Date night dresses: 20 styles for every occasion

Date Night dresses for every shape, style and budget. Shop our edit of the best styles now...

Date night dresses are notoriously hard to shop for, even more so online, and without too much knowledge of what to actually expect from said date, it's a far from enviable task.

With that in mind, we've rounded-up some must-have styles and a few top tips of what to look out for when shopping for the ultimate date night dress, whatever your style, shape, budget or most importantly, the date in question.

Day dates call for relaxed, cotton-style dresses, perhaps in a pretty print or something a little cooler, possibly in a khaki shade and paired with some sort of flat shoe.

Dinner dates with a chance of dancing will require something a little more statement, and should be worn with some equally chic accessories.

For those off on a post-office date, and without the option of a quick trip home to get suitably glammed up first, it's all about choosing the right workwear dress that can move seamlessly from day to night.

The first thing to know? Date night dresses don't need to cost a fortune.

H&M is your go-to for easy styles suited to casual trips to the cinema or trips down to the local pub.

Cos is the way to go for trend-led styles for those fashion-focused shoppers expecting to visit a swanky cocktail bar (or three).

And Karen Millen has all your day-to-night dress dilemmas covered with their chic tailored dresses, perfect for throwing on over a smart shirt in the day, and wearing sans shirt for the evening.

Designer options, as ever, will be a treat to wear and if chosen correctly, can last a lifetime.

Roksanda Ilincic's bandeau style is perfect for a dinner date and should be paired with a slick of red lipstick for maximum results. Balenciaga's showstopping white off-the-shoulder number is all kinds of chic, and will double up nicely as a party frock. While Temperley has your beautiful lace versions, perfect for something extra special.