A Trendy Date Night Outfit

It’s been a while since I shared a good ol’ fashioned outfit post, and this polka dot look might be one of my favorites. There’s just something so chic about red, black, and white together, and I thought the subtle pop of yellow was a fun twist to the classic combo. Wouldn’t this outfit be so cute for a dinner date?! It’s the perfect mix of dressy and casual.

This adorable sweater was sent to me as part of an Instagram collaboration with DR2 by Daniel Rainn, which I’ll be posting later today. I was allowed to pick two items from a selection of their pieces, and this polka dot top was a no-brainer! (You can use my code GRACE20 for 20% off your order.) While I was automatically drawn to the playful print, I’ve also really been loving the look of short-sleeve sweaters lately. I have one (this white one) and think it’s such a great transition piece as the temperatures start to drop. Not to mention, the classic black and white combo can be dressed up for work or paired with more casual pieces for the weekend, like I did here.

My jeans are also new from Express—I got them on steep discount for only $15! I love Express jeans (they fit me really well at both my hips and my waist), but they’re usually really expensive. I’m very patient and exclusively shop from their clearance section! I knew these trendy straight-leg jeans would be a little out of my comfort zone, but at that price point, I figured they were worth the try.

I’ve now worn them three times and liked two of the three outfits. I find lighter-wash denim to be a little more unflattering on me, and the looser fit of this pair will take some getting used to. They’re definitely not go-to jeans that can be worn with anything, but they’re so in right now! Y’all know I’ve never been a very trendy shopper, but I think this just might be the trendiest I’ve ever looked.

For a pop of color, I added my red Kate Spade purse and matching lipstick. This look gives me such Taylor Swift vibes, especially from her music video for “22”. I was thinking maybe she wore something similar in it, but I just rewatched the video, and there were no polka dots to be found… I think it’s just the contrast of the black and white with a bold red lip that reminded me of her.

While my yellow heels aren’t new, this is the first time they’re appearing on the blog. I got them during peak-lockdown and obviously had no place to wear them. I love the color yellow, although I am fairly picky about the shade—it can’t be too “dirty” looking like darker shades of mustard, but it also can’t be too Laffy-Taffy bright. These heels are perfect. I know yellow gets a lot of hate for being unflattering against certain skin tones, but shoes are a great way to style those certain colors that you might love but think you can’t pull off. What I like about this date night look is that it could be worn throughout most of the year—the yellow might seem strictly springy, but when paired with the black and red, it feels more versatile.

 
Would you wear this date night look? I couldn’t link it in the widget above, but you can buy my exact polka dot sweater here. I’m getting really excited for fall, but this is a perfect outfit for those evenings that have some lingering summer heat. As always, thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Miles of smiles,

Grace

Polka Dot Sweater: Gifted by brand, available here | Straight-Leg Jeans: Express, $15 ($7.50 per wear) | Yellow Heels: DSW, $45 | Red Purse: Kate Spade New York, gift, last worn here