25 Fall Going Out Outfits for Bars: A Night-Out Style Guide

The bar is warm, the walk there isn't, and the coat check line is already out the door.

Fall going-out outfits have to handle all three, which is why this season's best ones swap the strappy summer top for a corset, a slip skirt with a sweater, or a lace cami under leather.

Texture now does the job that bare skin did in July, with more coverage than a bodycon dress ever gave. Start with a leather jacket and jeans, then move through a satin slip skirt, a pinstripe waistcoat, and a velvet mini dress.

Leather Jacket + Lace Cami + Straight-Leg Jeans

A leather jacket over a lace cami is still the fall bar uniform, and there's a reason for that. Tough leather and delicate lace balance each other, and straight-leg jeans keep the bottom half plain so the contrast up top gets all the attention.

Get This Look: Black faux leather moto jacket + Black lace-trim satin cami + Dark-wash straight-leg jeans + Black block-heel ankle boots

Choose a cropped jacket that stops at the waistband so the rise of the jeans shows. Wear it for the walk, then hang it on the back of your bar stool once you're inside; leather shrugs off a splash of beer far better than any knit. A block heel gets you across sticky floors and through hours of standing.

Corset Top + Flare Jeans + Pointed Boots

In a dim bar, a plain top and jeans tend to fade into the background. A corset solves that with structure. The boning shapes your waist, the neckline frames your shoulders, and flare jeans add width at the hem to balance the fitted top.

Get This Look: Chocolate brown satin corset top + Dark-wash high-rise flare jeans + Black pointed-toe heeled boots

On cold nights, throw a long camel coat over the whole outfit. If a corset seems like too much on its own, wear it under an open blazer so only the center panel shows.

Satin Slip Skirt + Oversized Sweater + Knee-High Boots

The slip skirt used to be a summer piece. Fall turns it into a going-out favorite by adding a big sweater. Fluid satin under a chunky knit puts shine next to texture, and knee-high boots cover your legs so the skirt still works on a cold night.

Get This Look: Champagne satin midi slip skirt + Gray oversized wool-blend sweater + Brown knee-high boots

Tuck only the front of the sweater so the skirt's waistline stays visible. A slightly heavier satin won't cling or show the outline of the boot shaft.

Plaid Mini Skirt + Fitted Sweater + Sheer Tights

Pub trivia on a Thursday, a pint already on the table. A plaid wool mini brings the pattern and a fitted black crewneck keeps the top sleek, so the outfit has one busy piece and one quiet one. Sheer black tights tie the two together and carry a short skirt into colder weather, with a preppy, '90s energy.

Get This Look: Brown plaid wool mini skirt + Black fitted crewneck sweater + Sheer black tights + Black lug-sole loafers

If you'll be walking between bars, wear knee-high boots instead of the loafers.

Burgundy Satin Cami + Black Leather Pants + Heeled Mules

Burgundy is fall's going-out color, no contest. A cowl-neck satin cami in deep wine catches the bar's low light, and black faux leather pants bring a tougher texture, so the soft top doesn't drift into lingerie territory.

Get This Look: Burgundy satin cowl-neck cami + Black faux leather straight-leg pants + Black heeled mules

Bring a cropped cardigan for the walk home. Mules slip off under the table, which matters by the third round.

Oversized Blazer + Black Bodysuit + Baggy Jeans

If your bar nights start straight from the office, the blazer is already on. Swap the work shirt for a black bodysuit and the trousers for baggy jeans. The sharp shoulders keep the outfit put-together, and the relaxed denim makes it clear the workday is over.

Get This Look: Charcoal oversized blazer + Black scoop-neck bodysuit + Light-wash baggy jeans + Black pointed-toe flats

Push the sleeves to your elbows and leave the blazer open. A bodysuit stays tucked when you reach across the bar to order, which a loose shirt won't.

Ribbed Knit Midi Dress + Long Wool Coat + Kitten Heels

A bodycon dress is the classic bar choice, but a ribbed knit midi does the same job and keeps you warmer. The ribbing gives you texture and a close fit without the shine of stretch jersey. A long wool coat ends near the dress's hem, so the two hang as one clean line.

Get This Look: Olive ribbed knit midi dress + Camel long wool coat + Black kitten-heel pumps

On a windy walk between bars, knit holds warmth better than satin or jersey. Kitten heels give you some lift with less ache by midnight.

