Practical dressing for date night

Practicality. It’s what we moms are all about.

It seems as soon as we get married, we trade shopping at Nordstrom for shopping at H&M.

And when we start having kids, we trade shopping at H&M for shopping at Baby Gap. Quite frankly, we trade shopping for ourselves period for shopping for everyone else in the family.

Once in a while, it’s nice to splurge on ourselves and buy something that we look good in and makes us feel like a woman again. With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s the perfect opportunity to purchase a new outfit for a night out (which I hope that most, if not all of you will be getting).

But with so many other things to buy (new pants for the kids because their ankles are showing, more toilet paper, this week’s groceries…), it would be nice to buy something that you’ll get use out of so you can not only justify it, but feel good about it.

That’s where practical dressing comes in. By buying separates instead of a dress for date night (because how often do moms really wear dresses, anyways?) and buying strategically and on budget, you can score a great date night outfit that also works well for everyday. Buy pieces that work together and mix them with items you own to really make them stretch.

Here’s how:

The Main Pieces:

What to Wear for Date Night:
 

1. Contrast Yoke Tank $15.80 Forever 21
2. Say Pleat Skirt $24.99 Downeast Basics
3. Women’s Mossimo® Paisley Platform Pumps – Black $29.99 Target

Everyday Outfit Using the Skirt:
 

1. Long sleeve tee $9.80 Forever 21
2. Say Pleat Skirt $24.99 Downeast Basics
3. Women’s Mossimo® Paulina Flat Sandal $19.99 Target

Everyday Outfit Using the Shirt:
 

With the exception of the khakis from Gap, none of these items cost over $30. I made an exception for the Gap khakis because I find their pants to be unparalleled in fit and quality, and I am willing to splurge knowing I’ll get plenty of use out of them. Scour your closet for similar items and have fun mixing and matching.

Most importantly, make your clothes go the extra mile by buying smart!

Link Parties:

• The Pleated Poppy
• We Are That Family