WHAT TO WEAR ON VALENTINE'S DAY

February is almost upon us, which means Valentine’s Day is too. Whether a romantic date night is on the cards, you’re keeping it casual or you’re doing Galentine’s instead, your Valentine’s outfit matters. But we’re doing it differently this time, answering your burning questions about all things Valentine’s Day outfit ideas – from the colours to wear to cold-weather outfits and even more. Consider your Valentine’s clothes officially in expert hands.

Keeping it casual? You’ll need a good daytime date outfit. Allow us to advocate for knitwear, which always makes for cute Valentine’s outfits – it’s soft, cosy and warm, but it’s also practical. So, if you’re arcade-bound or doing a physical activity, your movement won’t be restricted. Knitted trousers, especially the fold-over kind, tap into the hyper-femme athleisure trend that's all over socials right now, so team them with your top half.

If you’ll be wining and dining in a fancy city spot, don’t be afraid to go all-out in a dress or matching set. House of CB – the master of romantic dressing – was on its A-game with this vintage-inspired Valentine’s Day dress. For more of a night-out Valentine’s date-night outfit, consider a lacy co-ord. This Wanderdoll duo is perfect – just add leather boots.

Rule of thumb: if you’re wearing a mini skirt, anything below a 30 denier pair of tights won’t do much in the way of warmth. Maximise both your comfort and style with thicker colour-pop tights – like this cherry-red pair from Calzedonia. Of course, a coat is mandatory too. Faux fur is our statement layer of choice right now – bringing a luxe feel to every outfit. Prepare to turn heads.

Too many hearts might be seen as cheesy, but too little can feel underwhelming on the day of love. Strike the perfect balance with a heart accessory or two, like a claw clip or a hairpin. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to layer up on jewellery. You can never go wrong with a few dainty chains and minimalist bracelets.

Pink and red speak the language of love. They also come with centuries of symbolism; pink represents gentle love, whether that’s romantic or platonic (so put matching pink PJs on the Galentine’s group chat), while, unsurprisingly, red is all about passion and desire. If you’re partial to deeper tones, burgundy and mauve still align with the Valentine’s Day theme, too.

If red isn’t your thing, don’t worry – there’s a compelling case for brown, cream and black to join the V-Day palette. You may think black seems boring, but it represents the deepest forms of sensuality and passion. Browns and creams are valid alternatives if you’re steering clear of black, though, and cocoa shades are still trending. Plus, they nicely nod to Valentine’s Day’s most popular gift – chocolate.