Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas

I don’t need a specific reason or holiday to wear pink or red, but during the month of February and primarily around Valentine’s Day, I like to let my favorite color run free in my wardrobe. In my opinion, there’s no such thing as too much pink or red. Besides pink being my favorite color, I’m a Wisconsin Alum so red also has a strong presence in my closet. I also love any excuse to get dressed up out of my usual jeans/sweater/t-shirt and trucker jacket routine that I wear to work, so when I can toss on a cute and comfy dress or skirt, I like to take advantage, so Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to do so.

With this romantic holiday comes romantic dinners, movies, and date nights which all call for an equally romantic outfit. Here’s a few of my favorite ideas and current trends to pair the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit.

Velvet. Always Velvet.

I don’t know if there is a fabric that’s more romantic than velvet. Besides silk, but velvet is so soft, always looks luxe, and right now can be found in so many different pieces, whether it’s gorgeous shift or wrap dresses, short or long-sleeve tops, shoes, or handbags and clutches. With so many Valentine’s Day appropriate shades available in pinks, reds, or black, there’s so much to choose from to match your style and be appropriate for any way you might be spending Valentine’s Day.

This blush, long-sleeve velvet shift dress from Madewell was a perfect pick for me (and at an amazing price since it was on sale). I love the balloon sleeve accent to add some subtle interest to this simple, cozy, yet chic dress. I paired it with a sparkly pair of pink beaded earrings from J.Crew, black tights, a floral clutch, and sparkly Mary Jane heels.

Shine Bright Like a Diamond.

I truly believe I was born with glitter in my veins, so adding a bit of sparkle to my outfits is a daily occurrence. But around the holidays where you can get away with a little extra, my tip is to GO FOR IT. Always. No questions. To me, Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays, so don’t be afraid to have some romance with a side of glitter and add some sequins or embellishment to your look! Your champagne will sparkle, so why shouldn’t you? Just like the velvet trend, I’ve seen a lot of other sequin options out there, beyond just dresses, so you can choose to tone it down a little with a flash of sparkle in your purse, shoes, or jewelry, or you can tone it up with a dress, sequin leggings, or a full-on sequin top!

I had been eyeing this gorgeous pink and silver sequin shift dress from J.Crew all season and when it went on sale, I couldn’t resist adding it to my wardrobe. Perfect for a romantic dinner or an extra (and I mean EXTRA) special Galentine’s Day Brunch, this dress brings the fancy and the fun to your Hearts Day celebrations.

For this dress, I opted for a matching silver mini-purse from Top Shop, perfect for carrying only your phone, lip gloss, and a few plastic cards so you can travel light for date night. Being in Wisconsin, tights are a must this time of year so I picked an opaque black pair and black suede pointed toe heels to finish off the look! Depending on the scale of the sparkle or embellishment, I typically simplify the jewelry, so I would recommend simple diamond studs, a few bracelets, or a delicate necklace.

Get Graphic. No, no that way…though that’s totally up to you.

I love a good graphic tee, so when I saw this cute “Kiss” tee with it spelled out in multiple languages, I knew it needed to find it’s way to my closet. Depending on your V-Day plans, a casual look could be more your style. With a romantically inspired graphic tee, you can easily pair it with your favorite jeans, black denim, or a printed/patterned skirt like the striped one I chose. Throw on a long sweater or a jean jacket with accessories and cute shoes to complete the look!

Though there’s definitely some great ways to incorporate a pop of red with a velvet or sequin look, I loved adding it as a finishing touch to a romantic, yet casual black and white outfit. With black and white being the base colors for this outfit, I brought in the red with my earrings, purse, and shoes. Working in subtle touches of red rounded out this outfit nicely.

Whether you’re heading out for a grand dinner, or staying in and getting cozy with your SO, there’s plenty of great options that you already have or can pick up to put together a gorgeous Valentine’s Day look! Sending you so much joy and happiness for the holiday!

Photos: Colleen Kubiak Photography

Outfit Details: Click here to visit my page on LikeToKnowIt to shop all of these looks!