Adorable and fleeting, summer romances are pivotal lessons in both life and fashion (thanks, Nicholas Sparks!). So summer date ideas and the outfits worn on each outing should be considered just as delicately. We listed the cutest summer date ideas across Canada and the appropriate look each occasion calls for on your rom-com-inspired date nights this summer.

Summer date idea: At the museum
Summer romance vibe: Casual, eclectic, with a playfully intellectual twist.
Summer 2013 runway inspiration: Victoria Beckham, Diane von Furstenberg
What to wear: Stand out against any Picasso with bright neon cotton shorts and a classic white tee adorned with your favourite patterned silk scarf tied over top. Add a great summer wedge to comfortably make it from the Stone Age to the cubists exhibits both stylishly and pain-free.
Must-see exhibit: Celebrate the 60-year anniversary of the time Marilyn Monroe spent filming River of No Return in Alberta’s charming Rocky Mountain town (along with then-husband Joe DiMaggio) in Jasper Remembers Marilyn at the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum.

Summer fashion: 50-plus SUMMER SANDALS

Summer date idea: Summer music festival
Summer romance vibe: Loud, vibrant and in the company of thousands of other music fans unknowingly crashing your eighth date.
Summer 2013 runway inspiration: Blugirl, Saint Laurent
What to wear: Your staple festival fashion uniform: classic leather ankle booties, cutoff shorts with a flowing black tank and a rocking gold ear cuff. Top off with a wide-brimmed fedora or floral headscarf.
Must-see concert: Rock out (or hold hands and sway in unison, your call) to Mumford and Sons at Montreal’s Osheaga, Canada’s largest music and arts fest.

More SUMMER DATE DRESSING: Festival fashion looks

Read on to the next page for more summer date ideas across Canada…

Summer date idea: The beach getaway
Summer romance vibe: A romantic, quiet escape perfect for birthdays, long weekends or any excuse for an anniversary celebration by the water.

Summer 2013 runway inspiration: Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors

What to wear: Any of
this season’s top wardrobe essentials—crop top, bathing suit—in stylish stripes. Pack a
maxi dress and a pair of
flat ankle strap sandals for late-night strolls on the sand on breezy nights.

Must-visit beach: Ride waves—or comfortably watch them lap up against the shore while lying on the sand—with the snow-capped Rockies in the background on the beaches of Tofino, B.C.

Summer date idea: Outdoor summer theatre
Summer romance vibe: Cute, picnic-style (pack a blanket and basket full of on-the-go snacks) with the occasional injection of Shakespearean rhyming couplets that will hopefully narrate your relationship status.

Summer 2013 runway inspiration: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Fendi

What to wear: A
colourfully checkered scarf and a denim shirt layered over a sleeveless white collared blouse in case a cool breeze blows in once night falls. Add a basket-weave style handbag and a flat espadrille loafer for an adorably chic play on denim and gingham style.

Must-see shows: Head to Toronto’s High Park for a double-bill of Shakespeare in the Park—
Macbeth and
The Taming of the Shrew, alternatively—all summer long.

Summer date idea: Amusement park
Summer romance vibe: Playful, endearing and wholeheartedly inspired by a summer romance meet-cute of
The Notebook-style proportions.

Summer 2013 runway inspiration: Mugler, Dolce & Gabbana

What to wear: A
cute summery frock and pair of
pastel flat summer sandals, or boxy striped shorts and
crop top—if you’re planning on actually braving the roller coasters.

Must-visit park: Canada’s Wonderland, which houses Canada’s largest and fastest roller coaster, Leviathan, and a magical café serving the giant Cookiewich, vanilla ice cream wedged between two cookies and rolled in chocolate chips. If this isn’t true love, we don’t know what else is.

Read more:
Summer festival fashion: Date dressing for a music festival
The best of summer fashion
Summer 2013 fashion essentials: Your top 10 list
The prettiest beach cover-ups