What's your 'night out' FFBO? - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

What's your 'night out' FFBO?

Helena

Veteran

Hi there, in my post about fall shopping, I mentioned that I needed some sort of a 'party/night out' top, which I find hard for some reason, and a few of you mentioned that you also find it difficult.

I'm not talking about a really special occasion outfit, but more something to wear if your going to a party or get-together at someone's house, or heading out for dinner with the girls, or a date night. Something to wear with dressier jeans and heels that looks a bit special without being over-the-top. Dressy-casual, if that makes sense. My usual black shirt-jeans-hoop earrings-dressier shoes combo below, which works fine, but wondering if there are other ideas that are still versatile, but perhaps a little more interesting?

So - wondering who has great ideas? Stylefan mentioned a silk blouse, which I thought was a great idea, maybe in a rich, deep color. What's your girls/date night FFBO?

Trouvé Silk Blouse

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Saks Fifth Avenue

Manolo Blahnik Leyan Suede Ankle-Tie D'Orsay Pumps

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FRAME Le High Flare Jeans

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IJA Marquise Hoop Earrings

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Dressing

39 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Runcarla

Veteran

Below are my FFBO outfits for a night out - usually a dinner date, theatre, concert, or holiday soirée at someone's home. #1 is my favourite - I LOVE the silver foil t-shirt (Joseph Ribcoff/ MADE IN CANADA!). The velvet pants in #3 are so easy, you can sit on the floor cross legged! #4 is what i wear when I want to throw DH a bone. LOL! The dress is Sears/Jessica and 6 years old - but why fix what isn't broke!

This year I did some work on my 'dressy' capsule and I'm sorted for just about any occaision without having to go shopping. You are wise to be thinking and planning now, so less stress in the future.

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Chris987

Veteran

I do something a lot like you, but I like a floral print on black blouse sometimes instead of solid black. My footwear is generally more like Runcarla's than yours - lower heels and less strappy. I love her idea of adding some metallic pieces - simple but glam.

T Tahari 'Jordyn' Print Block Split Neck Blouse

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Tulip Print Blouse

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gryffin

Veteran

TG- It all starts with a great jacket. The Iro Shivani, the VB scuba, smythe corded lace or other. I still love the ancient JCrew ruffle front tanks in white or gray. They look like tuxedo shirts or the RT luna lace which I have in white and black. A great embellished belt and some killer booties. The EF coax booties are like flamenco boots and just make me feel powerful. The VB scuba pants or leggings or the EF waxed coated black jeans and I'm ready to take on the world. I don't change out my bag so my coach drifter will be on board. That's my happy place!

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IRO IRO Fringe Trim Open Jacket | Nordstrom

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Rebecca Taylor Luna Embroidery Lace Top

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COACH Womens Mixed Leather Drifter Top-Handle

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Veronica Beard Scuba Jacket

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Veronica Beard Scuba Pants

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Veronica Beard Scuba Leggings

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SMYTHE Corded Lace Blazer

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Sal

Veteran

I have a few looks I like:

1) Black pants, black top and cream tuxedo style jacket with heels (sandals or pumps)

2) Black pants, black and brown floral blouse, faux fur coat, pumps or ankle boots

3) Blue jeans, black top, kinomo jacket and heels

4) I also often choose a dress - in winter a wine one with cream spots with boots or in summer a teal green one with heels or slides

If we are not walking I often choose to wear heels for these occasions - or sometimes even take a bag and change into heels as I arrive. I prefer a clutch in the evening but I will take a larger bag if I do this.

Because my life and job is casual I tend to use these opportunities to be a bit more dressy than I need to be.

The right jewelry, hair and makeup help me feel a bit more dressed up too - larger earrings are my go to here.

plonkee

I mainly do oversize tops, skinny jeans, good flats and all the accessories. And the jeans and nice top with good shoes has been a combination I've worn across a variety of different silhouettes for this sort of thing. I struggle to get a dress that's exactly right they all feel either too casual, too dressed up or to workwear for me.

A deep silk blouse sounds great. And I really like the suggestion to start with a great jacket. I think a cropped jacket could look really sharp and show off a higher rise. Maybe a midi skirt would be good, with a more fitted or shorter length edgy top?

