18 stylist-approved looks from cocktails with girlfriends to a romantic night at home
Whether your dream date is exquisite and fancy or low-key and relaxing, a charming Valentine’s Day outfit with pops of reds and pinks is essential to feeling like your best self this year. If you are a single lady, Galentine’s Day clothing ideas can be as casual or as fancy as your girlfriends choose, but keeping it comfortable, colorful, and playful is always a safe bet.
Whether you’re going for a minimal style, channeling your inner bombshell, or making a glitzy fashion statement in rose colors or subtle neutrals, these outfits will come in handy this holiday season, despite your dating life or plans. Valentine’s Day can be an intimate day or a day you would skip, but you still deserve to feel all of the love through your outfit.
In contrast, Galentine’s Day is a day devoted to having a great time with your dearest friends and is more about lighthearted company than romantic commitment. Whether you’re hosting a small Valentine’s party for your girlfriends or planning a night out, you’ll need something special to wear.
“For Valentine’s Day, it’s all about feeling warm, comfortable, and wearing flats,” said Jenny Davis, fashion professor at Southern Methodist University. “I love to be noticed so I always wear bright colors with a statement piece, whether it’s a collection purse, evening bag in an interesting shape, statement pieces like cat-head necklaces, or retro-designed accessories.”
If you are staying in for the night and celebrating alone, Davis recommends wearing a festive pair of tennis shoes with a t-shirt and joggers for the perfect Instagram mirror selfie.
“I love to have dressing rules for myself and not for anyone else,” she said.
A brand Davis admires and enjoys wearing is Adidas because of collaborations with empowering women such as Victoria Beckham and Beyoncé. Additionally, she likes the boldness of Adidas’ three stripes.
Davis says she prefers a Galentine’s Day party or a manicure to a romantic evening with her husband. She says her husband makes every day feel like Valentine’s, and since it’s a rare chance to celebrate women, she prefers to do something low-key with her girlfriends.
“Dressing up for your girlfriends is more fun because they appreciate it more when you break out the designer stuff, but can still be comfortable,” she said. “However, when it comes to a romantic dinner, I think one should either catch the eye or be soft to the touch with your style.”
A Galentine’s Day party is the perfect opportunity to add bright red and pink accents to your look. Alex Gallagher is a fashion media intern for The RealReal and says his top wardrobe choice for Galentine’s is a snazzy pajama set with heels a fitted dress. For a romantic date night, Gallagher says he recommends pairing your outfit with a colorful handbag, dazzling shoes, and statement earrings.
“If you’re celebrating with friends or with your significant other, Valentine’s Day is the ideal occasion to accessorize and go all out,” said Gallagher.
A formal Valentine’s Day dinner date has a very different vibe than a Galentine’s Day party, and you should dress accordingly. Each outfit below was selected to highlight Valentine’s Day styles but can also be worn year-round.
Plan to bring out the pink, red, Y2K fashion, and heart shapes for all of the photos. Gallagher says the Y2K resurrection is all about having a good time and celebrating. Fashion from the year 2000 (Y2K) has been reintroduced by Gen-Z on social media. The iconic looks of this style such as aspects of tie-dye, vivid accessories, matching sets, pleated skirts, unique fabrics, silhouettes with cutouts, and low-rise or flared jeans that appeal to Gen-Z.
“Corsets, sparkly embellishments, ’90s handbags, and bright pastels are all popular trends that are simple to integrate into a Valentine’s Day look,” he said.
Both Davis and Gallagher agreed on recommendations such as using gems on party bags and shoes.
Gallagher also likes vintage items such as oversized blazers, wide-leg jeans, and dramatic earrings. These looks can also be seen on street style icons such as actress Sydney Sweeney, model Hailey Bieber, actress Zendaya, and singer Dua Lipa.
“These women are a big style inspiration for younger customers on the hunt for ideas on how to be a part of the Y2K revival,” Gallagher said.
If you need inspiration for deciding what to wear on the most romantic day of the year or just simply need some fresh festive attire to feel fun and flirty this Valentine’s Day, check out these stylist-approved looks.
