Even though we’ve been together nearly a decade, we try to dedicate time for the two of us to reconnect once a week. I like to make my summer date night outfits feel just a little special, whether we’re cooking a meal at home, walking to ice cream, or dining at a favorite restaurant in town. Dressing for summer date nights usually means striking the balance between comfortable, cool, and romantic. If you’re not sure what to wear for a balmy night on the town, keep scrolling for 5 summer date night outfits and some of my favorite summer date night styles.

For our most recent date, we went to Chez Nous in Charleston. It’s the sweetest hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and the menu is handwritten by the chef every day! I wore this ruffle one-shoulder top by Stella Jean I’ve been swooning over all summer (it’s finally on sale) and coordinating blush jeans (more sizes here). To finish the look, I added seasonal texture with raffia heels and a rattan clutch. Underneath it all, I wear these covers, which are a must if one-shoulder, off-the-shoulder, and open-back styles are a staple of your summer wardrobe like me.

A cute top and jeans is pretty typical of what I wear on our dates, but sometimes the occasion calls for something simple, like a flowy dress with sandals, or casual, like a tank top and shorts. Below, I put together more summer date night outfit inspiration and options to style for everything from drinks at a rooftop bar to an outdoor concert, a coffee date, or a nice dinner.

Summer Date Night Outfit Ideas

Flowy Dress and Sandals

Nothing is a put together and easy as a fun, fuss-free flowy dress. Opt for a pretty summery hue like the H&M midi dress (also love this one) below for brunch, try a sweet summer mini dress for a day date, go with a classic white dress for brunch, or wear a chic slip dress in a breathable fabric for a statement-making first date outfit.

Breezy Maxi Dress and Heeled Sandals

For a nicer dinner date outfit, my go-to pairing is a summer dress and strappy sandals. Black maxis are romantic and dressy enough for the reservation you’ve been waiting months to snag, but there are so many dress styles to choose from that could work for this setting. Halter necks are back in as are trendy cutouts. You can always add a pop of your color with jewelry, but I love neutral summery accessories.

Romper and Sandals

I may be biased, but I absolutely swoon over rompers in the summer. They’re perfect for a first date as they come off as both casual and playful. I’d wear one to ice cream, for a picnic in the park, or on a coffee date. If rompers aren’t your thing, Paired with sandals, a crossbody bag, and your go-to lip color, this look screams easy breezy.

Tank, Shorts, and a Baseball Cap

For a low-key date, pair your most comfortable summer staples, like a tank top or t-shirt, cutoffs, a baseball cap (this is my favorite ever by Madewell), and sneakers. This casual look is perfect for a walk at a park, a quick run for ice cream, or simply running errands together to get some quality time.

Cute Top and Jeans

You can never go wrong with a pretty top and jeans, especially if you’ll be indoors where the A/C may add a chill. I love to pick up a few cute summer tops every year with flattering necklines to pair with other flirty separates. You could easily swap the jeans in the look below with a silk midi skirt for a dressier occasion or with lightweight linen pants and flat sandals for a more casual setting.