What do you pair a "nice going out top" with nowadays?

[MissCalamity]

Had a small crisis on Saturday when I was going out with my friends for a much needed evening out.
I had a "nice top" to wear and I have some black skinny trousers that I was going to wear with black ankle boots.

The black ankle boots were new and looked bloody awful & clumpy paired with the skinny pants.
I feel like I don't know what to wear on nights out anymore, trouser/footwear wise!

What do you wear? (Especially if you're mid 40's!)

Wide leg jeans, usually. Black ones often look a bit smarter than blue.
I haven't worn "skinny" trousers for about 5 years, though.
Perhaps sandals with a kitten heel might work better than the boots?

I wear black wide leg trousers normally. Sadly I do not have the legs for skinny trousers and seem to be incapable of finding boots that do not look like I am wearing wellies.

Yes, definitely thinking about ditching the skinny trousers. They did work with an oversized jumper and better boots, but these new boots made the whole look just awful!
I ended up wearing a dress with tights & heels in the end and was worried about walking in the heels and surprisingly managed to walk alright! 🙈
I really need a style overhaul!

I wear wide leg pale blue raw hem jeans. I have a pair of velvet pointed toe ballet flats. And I wear with a silk blouse.

It's been a long time since I wore skinny trousers or boots and I have knee pain so haven't worn boots with a heel since pre-covid.

But my DD17 is fully into her skinny jeans and tells me they are back! I can't go there now I'm in wide leg jeans/trousers.

I got a lovely pair of faux leather wide legged (not crazy wide just wide!) trousers from Tesco and they are really nice for a night out. Currently wearing them with a heeled sock boot as it's so bloody cold but they look lovely with shoes as well. I'm early 50s.

Midi skirt and calf boots & nice top. This pretty much has been my going out outfit all of this winter.

How often do you go out? I've been out once with friends and once for a family Xmas lunch in my outfit!
I'm 47, should I be going out more? 😃

Depends, jeans (straight legged), denim skirt and tights, dress ... have dm's or sometimes with jeans I wear merrels. It casual here though, more sailing gear than anything (on account of the pub being in the marina)

My casual going out outfit is the opposite of yours. In Winter my dressing tends to centre on beautiful items of knitwear paired with a flouncy or interestingly textured skirt (Zara are best at those) and probably knee high boots. Not sure I own a ‘nice top’.

My casual going out outfits are not much different to my day time wear. I tend to wear trousers or jeans (not skinny but not too wide or long either - velvet is a nice choice for this time of year), then a tshirt or polo neck with a cardigan of some sort. Elevated with jewellery, nice belt maybe. With either gold trainers or ankle boots of some description depending on the precise nature of the event and how cold it is.

I've always found it quite hard to mix skinny jeans with ankle boots (I think because I don't wear high heels so can't pull off that rock chick look) but now I think it looks quite dated. Even where skinnies are coming through again, they aren't really being worn with chunky ankle boots. I have some knee length boots I wear with skinnies but as they are quite a light blue denim its not a dressy look.

I live in London, so go out about twice a week 🫣
I am late 30’s and have a lot of friends my age who don’t have any children so it’s quite easy to meet up for drinks or lunch/dinner

I wear wide leg pale blue raw hem jeans. I have a pair of velvet pointed toe ballet flats. And I wear with a silk blouse.

@Ilovelowry could you please share pics or links, because this ensemble sounds lovely and very much something I would enjoy wearing. Might need to start stalking velvet ballet flats and silk blouses… not to mention wide leg jeans (again. Sainsbury’s, I’m looking at you.)

In the winter - I’d wear wide or straight leg jeans or trousers, and nice knitwear (not a going out top person really but something like a cashmere or other fancy cardigan or cool jumper). I have some studded ballerinas, chunky loafers and silver Mary Jane shoes that I tend to rotate. A small bag and other accessories to jazz it up a bit. Then a wool coat or faux fur coat on top.

@MissCalamity have a look at Sézane as I think they do relaxed outfits perfect for evening drinks etc. Might not be your style at all but I like a lot of their jeans and blouses/knitwear combos.

Shortish black skirt from Tesco, thick black tights, Doc Martin dupes from M&S (much cheaper and more comfy). Add in thermal leggings if needed. That has served me well for everything from my Dad's choir concert, to a folk rock gig, to a Christmas out where the average was 20 years younger than me.

Ah in that case fair enough! I'm 47 and live in a rural shire and barely have the energy to go to work and cook dinner and I'm in bed by 8.30 on every single possible occasion 😂

Are you me!?

Hi,

Jeans I have are wide leg and straight leg in varying shades of blue for days and deep black is what I wear for evenings out.
Trousers are wide leg Pallazzo style ankle grazer and straight leg in navy, camel, black in various materials.

Shoes I tend to stick to trainers black smart and white leather. flat sandals / Birkenstocks, Ballet flats, flat ankle and knee boots, some low heeled suede ones for smart evening wear.

So far I have managed to put together an outfit for most occasions and these have worked for me (so far) to take on holiday too.