Who said romance was dead. As a Mum of two, my date nights are sadly few and far between. In fact, the last date night we had, we timed how long it would take either of us to mention the girls and it took all of about 8 minutes. 8 MINUTES!!!
On the rare occasions that we do go out without the children, I really struggle to know what to wear. As someone who spends the majority of her time chilling at home in jeans and a hoody, or changes into my pyjamas literally the second I get home from work, I have a fairly limited going out wardrobe. Gone are the days of bodycon dresses and super high stiletto heels. When we do go out, I need something that is both dressy AND comfortable, and ideally something that I have a hope in hells chance of wearing again.
I can’t afford to go and splash out on a whole new outfit when it is unlikely to get a huge amount of wear throughout the year, so look to find quality items on a budget where I can feel more like Lucy and less like Mum, without incurring a huge dent in my bank balance whilst I do.
Here are my Valentine’s Date Night Essentials:
The Perfect Little Black Dress – It may be a bit of a cliché, but if you want to get an outfit that fits the bill for every occasion, you really cannot go wrong with a little black dress (LBD), and in my opinion, every woman should have one in her wardrobe! The old faithful, a good fitting LBD is non offensive, slimming, and perfect for hiding any lumps and bumps, helping you feel sleek and sophisticated whilst at the same time not too overdressed. A little black dress also has the potential to be dressed up or down depending on the occasion, so is far more likely to get some repeat wear.
Swap the flats for a heel – As much as I love living in my comfy flats, a subtle heel to add a bit of glamour to your outfit is a definite date night essential. You don’t have to spend a fortune however, something like these cheap block heels from Uppersole are ideal, and for those who haven’t worn a high heel for a while, are a much more comfortable option!
A small clutch – For the most of the time at least, the majority of my outfits include a GIANT over the shoulder handbag, a sort of interim step between a changing bag and a clutch, with plenty of space for dumping all the important STUFF I seem to accumulate (in most cases receipts, the odd plastic spoon, a Happyland character and an emergency bar of chocolate), however on date night, it’s time to leave all that junk at home. A small statement clutch is ideal, big enough to hold the things you will ACTUALLY need, like your purse, phone, keys and a few small pieces of makeup.
Jewellery – I very rarely wear earrings during the day, so when we go out, I really love to wear some jewellery to add a bit of bling to my outfit. Ear jackets (fancy backs to basic stud earrings) are all the rage at the moment, and a little bit different from your average hoops or studs.
Matching Underwear – again when it comes to date night, it’s all about making yourself feel good (and not just to try and impress others!). When YOU feel good, it shows on your face and helps you ooze confidence. I love wearing matching underwear (and if you haven’t been measured for a while I would recommend that too!). Leave the Bridget Jones pants at home, and wear something a little more feminine for a change – trust me it will make you feel fabulous.
A smile – Finally, and probably the most important part of a date night outfit is a smile. Ditch the frown lines, stop worrying about how you look and whether the kids are ok and ENJOY yourself. Before the children, you were a couple – so go out and enjoy some quality time together, even if the reality of date nights as parents may not be quite the same as it used to be!
What are your date night fashion essentials?
