Outfits

Don’t Know What You’re Supposed to Wear on Nights Out? We Have the Answer

written by MADELINE GALASSI

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going out outfits"
going out outfits
Source: @laurajadestone
Source: @laurajadestone

The experience of getting ready for a night out is the epitome of girlhood. The time comes to being the getting-ready process, and like clockwork, a notification from the group chat pings. “What’s everyone wearing?”

For years, the inescapable answer was “jeans and a cute top,” or more recently, the notorious black bodysuit and baggy jeans combination. But as I’ve entered the above-25 age demographic, I’ve seen the going-out uniform become a little bit more of a mystery. You want to feel sexy, but in a very different way than you did in college (I, for one, would never like to put anything that resembles the lace-up tank of the early 2010s on my body again).

The good news is that having a slew of going-out outfits you can turn to as an adult doesn’t necessarily require reinventing the wheel of what already exists in your closet, and these seven outfits prove it.

A baby tee and mini skirt

A mini skirt paired with a baby tee has quickly become my go-to uniform when I’m going out. It’s a base that feels fun and playful, and I love that I can make it feel completely different each time I style it via jackets, shoes, and accessories. You can rely on it for a casual look by choosing sneakers as your footwear, but if you want bonus styling points, you can pair the combination with socks and kitten heels or loafers.

Baby Tee
Abercrombie & Fitch
Baby Tee

8 colors available

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Baby Tee
Maeve
Baby Tee

5 colors available

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Mini Skirt
H&M
Mini Skirt

4 colors available

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Pleated Mini Skort
Abercrombie & Fitch
Pleated Mini Skort

3 colors available

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A tailored tube top

2024’s office siren trend is the perfect match for a night out that includes a cocktail bar or dinner at the trendy new restaurant you’ve been dying to try. After years of wearing bodysuits, there’s something freeing about a longer, tailored tube top that doesn’t need to be tucked in. You can also seamlessly pair the more elevated top with your favorite relaxed trousers, jeans, or mini skirt depending on what you’re in the mood for.

Tube Top
Babaton
Tube Top

9 colors available

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Pinstripe Strapless Top
Mango
Pinstripe Strapless Top
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Satin Pants
J.Crew
Satin Pants

5 colors available

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Satin Trousers
Eloquii
Satin Trousers
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A top with a matching mini scarf

Behold: More evidence that the Y2K fashion resurgence will never end. Our most beloved fashion icons of the 2000s may have done it first, but skinny scarves have been back for a while now—just not in the way you might remember them. This time around, they’re coming attached to tops and dresses for a perfect match that feels surprisingly sexy.

Strapless Top with Scarf
LPA
Strapless Top with Scarf
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Sleeveless Blouse
Commense
Sleeveless Blouse

2 colors available

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Bandeau Top
Mango
Bandeau Top
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Cashmere Scarf Tank
Reformation
Cashmere Scarf Tank

3 colors available

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Micro shorts

Source: @raeannlangas

If you’re on the fence about hopping on micro shorts trend, there’s no better time to test it than on a night out. Spotted on fashion muses like Hailey Bieber and Olivia Rodrigo, “no pants, no problem” has taken on a whole new meaning this year. If you want look but with a little more coverage, layer a pair of semi-opaque tights underneath, and grab your favorite heels for a legs-for-days effect you’ll reach for again and again.

Corduroy Micro Shorts
Maeve
Corduroy Micro Shorts
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Sequin Micro Shorts
Eloquii
Sequin Micro Shorts
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Leather Micro Shorts
Zara
Leather Micro Shorts
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Suede Micro Shorts
Free People
Suede Micro Shorts

4 colors available

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A sheer top and skirt

Source: @gabbywhiten

Sheer dressing might sound intimidating, but in reality, it’s the stuff of Saturday night out dreams. Pair a sheer, long-sleeve top with your favorite bralette or bodysuit (depending on how much coverage you want), and add some texture with your favorite silky skirt in a similar color on bottom.

Mesh Top
Abercrombie & Fitch
Mesh Top

3 colors available

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Draped Mesh Top
Abercrombie & Fitch
Draped Mesh Top

3 colors available

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Satin Skirt
Wilfred
Satin Skirt

7 colors available

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Maxi Slip Skirt
Anthropologie
Maxi Slip Skirt

10+ colors available

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A white tank and relaxed trousers

Source: @paige_desorbo

If you love the confidence that jeans and a black top give you, this is a similar swap you can dip your toes into before diving in to something completely new. A white tank with wide-leg, relaxed trousers is a chic, elevated combination that can be completely customized with your shoes and accessories for a new going-out uniform you can wear on repeat.

Racerback Tank Top
J.Crew
Racerback Tank Top

5 colors available

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Rib Tank Top
Good American
Rib Tank Top

3 colors available

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Low-Rise Pants
Reformation
Low-Rise Pants

7 colors available

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Mid-Rise Pants
Reformation
Mid-Rise Pants

8 colors available

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A denim-on-denim moment

Source: @sixtinerouyre

Denim-on-denim has proven to be the effortlessly chic combination of the year, and by opting for a denim vest or corset as your top, you can make it work for a night out, too. Pair the elite combo with your favorite strappy heels or a pair of heeled boots for a sexy, flirty look.

Denim Bustier
Denim Forum
Denim Bustier

7 colors available

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Denim Bustier Top
Reformation
Denim Bustier Top

2 colors available

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Denim Cropped Vest
Warp + Weft
Denim Cropped Vest
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Denim Top
Mango
Denim Top
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Madeline Galassi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maddie Galassi, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor

Madeline Galassi is the Fashion & Beauty Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the fashion and beauty categories of the site. She brainstorms, writes, and edits stories across a broad range of topics including trend reports, product reviews, celebrity style, and more. She’s always keeping a pulse on the latest trends to create timely, exciting content for our readers.