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Since summer began, it seems that every night wants to be date night. The thing about summer is though that casual is key. Date nights don’t have to involve me dressing to the nines, I can through on a cute tee or shorts and we are out the door. (I really hope that’s summer as casual time is universal and not just me being lazy). Now don’t get me wrong I’m not going out in my sweats, but I’ve noticed lately I’ve just been reaching for shorts, a tee and flats more than a dress and heels. Then it hit me — why don’t I just blog a few casual date night outfits? And then I thought why don’t I blog about the cute places we go in downtown McKinney on our date nights while wearing those outfits? Two birds, one blog post. Done.
We are pretty much spoiled now because any night we deem date night we are just a 5 minute walk to downtown where the best restaurants in town are. (And that is a slow walk. If we were really excited about it, I bet we could make it in 3 minutes.)  Here are a few of my favorite casual dates + outfits:

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Sometimes after dinner at the house on a Friday night we walk our dog downtown and get gelato at Pacuigo. So simple, but so nice. I told B the other day the good thing is that there is a gelato shop minutes from our house. The bad news is that there is a gelato shop minutes from our house. Please note that I’m wearing drawstring shorts — this is key for indulgence and hiding it well.
{tee: j.crew | shorts: old navy | shoes: here or similar | purse: c/o brahmin}

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Another good/bad thing near our house and on the square is Landon Winery. We come here a lot. Too much? Is there such a thing as too much wine? I’m still researching that answer. I try to look nice but comfortable since we like to sit on the patio. It is the perfect evening though — live music, good wine, fantastic people watching. Sometimes B and I forget to talk to each other because we are both zoned out watching strangers pass. Isn’t that the most romantic date you’ve ever heard of?
{ sweater: old navy | shorts: old navy | sandals: similar | tote: madewell }

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My very favorite as of late is Cadillac Pizza. Pizza and beer spell love to us. I typically just throw on a cute tee with jeans and wedges and head to this little dive. Wedges are a close relative to heels, but not as pretentious. Also this little graphic tee is about as edgy as I get.{tee: old navy | jeans: gap | wedges: similar | purse: cynthia vincent }

Can we all agree casual dates are the best dates? And since I realize the majority of you aren’t my backyard neighbors, let’s just say that if you ever make the trek to McKinney and after you stop by bloom (wink), you really should stay for dinner or at least for gelato. There’s always time for wine and gelato.

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204 Responses

  1. love them all, but I think my favorite is the last one. It could have something to do with the fact that you mentioned beer and pizza in that one.

  2. Sooo cute! If you don’t mind me asking, which font are you using? Love it almost as much as your outfits! 🙂

    1. KG hard candy striped is the name of the font! I can’t remember where I downloaded it from but i bet if you google it you can locate it!

  3. I have loved that striped linen T everywhere I’ve seen it – on you, on Franish, I think one other blogger has it… it is everywhere for a reason. Super cute!

  4. Great date ideas and all three outfits are adorable!

    Megan
    budgetfashion101.blogspot.ca

  5. We’re also lucky enough to live super close to town at the moment. Our favourite sushi place has had a 50% off winter special for the last 3 months and we went there impulsively very very often.

  6. Love the square!! Wish I lived closer to it (in Allen) but all those places are the best! Love your outfits. 🙂

  7. Thank you for doing some cute caual looks!!! Its hard to find outfits sometimes that are both. I will definitely be recreating these. I think my fav is the LA tee and jeans:)

  8. The link for the shoes in the second outfit is missing (those cute light brown leather sandals). Could you update? Would love to get my hands on something similar.

    1. Catherine — they are Swagger by BC Shoes. Everywhere I look they are sold out and I couldn’t find a similar this morning but I’m on the hunt for some similar ones to link tonight!

  9. Thank you for being real! I LOVE this post because it’s real, and I’m in love with casual summer date nights. I too find myself reaching for shorts and t’s almost every day this summer and I was starting feel like maybe I’m just being lazy and frumpy (especially as I read all these other fashion blogs), but I’m glad to see this post feature the casualness of summer in such a cool way!

    Oh and most times on our date nights, we forget to talk too, so busy people watching.

    http://sweetteasweetnchic.blogspot.com

  10. I love the first look of white shorts and striped tee. Yes it is simple but it looks great on you!

  11. All of these outfits are so absolutely fabulous! casual and perfect for summer. I especially like the first one, the striped shirt and white shorts look beautiful.

  12. Love this post! As a stay at home mom of two shorts, a tee, and flats is pretty much my summer uniform! That is, if I actually get dressed that day. 🙂

  13. Very lovely post, and I have to agree with you. This is why I love summer so much because me and my honey we have date nights like always every night. You look amazing and I love every single one of your look.