One-Shoulder Top + Wide-Leg Trousers + Slingbacks

Want to show some skin without freezing? A one-shoulder top bares a single shoulder and arm, and fluid wide-leg trousers cover the rest, so the outfit has one bold line instead of several.

Get This Look: Black one-shoulder knit top + Cream wide-leg trousers + Black slingback heels + Gold hoop earrings

Keep your hair off the bare side so the neckline stays clear, and let the gold hoops be the only jewelry. Cream trousers show spills, so sit with your drink on the side away from you, or switch to black trousers on a crowded night.

Sequin Mini Skirt + Chunky Cardigan + Ballet Flats

A night of sequins doesn't need a party dress. A sequin mini under a chunky cardigan puts sparkle next to something soft and slouchy, which keeps the skirt from looking like a costume, and ballet flats bring the whole outfit down to earth.

Get This Look: Silver sequin mini skirt + Cream chunky knit cardigan + Black ballet flats

Button the cardigan and tuck it in at the front. Flats also get you through a long night of standing.

Suede Jacket + Halter Top + Barrel Jeans

Suede jackets were once a road-trip-in-the-'70s piece, and this fall they're hanging off bar stools everywhere. A brown suede jacket over a cream halter pairs soft texture with a bit of shoulder. Barrel jeans curve out at the knee, adding volume below to balance the boxy jacket.

Get This Look: Brown faux suede trucker jacket + Cream knit halter top + Medium-wash barrel jeans + Brown pointed-toe ankle boots

Faux suede handles drizzle better than the real thing. Pointed boots keep the barrel leg from looking heavy at the bottom.

Black Slip Dress + Faux Fur Jacket + Strappy Heels

Hotel bar on a Saturday, where the cocktails cost more than lunch. A black satin slip dress is as simple as a dress gets, so the faux fur jacket brings the drama, setting a plush texture right against the smooth satin. Strappy heels finish the dressed-up end of the outfit.

Get This Look: Black satin slip midi dress + Cream faux fur cropped jacket + Black strappy sandal heels

Sheer black tights with open-toe heels are fine this year if your toes need the help. Keep jewelry small, since the fur already does enough.

Pinstripe Waistcoat + Matching Trousers + Pointed Flats

A matching waistcoat set is the smartest thing to wear to a wine bar this fall. Buttoned and worn alone as a top, the waistcoat shows some arm and collarbone, and matching pinstripe trousers carry the stripes from shoulder to floor in one long line.

Get This Look: Gray pinstripe waistcoat + Gray pinstripe wide-leg trousers + Black pointed-toe flats

Buy the set in a wool blend so it keeps its shape after hours of sitting. Both pieces work separately too: the waistcoat with jeans, the trousers with a black tank.

Sheer Mesh Top + Bralette + Faux Leather Mini Skirt

A sheer top can look like a costume when everything around it is soft too. A black faux leather mini gives the mesh a hard edge, and a black bralette underneath keeps the coverage clear and deliberate.

Get This Look: Black sheer mesh long-sleeve top + Black lace bralette + Black faux leather mini skirt + Black knee-high boots

If the sheer layer seems like a lot, buy mesh with a printed pattern, which shows less than plain black. Knee-high boots leave only a short stretch of leg showing, and they hold off the cold on the walk over.

Off-Shoulder Sweater + Dark Skinny Jeans + Suede Ankle Boots

If you want to stay warm and still look dressed for a night out, an off-shoulder sweater does both. The wide neckline shows your collarbones while the knit covers your arms, and skinny jeans keep the bottom narrow to balance the loose top.

Get This Look: Camel off-shoulder knit sweater + Dark-wash skinny jeans + Tan suede ankle boots + Gold layered necklace

Wear a strapless bra or a bandeau so nothing peeks out at the neckline.

Leopard Print Midi Skirt + Black Tee + Mary Janes

A black tee sounds too plain for a bar, but under a leopard midi skirt it's the right call. The print does all the talking, a fitted tee gives it a solid backdrop, and a bias-cut satin skirt moves when you do instead of sitting stiff.

Get This Look: Leopard print satin midi skirt + Black fitted crewneck tee + Black Mary Jane heels

A loud print plus one solid neutral is a rule you can reuse with any pattern. When it's cold, add a black leather jacket and keep everything else the same.

Velvet Mini Dress + Sheer Tights + Block Heels

Is velvet too holiday for October? Not in a short, simple dress. Forest green velvet catches dim light in a way cotton can't, and sheer black tights with block heels keep the short length from looking too bare on a cold night.