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I wish I had a pic. I decided I needed something for going to hear OK musicians play or something. Or rather bad painters show their paintings in pop-up pickle shops. Or fake poets read ther parent-angst poetry. Or films shot with iPhones. (Yes, mean but real.) My prepared outfit (‘Cheap But Not Sleazy’ ) is a patterned synthetic knit pencil dress (a little bodycon) and metal fringe collar necklace. Random heels. Random wool coat.

The Cat

Veteran

Among mine are:
● An offwhite lace knit blouse
● An embellished black tee
● A midnight blue sleeveless top with faux sequins
● Velour/velvet tees in deep colours

Style Fan

Veteran

I wear my Frame jeans, Eggplant jeans or wide legged 7 F M jeans. Then I wear a brown leather blazer, cognac suede jacket or cognac waterfall cardigan. For my top, I wear a gold/mustard silky T, olive silky T, olive lace top or a simple cream T. I usually wear some jewellery. My footwear is Birks or booties. I have problem feet. If I could wear heels I would.

I have on my wishlist a Smythe blazer. I am thinking of the Duchess in Olive Green. Then I would wear a silk cami under it.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Good question ,l wish that I had an answer.l know exactly what you mean but I obviously don’t have that sort of top either,maybe I need to get out more!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'm more comfortable in dresses like this one (which has subtle sparkle) than in jeans.

by Stagiaire Fash

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Runcarla

Veteran

I had a shirt like the one below in black lace that I wore with a cami or black bra under depending on the weather and situation. It got ragged from wear. If I could find another - white, cream, or black - I would be very happy!

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Greyscale

Veteran

Black silk tank, my R13 crossover jeans, and interesting shoes.

I have a few different silk tops that I might wear - one is cami style with a deep v neck, and the other is a tank with a subtle asymmetric layered effect. Or if it's cooler weather, an oversized black velvet top I got last year.

R13 X Over Waxed Jeans

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Velvet kimono top

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Gretchen

Veteran

Most of girls nights are California casual. Jeans, flowy top in a good color with some detail, heels/boots and good jewelry. Top with a leather jacket if needed.

Karen Kane Asymmetrical Wrap Front Top

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Hinge Hinge Tie Neck Ruffle Blouse | Nordstrom

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Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution Split Release Hem Jeans

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Mixed Media Pullover

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Lauvitel Wrap Top

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Hinge 'Villa' Perforated Bootie (Women)

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Aquatalia 'Phoebe' Weatherproof Almond Toe Pump (Women)

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

For me, it depends entirely on the destination (and, yes, sigh, the weather!)

In summer, I might wear a dress or a tube skirt. (Varying levels of dressiness) or a two piece dress. I'd top with a white denim jacket if needed. Sandals for footwear.

In fall/ winter I'm more likely to wear jeans with an interesting top and a blazer for a casual night out.

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Norra Silk Dress

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Cotton skirt in Liberty floral symphony

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Belmonte Dark Navy Tuxedo Jacket

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Trouvé Trouvé Mixed Texture Jacket

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Collection floral jacquard top

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Structured flutter-hem top

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cjh

(website)

Veteran

My nights out in warm weather are pretty darn casual, so your needs may be quite different. Just took some pictures today to get my daughter’s opinion on what to wear to an art center benefit luncheon tomorrow. After a small discussion, we decided which it would be. These are also dressy enough for the types of evening events I go to in summer. Cold weather would necessitate different options.

(The selection of accessories hasn’t been finalized. By the way, which outfit would you choose for me?)

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BrieN

Veteran

Runcarla:
If you find another blouse like the one pictured PLEASE let us know!!I've been looking for one like that forever!!!!

Joy

Veteran

I like to use these occasions to wear a frock, even if it is a denim skirt, but a great fitting pair of dark denim jeans with a silk top and a jacket ( I agree with gryffin). In cooler weather, a leather jacket, in summer I use a silk jacket. I have seen some women look fabulous on such occasions with a beautiful silk blouse like those Joie makes and perfectly fitting jeans with heels. That look may be dated now, however. A great jacket will make the outfit.

K.M.

Veteran

Mine are a few dresses in rotation--none of them black. Some have prints, others are in a bright color (e.g. red). I have maybe four or five favorites at any given point in a variety of sleeves and fabric weights.