  14. Seriously that first outfit is perfection. The stripes the white the neon flats everything!!

  15. Such cute outfits…hard to pick a favorite…love how casual and chic they all are!

  16. So in love with this post and concept! You are adorable!

    Xo, Amanda
    theamandakathryn.blogspot.com

  17. Nope- you’re not alone in that- I love casual summer date nights! I’m even thinking of carrying that concept over into fall…

  18. love them all, but I think my favorite is the last one. It could have something to do with the fact that you mentioned beer and pizza in that one.

  19. Sooo cute! If you don't mind me asking, which font are you using? Love it almost as much as your outfits! 🙂

  20. KG hard candy striped is the name of the font! I can't remember where I downloaded it from but i bet if you google it you can locate it!

  21. I have loved that striped linen T everywhere I've seen it – on you, on Franish, I think one other blogger has it… it is everywhere for a reason. Super cute!

  22. Great date ideas and all three outfits are adorable!

    Megan
    budgetfashion101.blogspot.ca

  23. We're also lucky enough to live super close to town at the moment. Our favourite sushi place has had a 50% off winter special for the last 3 months and we went there impulsively very very often.

  24. Love the square!! Wish I lived closer to it (in Allen) but all those places are the best! Love your outfits. 🙂

  25. These are my favorite kinds of date nights 🙂 They DO get more romantic! When I’m with my man and we feel like best friends, and we’re just having fun, those are my favorite days. The gelato outfit is the best!

    xo Ashley

    thetiniestfirecracker.com

  26. Thank you for doing some cute looks!!! Its hard to find outfits sometimes that are both. I will definitely be recreating these looks. I think my fav is the LA tee and jeans:)

  27. The link for the shoes in the second outfit is missing (those cute light brown leather sandals). Could you update? Would love to get my hands on something similar.

  28. Ahh.. yes.. this is perfection date nigh looks! Love them all!

    Hope
    hchdesigns.blogspot.com

  29. Thank you for being real! I LOVE this post because it's real, and I'm in love with casual summer date nights. I too find myself reaching for shorts and t's almost every day this summer and I was starting feel like maybe I'm just being lazy and frumpy (especially as I read all these other fashion blogs), but I'm glad to see this post feature the casualness of summer in such a cool way!

    Oh and most times on our date nights, we forget to talk too, so busy people watching.

    http://sweetteasweetnchic.blogspot.com

  30. I love the first look of white shorts and striped tee. Yes it is simple but it looks great on you!

  31. All of these outfits are so absolutely fabulous! casual and perfect for summer. I especially like the first one, the striped shirt and white shorts look beautiful.

  32. Love this post! As a stay at home mom of two shorts, a tee, and flats is pretty much my summer uniform! That is, if I actually get dressed that day. 🙂

  33. gelato and wine within blocks! So jealous! Your outfits are all perfect for outdoor date nights with the hubs!!

  34. I love every single look Kendi and these sound like the perfect casual date spots… I've been saying this all Summer but I really need to institute date nights with my beau ASAP!

    xoxo,
    Chelsea & The City

  35. Very lovely post, and I have to agree with you. This is why I love summer so much because me and my honey we have date nights like always every night. You look amazing and I love every single one of your look.

  36. Seriously that first outfit is perfection. The stripes the white the neon flats everything!!

  37. Such cute outfits…hard to pick a favorite…love how casual and chic they all are!

  38. So in love with this post and concept! You are adorable!

    Xo, Amanda
    theamandakathryn.blogspot.com

  39. Nope- you're not alone in that- I love casual summer date nights! I'm even thinking of carrying that concept over into fall…

  40. love all these outfits! seriously would wear each and everyone of them. and casual dates are the BEST dates. couldn’t agree more 🙂

  41. You have no idea how thrilled I am to have found a successful fashion blogger shares my opinion/need of drawstring shorts. And, that you make them completely adorable. I’ll definitely dawn mine with confidence (rather than slight shame) from now on.

    http://unesplendidvie.blogspot.com/

  42. Catherine — they are Swagger by BC Shoes. Everywhere I look they are sold out and I couldn't find a similar this morning but I'm on the hunt for some similar ones to link tonight!

  43. I absolutely love your yellow purse! It’s my favorite color and can bring such a great pop of color to an outfit! 🙂

    -Lindsey | Zip & Zeal

  44. These are my favorite kinds of date nights 🙂 They DO get more romantic! When I'm with my man and we feel like best friends, and we're just having fun, those are my favorite days. The gelato outfit is the best!

    xo Ashley

    thetiniestfirecracker.com

  45. Ahh.. yes.. this is perfection date nigh looks! Love them all!

    Hope
    hchdesigns.blogspot.com

  46. Aww, love this! Perfectly cute and comfortable date night outfits! Thanks for sharing and love the downtown restaurant highlights. We are considering relocating from So Cal and McKinney is one the places on our short list of where in Texas we’d like to live 🙂

  47. I agree! And I really love all of these date night ideas – they are just so simple, and includes some yummy food/libations 😉 Also, I just picked up that J.Crew shirt in black/white stripes – I am currently OBSESSED with linen shirts – so amazing in the summer!
    http://perpetuallycaroline.blogspot.com