Get This Look: Forest green velvet long-sleeve mini dress + Sheer black tights + Black block-heel pumps

With long sleeves, you can skip a jacket once you're inside.

Denim Jacket + Denim Maxi Skirt + Tall Western Boots

Double denim makes a strong bar outfit this fall, as long as the washes match. A dark jacket and a dark maxi skirt in the same wash form one long column, and tall western boots peeking out of the skirt's slit add some country attitude.

Get This Look: Dark-wash denim jacket + Dark-wash denim maxi skirt + Brown tall western boots

A front slit makes it easy to walk and to climb onto a bar stool. Wear this to a country bar or a brewery with picnic tables, the kind of place where a dressier outfit would look out of step.

Trench Coat + Knit Polo + Wide-Leg Jeans

Rainy Friday, happy hour straight after work. A short-sleeve knit polo has a collar that looks put together, and wide-leg jeans keep it relaxed. A khaki trench over both handles the weather and stays inside the outfit's neutral palette.

Get This Look: Khaki trench coat + Navy knit polo top + Medium-wash wide-leg jeans + Brown leather loafers

Belt the trench for the walk over, then drape it on your chair. Navy and khaki together give the outfit a preppy feel without a single loud piece.

Cropped Cardigan + Tailored Shorts + Knee-High Boots

Shorts used to go into storage in September, but this year tailored wool shorts stay out. A buttoned cropped cardigan worn as a top meets the shorts at the waist, and knee-high boots close the gap so only a bit of knee shows. The tailoring keeps the outfit dressy enough for a cocktail bar.

Get This Look: Black cropped button-up cardigan + Charcoal wool tailored shorts + Black knee-high boots + Sheer black tights

Put on the tights once the temperature drops below 50°F.

Square-Neck Knit Top + Leather Midi Skirt + Tall Boots

Easy win for a date at a cocktail bar. A square neckline frames the collarbones neatly, and a brown faux leather midi skirt brings shine and structure below, so the soft top and the hard skirt balance each other. Tall boots disappear under the hem.

Get This Look: Black square-neck knit top + Brown faux leather midi skirt + Brown tall boots

Pick a skirt with a back slit so you can sit and stand without tugging at it.

Band Tee + Plaid Flannel + Ripped Black Jeans

Showing up overdressed to a dive bar is worse than showing up underdressed. A vintage band tee and ripped black jeans fit the room, and an open plaid flannel adds warmth plus a second layer of texture.

Get This Look: Black vintage band tee + Red plaid flannel shirt + Black ripped straight-leg jeans + Black combat boots

Combat boots handle the sticky floor and a night of shuffling around the pool table. Tie the flannel at your waist once the room heats up.

Black Jumpsuit + Statement Earrings + Heeled Boots

No time to plan an outfit? A black long-sleeve jumpsuit is one piece that still looks deliberate. With no color or print to compete with, big gold earrings take center stage, and heeled boots under the wide leg add height.

Get This Look: Black long-sleeve wide-leg jumpsuit + Gold statement drop earrings + Black heeled ankle boots

If one-piece outfits worry you because of bathroom trips, choose a jumpsuit with a wrap front or a front zip.

Silk Scarf Top + Cream Wide-Leg Jeans + Brown Boots

If your city stays mild into October, wear a silk scarf top. The scarf print brings color and pattern, tied at the back so the front lies smooth, and cream wide-leg jeans keep the bottom bright. Brown boots warm up the palette.

Get This Look: Rust paisley silk scarf top + Cream wide-leg jeans + Brown heeled ankle boots

Bring a camel blazer for the walk home.

Chocolate Knit Top + Suede Midi Skirt + Brown Boots

Head-to-toe chocolate brown is the rich alternative to all black this fall. A fine-knit top and a suede midi skirt in the same shade make one smooth column, and the difference in texture keeps it from looking flat.

Get This Look: Chocolate fine-knit long-sleeve top + Chocolate faux suede midi skirt + Brown knee-high boots

Brown is easier to match than black, because small differences in shade look planned. Gold jewelry warms the brown further.

Metallic Top + Cigarette Trousers + Pointed Pumps

Birthday drinks, a round of shots, a group photo everyone will post.

A silver metallic top gives you the shine, and black cigarette trousers cropped at the ankle keep the bottom clean so the top carries the outfit. Pointed pumps show a sliver of ankle.

Get This Look: Silver metallic draped top + Black cigarette trousers + Black pointed-toe pumps

If the night moves on to dancing, black loafers are the swap that saves your feet.