This is not the time to pull out your Hawaiian shirt, even if the special occasion is taking place during the summer months. Elegance should be at the forefront when it comes to wardrobe selection.
In today’s blog post, I would be sharing some great outfit ideas you should consider if you’ve been invited to a dinner party at a fancy restaurant. Whether you are attending business dinners at country clubs or a friend’s formal dinner party, these looks would put your best stylish foot forward. I would also give you ideas of footwear and outerwear to complete each look with.
If you are looking for some outfit inspiration for your next dinner parties, you want to keep reading. A lot of these looks would be semi formal with a touch of sexiness. Feel free to tweak a thing here or there to tailor the look to match your personal style.
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through the links, at no cost to you.
What to wear to a dinner party at a restaurant
1) Lace top with leather pants
If you are headed to a birthday dinner at a fancy restaurant create a stylish look by pairing a lace top with a pair of leather pants. If both your top and pants are the same color, add a pop of color by choosing a pair of heels in a bright color.
Get the look HERE
In the winter months, choose a lace top with long sleeves. You can throw on a pair of sleek ankle boots instead of heels. Add a long coat or fur shawl on top of to add an extra layer of warmth.
Get more ideas on how to style a lace top on my post: 5+ outfit ideas to wear with a lace top.
2) Crop top and high waisted jeans
A chic dinner party outfit you can put together is a crop top and jeans look. Choose a bustier and pair it with your most flattering skinny jeans. Add a blazer or suit jacket on top if you want a more business casual look. Crop tops in neutral colors are the best choice for evening dining at a nice restaurant.
Get the look HERE
For cocktail parties with casual dress codes, you can pair your crop top with a pair of light wash jeans. Light denim is considered more casual than dark denim. Complete your look with a pair of high heels and a leather jacket if it’s chilly outside.
3) A little black dress
This list would not be complete without the LBD! When it comes to formal and semi-formal events, there are some things to consider when choosing the perfect LBD. For one, you want your LBD to be at least a knee-length dress. This conforms to a cocktail dress code.
Get the look HERE
During the winter months, you can cover your arms with a shawl or bolero if this is a cocktail party with a strict dress code. A pair of ankle boots or tall boots can also be paired with your black dress during the cold months.
For some more outfit inspiration when dressing for a formal event, check out my post: 7 outfits ideas to wear to a formal event.
4) A floor-length gown
If you’re ready to go all out in formal wear at your next white tie dinner party, a ball gown is a good idea. This is a great way to stand out at a formal event being held at a fine dining restaurant. During the winter months, choose a gown with long sleeves.
Get the look HERE
Choose a dress made from thicker fabric if you need some help making your belly look smaller. A dress with a bold patter is also a great idea if you don’t have a flat stomach and are self conscious about that.
5) A blouse and midi skirt
A good option for semi-formal wear you could put together for a dinner party would be a cute blouse paired with a skirt. This could be a pencil skirt, midi pleated skirt or any other style. Try to keep the skirt below the knee for formal occasions.
Get the look HERE
Choose long-sleeved shirts for business dinners as well as formal events during the colder months. Complete your outfit with a pair of heels or ballet flats. You could also add a trench coat if you’re dressing up for the cold weather.
6) Tulle skirt with a top
Create a fun look for the dining room by pairing a tulle skirt with a blouse or fitted sweater. A knee-length skirt or longer is a great choice to create a more formal look. During the warmer months, you could pair your skirt with a cropped top or tank top for some slightly casual elegance.
Get the look HERE
Fitted sweaters should be worn instead of chunky knits to create more formal looks. Try pairing a fitted sweater in a neutral color with a maxi tulle skirt for a chic evening look. Pair a mini tulle skirt with a pair of tights and knee-high boots for a modern city look.
7) A pencil skirt
Pairing your pencil skirt with boots is the perfect way to style them during the cooler months. Ankle boots work best with a long pencil skirt so that they don’t get hidden by your skirt. A button-down white dress shirt is the perfect choice for an out-of-office business meeting.
Get the look HERE
You could wear a chunky oversized sweater if it’s a cold day or a more form-fitting sweater for a cute Fall look. Throw on a pair of heels when creating dinner date outfits with a black pencil skirt.
Check out my post: Top 8 shoes to wear with a pencil skirt for some more shoe inspiration.
8) A midi dress
Midi dresses are a good option to go with when you’re unsure about how long your dress needs to be for a black or white tie event. Do note that white tie events are seen as more formal and so I would recommend going for a longer dress if that is the type of dinner you have been invited to.
Get the look HERE
Choose a midi dress in a dark color if this is a more solemn dinner. For a celebratory dinner without a strict dress code, choose a midi dress in a bold color or print. Complete your look with an evening clutch and a pair of heels. To compliment the color of you dress.
9) A pantsuit
I love a good pantsuit and they do have a place at formal occasions. A suit in a dark color is a good option to go with unless the dress code states otherwise. Wear a white dress shirt (or even a black dress shirt) underneath to maintain a formal look. The most important thing when it comes to a pantsuit is a tailored fit.
Get the look HERE
You could also ditch the dinner jacket or blazer and just rock your dress pants with a stylish blouse. This would create a more casual look. Choose a pair of shoes in a neutral color if your suit is in a bright color.
I hope you have gotten some different outfit ideas you can try at your next dinner party at a fancy restaurant. You don’t have to wear a cocktail dress to a cocktail party. You also most likely already own most of the items listed in this post.
Image source here
Do let me know which one was your favorite.
If your dinner party is a birthday party, check out my post: 7 Outfits to Wear to a Birthday Dinner.
If the dress code of your party is black and white, check out my post: 7+ Outfits to Wear to a Black and White Party.
For those of you heading to a fancy dinner, check out my post: 15 Stylish Outfits to Wear for Dinner.
If the engagement party you’re headed to is at a restaurant, you need to check out my post: 14 Stylish Outfits to Wear to an Engagement Party at a Restaurant.
I have a post: 8 items you can wear over your cocktail dress. It’s a great guide of cover up ideas when you want to cover your arms while wearing a fancy dress.
Stand out at your next dinner with friends by checking out my post: 12+ Outfits to wear to Dinner With Friends.
Until the next post,
XOXO
Theankaraqueen