’t like just because it’s aligned with the theme.  If you don’t find your prom’s theme particularly inspiring, it may be helpful to talk with your friends about different ways to interpret the theme What If My Prom Doesn’t Have a Theme? If your prom doesn’t have a theme, that just means you can have maximum creativity when you’re researching and shopping for looks.  If you’d like a little more direction, you can coordinate themed outfits with your friends, though always be sure to dress for yourself first, not just because other people think you should dress a certain way. Alternatively, you can also get inspired by your school’s colors for school spirit.  Finding the Best Prom Look for Any Theme  Your prom’s theme will dictate the aesthetic vibe for the night, and how much you want to participate in that is up to you! The theme can serve as inspiration for your prom look, but you can also give any themed look a dose of your personal style.   

Shopping for prom dresses is some of the most exciting shopping that you can do. Naturally, you may want to research what’s in style for prom so you can prepare accordingly. While we encourage you to think about your personal style, the vibe you want to exude, and the dress details you like, knowing what the trends are can be a great starting point for dress research.  Below, we break down 2026’s top five prom trends, with examples for each one so you can get inspired. Later, we cover your top prom questions so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.  Our Top 5 Prom Dress Trends for 2026 First, let’s take a look at this year’s top prom dress trends! Remember, you don’t have to incorporate any of these trends to find a beautiful dress (or alternative look) for prom; above all, choose a look that makes you feel confident and happy.  Printed Dresses  Printed dresses are coming for 2026 in a big way across pretty much all dress silhouettes, from sleek sheath looks to ball gowns that rival those of a Disney princess. Go for florals for a classic romantic vibe, animal prints for boldness, or polka dots for a twee and whimsical look.  When accessorizing a printed dress, you can go with accessories that match the background color or choose a color within the print to keep your look cohesive. Bold Colors While dreamy florals are definitely having a moment, bold colors definitely are, too. This prom season, we’re anticipating lots of bright reds, hot pinks, and royal blues to help you make an entrance. Go with a ball gown in a bright color for a showstopping prom appearance.  If you’re not feeling like going bold, a black dress can have just as much impact as a vivid color, especially with statement accessories! You can also consider a metallic, which is always timeless.  Romantic Meets Modern Details 2026 is also all about dress details that feel a little extra romantic but have a modern twist. Regencycore is the name of the game, with tons of dresses featuring bows, corsets, ruffles, and backless silhouettes. You may see gowns featuring these details in modern tones like vivid brights or pastels, or they may have details like a high slit to give the gown a bit of edge.  These details tend to be most impactful in a ball gown silhouette, but there are tons of sleek looks incorporating them as well.  All-Over Sparkle The all-over sparkle trend is fabulous if you’re looking to shimmer while you move on the dance floor. This trend is great paired with a metallic or a skin-tone colored dress for a dramatic look, though all-over sequins, rhinestones, and beading can make a black dress look like the night sky!  When choosing accessories for a super sparkly dress, less is usually more. Keeping your jewelry and shoes more demure ensures that your gown will be the star of the night!  Sleek Silhouettes The ball gown is a prom classic, but more tailored, form-fitting gowns are growing in popularity for this event. Sheath dresses and A-line gowns that are cut close to the body add a sense of sophistication and maturity to prom, plus they have the bonus of being versatile for other events later on.  For the best of both worlds, look at a mermaid gown, which is fitted through the torso and flares out near the knees or calves. There are subtle mermaid gowns, which have only a bit of a flare, and there are more dramatic mermaid looks, which add an extra sense of intrigue.  What Should I Avoid Wearing to Prom? The two most basic rules for what to avoid wearing to prom are much like dressing for a party: avoid anything that doesn’t make you feel cute, and avoid anything that isn’t formal enough. Most prom celebrations are formal in dress code, so keep this in mind.  Be sure to try your whole prom look on ahead of time so you know it fits, it’s flattering, and you like it.  Does the Prom Theme Matter?  Your prom’s theme matters as much as you want it to matter. You can find plenty of looks that fall in line with your prom’s theme (that are still trendy), but you can also do your own thing or make up a theme with your friends.  Your prom’s theme can be a good starting point for outfit inspiration, especially if you get overwhelmed by choice. However, if you find that you’re not inspired by it, don’t torture yourself.  Ultimately, how much you decide to incorporate the theme into your look is up to you. If you don’t want to dress to the theme at all, you don’t have to.  How Do I Accessorize My Prom Look?  How you accessorize will depend on the look you decide to wear to prom. For instance, you may not want to put very dark accessories with a very light dress, but the same accessories may be perfect for a dress in navy blue.  Be sure to choose your accessories ahead of time so you know exactly how to put your look together. Also, make sure you try your shoes on during any dress hemming alteration session. Before the big night, test that your shoes are comfortable for dancing in, especially if you want to dance the night away.  Prom Dress Trends 2026: Our Final Thoughts Now you know the trend forecast for 2026, so it’s time to start your prom moodboard (if you haven’t already). Think about how you’ll add your personal style to any trends you want to incorporate into your look; when you do, your personality will shine through and make your night even more memorable!