Grab your friends, your heels, and your favorite designer bag because a girls’ night out is officially back on the calendar. Just because it’s winter and the days get darker earlier doesn’t mean we should be sacrificing late nights out. In fact, this time of year almost demands the opposite. Between festive dinners, holiday parties, and spontaneous nights that start with just one espresso martini, winter is prime time for dressing up and going out.
Fashion people in NYC, L.A., and Paris right now clearly agree. Despite the cold, they’re showing up and showing out in their chicest looks, proving that winter nights call for outfits just as flirty and fun as summer ones—just with more layering and heavier fabrics.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been closely watching and taking notes. My inspiration folder is overflowing with outfit ideas, and I’m sharing them with you. While each look is different, from leather pants and sheer tops to faux-fur coats and pencil skirts, they all balance practicality with confidence and a dose of coolness.
With that in mind, keep scrolling to discover the six highly specific winter outfit formulas insiders are wearing for girls’ night out right now.
Outfit 1
Sheer top + Leather pants + Heeled ankle boots
Black leather pants are far from dated. In fact, they are a major trend right now. Style icons like Hailey Bieber and Alexa Chung have been seen wearing them, favoring straight-leg and cigarette silhouettes. Offering a warm, luxurious feel with an edgy twist, leather pants are a sophisticated alternative to tailored black trousers. They are incredibly versatile, easily elevating a simple outfit like a white tank and bomber jacket and perfectly complementing a sheer long-sleeve shirt, a lace bralette and blazer, or a silk blouse.
Shop the look:
Intimissimi
Boat Neck Modal Cashmere Ultralight Top
SKIMS
Fits Everybody Lace Scoop Bralette
Agolde
Recycled Leather Kick Boots
Outfit 2
Short faux-fur coat + Dark-wash jeans + Black heels
Dark-wash jeans are currently the top denim color trend in every It girl’s closet, and for good reason. Their deep, uniform shade offers a sophisticated and sleek aesthetic, instantly lending a wealthy trust-fund vibe. It’s also incredibly versatile. Style them with sweaters and loafers for a daytime look, or dress them up with a blouse and heels for the evening. For styling inspiration, follow influencer Emma Léger’s lead and pair a slim, straight-leg pair with a short faux-fur coat and black slingbacks.
Shop the look:
Levi’s
501 Original Fit Jeans
Anya Hindmarch
Mortimer Boxy Leather Clutch Bag
Schutz
Lena Patent Leather Pumps
Outfit 3
Leopard-print jacket + Pencil skirt + Sheer tights + Pumps
A leopard-print coat, whether in faux fur, calf hair, or wool, paired with a pencil skirt and tights looks so regal. While it may not be something you’d wear at your local bar, it’s a polished outfit for a dinner party or a night out at the ballet.
Shop the look:
Reformation
Sable Faux Fur Coat
J.Crew
Feather Jersey Turtleneck
Nordstrom
Everyday Sheer Tights
Tony Bianco
Cameo Black Vintage
Outfit 4
Lace top + Elevated leggings + Long leather coat
On winter evenings when you don’t feel like wearing jeans or trousers but still want to keep your legs covered, take a cue from every chic dresser’s style playbook and opt for elevated leggings. By elevated leggings, I mean a pair crafted from sleek, glossy material that features refined details like zippers and split hems. Dress up the look with a lace bodysuit and a leather jacket, and finish with heels for added confidence and a playful pouch or clutch bag. When all is set and done, this is one of the chicest looks you can wear for a big group dinner followed by drinks at a cocktail bar.
Shop the look:
MANGO
Combined Lace Bodysuit
Norma Kamali
Spat Leggings
Joe’s Jeans
The Faux Leather Long Coat
Anthropologie
Classic Pointed-Toe Pumps
Outfit 5
Fur-trimmed coat + Black minidress + Sheer tights + Pumps
The one styling technique that insiders rely on in a fashion rut when getting dressed for a night out is making a statement coat the outfit. Here, influencer and stylist Sara Walker demonstrates the elevated way to do it in the winter, which involves opting for a long fur-trimmed coat, layering it over a little black dress, and styling it with classic sheer black tights and pumps. When the coat is belted or buttoned on the streets, it appears to be styled as a dress. However, when you remove the coat indoors, you’ll find a minidress underneath—offering two looks in one.
Shop the look:
L’Academie By Marianna
Arley Dress
Nour Hammour
Marlene Coat
Calzedonia
Sheer 40 Denier Tights
Outfit 6
Leather maxi dress + Knee-high boots + Animal-print bag
A tight-fitting leather dress, whether a mini, midi, or maxi silhouette, makes for a fail-proof going-out look, especially for fashion people who live in NYC, Paris, or London. The elegant dress style is easy to throw over tights and pumps for a mini or knee-high boots for a maxi. Regardless of the style, each can be finished with a long wool coat. For accessories, follow Who What Wear fashion editor Sierra Mayhew’s lead and complete the look with an animal-print handbag to elevate it further.
Shop the look:
Saint Laurent
Jill Boots in Smooth Leather
Liffner
Micro Pillow Printed Ponyskin Pouch