Dress to Impress: Date Night Style Guide for Men

Whether you've got a first date lined up, or are celebrating with a long-term partner, Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Find your style match with our guide to dressing to impress on the most important of date nights, whether you're heading to dinner or grabbing drinks – fall for these date night essentials.

The Valentine's Dinner

For the classic V-Day date night, sharp tailoring is a must. The key is to hit the perfect mark between formal and stylish, without looking you're off to a job interview, or a funeral! Create a subtle sense of occasion with a grey or charcoal suit over a white shirt if you're heading to a chic restaurant, not forgetting a luxurious silk tie – red or pink makes a nod to the classic Valentine's colour palette. For a fashion-forward take on tailoring, choose a tonal combo; a navy suit over a pale blue shirt, sans-tie, equals failsafe contemporary-cool – tonal dressing looks relaxed yet polished. For a semi-formal dinner, switch things up with an elegant merino knit over your shirt, paired with smart suit trousers, or make your suit jacket the centre of attention, offset against dark chinos or crisp dark denim.

Out for Drinks

If you're heading for drinks on February 14th, choose semi-formal, comfortable styles that'll keep you looking smart wherever the night takes you. A softly tailored blazer, Oxford shirt, and chinos could be your go-to, blending classic styling with ease of movement for darting between bars and taxis (and the dancefloor!). A printed shirt could be your signature look, too – stylish florals paired with dark denim are a perennial fashion-forward favourite. Keep in mind that some venues could have strict dress policies, particularly when it comes to footwear, so stick to black or tan brogues if you've got a high-end bar in mind. Heading pub-wards? Smart trainers or Chelsea boots offer an easy-going take on put-together dressing. Pair with a knitted polo, jeans and a Harrington jacket for subtle rock'n'roll influence.

The Brunch Date

Laidback brunch dates call for comfort and style in equal measure. For your top half, layer an overshirt over a crisp t-shirt and under a spacious jacket – layering is the easiest way to elevate your casual looks and keeps you warm as a bonus – being savvy with layering is key in February! The humble yet stylish chore jacket continues to make waves among menswear trendsetters, and it's the perfect way to take your everyday style up a notch for a Valentine's brunch – pick up a versatile navy colourway for pairing with t-shirts, knitwear, and much more. Keep your daytime style grounded and put together with some luxe wool trousers for a polished look, and add a stylist's finish with smart leather trainers or desert boots for effortless sophistication.

The Cinema Date

The classic cinema date requires a laidback look that still shows you've made an effort. We say, it's the perfect opportunity to incorporate some colour with knitted polo shirts offering the best of vintage subcultural style with up-to-date colourways – pair with a Mod-inspired Harrington jacket and you're good to go! If you feel like upping the style stakes, a chunky cable knit makes a classic statement and keeps any February chills at bay. With comfort in mind, chinos offer the perfect relaxed construction for kicking back at the cinema, and are smart enough to for heading for drinks afterwards.