For a Romantic Dinner
There is nothing like a little black dress if you aren’t comfortable with bright reds or pinks. This is the perfect dress for a late-night or romantic dinner date. To make it classy, add a sleek hairstyle and a bold lip.
This dress will make you feel like you’re the gift. It’s the perfect red dress to pair with dainty hoop earrings, pointed-toe heels, or your face pair of sneakers. You can dress it up or down, the night is all up to you and this red dress.
The perfect dress for a candle-lit dinner, a surprise date, or meeting your significant other’s family. This Reformation dress has a babydoll fit with an empire waist and a full skirt. You can wear tights and boots to keep warm or wear your favorite pair of flats. Be ready for compliments and confidence.
A Cozy Night In
Everyone deserves a self-care day this Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s putting on a face mask to read a good book or ordering a heart-shaped pizza and binge-watching your favorite Netflix series, these joggers from H&M will take care of the comfort and feel like a blanket.
Stay inside and stay cozy with this Frieda satin shirt and bra set. It’s a luxe feel that will keep you feeling the love from your couch this Valentine’s Day.
If you are ready for a movie day with your partner, get ready to do it in cozy style. This 100% silk set is petal-soft designed to cradle your body, mind, and soul with the intent of feeling luxurious and soothing. Can this comfort and elegance set be mine, please?
Be My Galentine
Wild thing, this dress will make your heart sing. This brown mesh leopard print dress by Pretty Little Thing features a ruched drawstring to enhance the bodycon fit. How-to stand out from outfits of red, pink, and lace? Wear this bold, leopard mini dress and hear the roar.
Valentine’s doesn’t always have to be pink or red, especially with this show-stopping skirt. Every holiday is the best excuse to wear sequins, and this teal sequin skirt will keep your look chic, flirty, and fun paired with an oversized top. Ladies, let’s dance.
This metallic one-shoulder puff mini dress is bringing all the hot girl energy to the scene for a Galentine’s fit.
A Hike, Bike Ride, or Picnic
This Def Leppard hoodie has a terrycloth fabric with a banded Terrycloth fabric with banded hem to help create the oversized fit. If you are planning an artsy or sporty outing for Valentine’s Day, keep the fit casual with this oversized hoodie and a pair of bicycle shorts. For accessories, “add a little extra spice with some gold layered chains,” Gallagher says. “The go-to layering is always three necklaces of varying lengths to add that clustering effect”
You can’t go wrong with a matching set. This long-sleeve cropped, collared shirt paired with this terry cloth skirt is a whole look. Wear it to a picnic, bike ride, or a casual date.
Did someone say Y2K? Let your beautiful curves feel the love in this figure-hugging crop top with a ruched drawstring design. The style, the fit, and the hot pink just feel like it’s the early 2000s again and is the perfect Valentine-themed attire for a casual day.
Cold Weather, Warm Love
Wear a bright pink puffer over a cream top, your favorite pair of jeans, and white booties. This is a go-to outfit for a casual day in cold environments while still keeping a festive and casual approach to the occasion.
Whether it’s a romantic stroll in the park or a classic dinner date, make a bold statement in this tailored red coat by River Island. Pair it with a jumpsuit or your best jeans for Valentine’s vibes.
Keep yourself warm and cozy in cold weather with this dressed-up PJ set. The feather details, fitted silhouette, a V-neck, and button closure make this year’s Valentine’s fit memorable.
Spa Day
This satin set is versatile and chic. Mix and match, or wear the full set by pairing it with the matching wide-leg pants. Dress it up with heels or down with slippers, and your favorite statement earrings. The satin shirt features a chill silhouette, pointed collar, button-down closure, pockets, fitted cuffs, and a shimmer finish.
The classic everyday style with a scoop-neck in ribbed stretch modal from SKIMS hugs your figure with comfort. This dress is perfect for a spa day with the easy loungewear fabric to help you slip it on or off.
The fluffy UGG slippers are a must-have. They are cute, comfy, and ready for a spa day. These pink rose slippers give you a warm welcome to the self-love club, babe.
Here at Cosmopolitan, it’s all about spreading love. That’s why you can use this rounded-up list of the best Valentine-inspired outfits that are versatile for just about every occasion.
Anonymous says
fantastic!!