I find dresses easier because they are the one-item outfit, and always make me feel special without trying too hard. If I need to vamp them up it's easy to accessorize.

The one challenge is toppers in case there are weather variations. (It's easy enough if all I need is outerwear, but it's harder if I need an intermediate topper to modulate A/C, warming/cooling etc.)

Sometimes my FFBO is a pair of skinny ponte pants (Gigi from JCrew) in either navy or black, plus a top with something special (cool print, wrap design, flowy fabric?), a blazer in the same color as the pants, and pointy toes, usually mid- or low-heeled pumps but sometimes a dressy flat too.

Interesting question. Before you asked I hadn't stopped to think, and now I realize I do have a pattern.

Brooklyn

Veteran

In cool weather I would probably go for jeans (in blue denim or black velvet), a lace or silk top, boots and a leather jacket. Or maybe a top that is semi transparent. A bit of sensuous appeal is nice, especially for a date night
In warmer weather my favourite would be a sleeveless dress and heels.

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jussie

Veteran

I find nights out like this a bit tricky to dress for. My special occasion capsule is TOO dressy for this type of night, and I feel like black skinny jeans and a silk top isn’t quite interesting enough.....
Patterned pants with a silk top and beautiful shoes can work well..... I’ve done that a few times.
A Faux fur vest or jacket in winter is a great help.
I have a couple of dresses that can also be used, one is a silk shift, one is a dark floral wrap and one is a navy chiffon empire waist dress. They’re not super formal but with shoes and jewelry they come up pretty well.

Gigi

Veteran

My FFBO for date night-type stuff is very similar to yours: a tunic-length polyester button-down, either in white or black, and then jeans in the opposite color (black jeans with white top, and vice versa). I might add my mint Anthro blazer over the top if the weather allows for it. Shoes will be dressy black.

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Washed Chino Blazer

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Jane

Veteran

(Chuckling about Carla’s comment about DH and throwing him a bone )

Dark jeans, low heeled bootees, blazer, black top with lace panels, dangly earrings, dark smokey eye make up

Sisi

Veteran

You have already received a lot of good suggestions! In the past I had a capsule like Runcarla's that worked very well - a nice lbd, some silk blouses, velvet pants. At present, a dressy capsule is my wardrobe hole.

Helena

Veteran

Everyone, sorry I sort of disappeared, but I've been reading everyone's suggestions, and you ladies are a smart and sorted bunch - thank you so much!! I'll respond better later, but I did want to mention to Carla and those who liked her suggestions, that I saw a sort of similar top there to her lacy one! I might check it out today. My finds thingy is not working (IT issues on my end, not YLFs, for the record!) but here's the link ... what do you think? Potential? https://bananarepublic.gapcana.....038;pid=36

Bijou

Veteran

These are my favourite tops to wear with jeans when going out for casual dinners or catch ups. If I can be a bit more dressed up, a jumpsuit is fun because it is a little bit unexpected. Mytops and jumpsuits are in Finds.

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Anonymous

Interesting responses here ! There seem to be two camps: dresses , or jeans/top/heels. Some things never change, do they? I'm in the jeans/mules or boots/interesting top /good jewellery/dramatic makeup camp myself.

lyn67

Veteran

Torontogirl:-thanx for thread and keep comming the visuals ladies!

Christina F.

Veteran

I am in both the dress and the jeans and blouse camp. The dresses are more likely to come out in the summer. I'm including the finds for my outfit today, as I'm going to the theatre later. I like these jeans for things like the theatre because they are stretchy and good for sitting for long periods.

Wit & Wisdom Ab-solution Itty Bitty Bootcut Jeans

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Boden Boden Eyelet Top | Nordstrom

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Helena

Veteran

Ladies, thank you all!
cjh, which outfit did you choose? I have to admit, I would be hard pressed as they all look great, but #3 was particularly striking, so if you didn't wear it today, I hope you will for another occasion!
Gryffin, a JACKET. That would be fab. Will start looking out.
Thanks everyone for sharing your finds! Some great ideas for festive tops that are not too revealing or over-the-top. Also, I think I need to think in terms of mini-capsule, rather than just a piece. I always want one piece to do twenty things. This is a challenge for me.

Keep the suggestions coming; I'm glad others are benefiting too!

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