  48. love all these outfits! seriously would wear each and everyone of them. and casual dates are the BEST dates. couldn't agree more 🙂

  49. You have no idea how thrilled I am to have found a successful fashion blogger shares my opinion/need of drawstring shorts. And, that you make them completely adorable. I'll definitely dawn mine with confidence (rather than slight shame) from now on.

    http://unesplendidvie.blogspot.com/

  50. I absolutely love your yellow purse! It's my favorite color and can bring such a great pop of color to an outfit! 🙂

    -Lindsey | Zip & Zeal

  51. Aww, love this! Perfectly cute and comfortable date night outfits! Thanks for sharing and love the downtown restaurant highlights. We are considering relocating from So Cal and McKinney is one the places on our short list of where in Texas we'd like to live 🙂

  52. I have been loving white short for the summer and this is a great way to style them. Your pictures are fantastic.

  53. I love the pizza and beer look! I’ve also been into dressing casually this summer. Maybe it’s because I’m a new puppy owner and I don’t want my clothes ruined, or maybe it’s because I’m just lazy. Thanks for the inspiration!

  54. I love downtown McKinney and I love this post! I just moved from Dallas Proper to McKinney a few months ago and love the little downtown area. Very cute outfit ideas for nights out, especially in this heat! If you haven’t already, try Sauce on the Square (soooo good) followed by some good music at the Grotto next door. 🙂

  55. I love that your date night outfits are casual and comfortable! Those are the kinds of dates my husband and I go on – we’re not “dress up” kind of people, and I hate that most bloggers write that date night = stilettos, cleavage, and lots of leg (which I’m sure my husband would love but I’m just not into sharing with everyone). I love how adorable you look in all these outfits. I’m just starting to fall in love with wedges, and I love the last outfit with the wedges and cuffed skinny jeans! Thanks for the inspiration!

    brynnash.blogspot.com

  56. 3 great outfits and 3 great date nights! I wish I lived there because I’d like to try all those places! Maybe all in one night too! haha

  57. Oh Kendi, this is a really cute series (well, if you wanted to make it one); can you please tell me what font you’ve used in the post? I think it’s super adorable! Promise to exchange a cuter font with you if you want to share! 🙂 { jupiterskye4@gmail.com }

  58. I wish you had posted this exactly one year ago when we were in McKinney visiting family! I love gelato and we would have hit that for sure!

  59. I have been loving white short for the summer and this is a great way to style them. Your pictures are fantastic.

  60. I love the pizza and beer look! I've also been into dressing casually this summer. Maybe it's because I'm a new puppy owner and I don't want my clothes ruined, or maybe it's because I'm just lazy. Thanks for the inspiration!

  61. I love downtown McKinney and I love this post! I just moved from Dallas Proper to McKinney a few months ago and love the little downtown area. Very cute outfit ideas for nights out, especially in this heat! If you haven't already, try Sauce on the Square (soooo good) followed by some good music at the Grotto next door. 🙂

  62. I love that your date night outfits are casual and comfortable! Those are the kinds of dates my husband and I go on – we're not "dress up" kind of people, and I hate that most bloggers write that date night = stilettos, cleavage, and lots of leg (which I'm sure my husband would love but I'm just not into sharing with everyone). I love how adorable you look in all these outfits. I'm just starting to fall in love with wedges, and I love the last outfit with the wedges and cuffed skinny jeans! Thanks for the inspiration!

    brynnash.blogspot.com

  63. 3 great outfits and 3 great date nights! I wish I lived there because I'd like to try all those places! Maybe all in one night too! haha

  64. Aw love all 3 of these outfits! I love when bloggers post casual outfits. It takes off some pressure to look so dressed up all the time! You look adorable. The 2nd one is my fave!

  65. Oh Kendi, this is a really cute series (well, if you wanted to make it one); can you please tell me what font you've used in the post? I think it's super adorable! Promise to exchange a cuter font with you if you want to share! 🙂 { jupiterskye4@gmail.com }

  66. I wish you had posted this exactly one year ago when we were in McKinney visiting family! I love gelato and we would have hit that for sure!

  67. This was such a great post. I am casual about 80% of the time and I enjoyed this glimpse into date nights. x

  68. This was such a great post. I am casual about 80% of the time and I enjoyed this glimpse into date nights. x

  69. I am also really not wearing anything more fussy than a tee and shorts this summer either…it's just too much effort to dress up when you can look just as nice in casual wear. This was a lovely post and all of the outfits are adorable!
    xoxo
    Birdy
    http://www.thetwirlteam.blogspot.com

  70. This is going to seem like a very strange question, given that your blog is a style blog (which I do take notice of, I promise…just check my Pinterest feed 😉 )…

    What is the font that you used on your photos here? I’ve fallen in love with it!!

  71. This is going to seem like a very strange question, given that your blog is a style blog (which I do take notice of, I promise…just check my Pinterest feed 😉 )…

    What is the font that you used on your photos here? I've fallen in love with it!!

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