Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date-Night Outfit Is the Perfect Solution When You Don’t Know What to Wear

We found five ideas to copy her look.

Lydia Mansel | Oct 26, 2023

While there’s a good chunk of Alix Earle’s life that isn’t the most relatable — jet-setting between brand trips, A-list parties, getting glammed up for fashion shows — the TikTok star occasionally posts content that nearly everyone can empathize with. Her struggle with acne and the ensuing Accutane journey. Social anxiety. Pushing through a hangover. And, as evidenced by one of her most recent videos, the hassle of figuring out what to wear.

On October 24, the 22-year-old social media personality (and host of the “Hot Mess with Alix Earle” podcast), shared a GRWM video trying to decide what to wear for a date with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios, also known to her fans as “NFL man.”

With her makeup already done from a photo shoot that morning, Earle begins to try on a few pieces from her closet. “When in doubt,” she says, “we’re going to try on this little black dress.” While the first and second dress options don’t quite work, the third hits the mark. She ultimately selects a short, flirty dress with a halterneck top and pairs it with red and black vintage Dior heels, a black purse, and a leather blazer. It’s an easy but still put-together look that she elevates with a chic low bun.

Most people probably aren’t living Earle’s glamorous, on-the-go lifestyle, but we can emulate this little black dress moment time and time again. Because, if there’s anything to learn from her date-night ensemble, it’s that an LBD is the ideal solution when you’re coming up empty-handed in the search for an outfit. It’s also helpful, as she demonstrates in the video, to have a few different options in your closet; one that works for cocktails with friends might not work for a daytime event with a more modest dress code, and vice versa.

To make sure you always have an answer to the question, “What do I wear?”, we did a bit of searching to find several Alix Earle-inspired little black dress ideas — from a figuring-hugging sleeveless number to a more casual, everyday dress that can be layered with a jean or bomber jacket.

Best Date-Night LBD: IHOT Women's Sexy V-Neck Sleeveless Faux Wrap Dress, $42 at Amazon

One of the Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date Night Outfits, the Best Date-Night Little Black Dress, the IHOT Women's Sexy V-Neck Sleeveless Faux Wrap Dress available on Amazon — Courtesy of Amazon

Best Special Occasion LBD: ASTR the Label Long Sleeve Draped Satin Minidress, $85 at Nordstrom

One of Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date-Night Outfits, the Best Special Occasion Little Black Dress, the ASTR the Label Long Sleeve Draped Satin Minidress available at Nordstrom — Courtesy of Nordstrom

Best Day-to-Night LBD: Reformation Christine Dress, $218 at Anthropologie

One of Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date-Night Outfits, the Best Day-to-Night Little Black Dress, the Reformation Christine Dress available at Anthropologie — Courtesy of Anthropologie

Best Splurge LBD: ML Monique Lhuillier Off-The-Shoulder Sweetheart Mini Dress, $445 at Anthropologie

One of Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date-Night Outfits, the Best Splurge Little Black Dress, the ML Monique Lhuillier Off-The-Shoulder Sweetheart Mini Dress available at Anthropologie — Courtesy of Anthropologie

Best Casual LBD: lululemon Align Dress, $148 at lululemon

One of Alix Earle's 'When-in-Doubt' Date-Night Outfits, the Best Casual Little Black Dress, the lululemon Align Dress — Courtesy of lululemon

Published Oct 26, 2023

LYDIA MANSEL

Lydia Mansel is a travel and lifestyle writer with bylines in Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, InStyle, Real Simple, Garden & Gun, and People Magazine, among others. She received her undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary and has lived up and down the East Coast — but she spends the majority of her time in the South or in the air.