How To Style A Shirt Dress

Hey, welcome back! Or, if this is your first time visiting my blog- I'm so glad your here!

I wrote this article with the intention to inspire every person’s style and body shape to wear your shirt dresses more!!

I’m here to help bring joy when you are getting ready so you love who you see in the mirror!

In this style article you will learn:

1. What is a Shirt Dress?

2. What You Need To Know When Styling Your Shirt Dress!

3. Learn the Many Styles of Shirt Dresses!

4. How to Style The Most Common Shirt Dress.

5. Spring/Summer Shirt Dress Looks

6. Fall/ Winter Shirt Dress Looks

7. What Accessories To Wear With Your Shirt Dresses

ENJOY! —and remember to always Dress For YOU

** Disclosure: I only recommend products I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

WHAT IS A SHIRT DRESS?

A shirt dress is a classic & timeless dress that has a collar and buttons in the style of a shirt, typically cut without a seam at the waist.

This dress is made of cotton but, can be purchased in silk, denim, leather, and more. Because of its popularity, it has been sewn with a seam at the waist, in all materials, and can be found without buttons.

Shirt Dresses are a Closet Essential item!

They never go out of style & are versatile.

It also is a universally flattering silhouette, they highlight waists, and skim curves and add a perfect level of polish to any outfit!

If you do not have one I hope this blog convinces you to add it to your wardrobe.

And, if you have one, I trust this inspires you to wear yours more often!!

STYLE TIPS:

1. When To Wear It?

Anytime! This item of clothing is as easy as a jumpsuit. Wear this dress when running errands, driving the kids around, or on date night!

2. When to Wear Tights With Your Shirt Dress:

Please do not get confused with leggings! Pending on where you live people call tights: stockings, tights, or nylons. They can be sheer or dark.

NOTE: Wear your tights in the fall or winter months.

**some women like to wear leggings with dresses. If that is your desire— I encourage you to Dress For You!

My suggestion is only to pair your leggings with your T-shirt or Shirt dress if they are tunic length. Meaning they look more like a long shirt. This length and style are really cute with your leggings!

3. Wear All Seasons! —Keep Scrolling for INSP.

4. Layering Tips:

A. Office Wear: Choose a Blazer, Cardigan, or Moto Jacket pending your office requirements.

B. Belt Over-top of your Layering Piece to look Etra Chic & Polished.

*make sure your belt is at the smallest part of your waist.

**BELT-STYLE TIPS ARE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS BLOG UNDER ACCESSORIES!

C. Expand your wardrobe and wear your Shirt Dress open. Can be a beach cover-up or a replacement for your cardigan!

COPY THESE LOOKS OR HAVE FUN TWEAKING THEM SO THEY EXPRESS YOUR PERSONALITY!!

CLASSIC WHITE BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT DRESS

Day-time Looks:

1. Camo Jacket- Choose any jacket that expresses you! If the combat boots are not for you switch it up and choose a long cardigan + sneakers.

2. I chose oxford shoes to give you another visual because we all have our fav. sneakers & sandals for our daytime looks!

Evening Looks:

1. I ABSOLUTELY love this look. I wear it as often as I can. A corset over your button-up shirts & dresses is so edgy.

NOTE: if a corset is not to your taste— belt it!!

2. This crop bomber jacket is perfect because it accentuates my waist. I chose an upscale heel as we move into spring!

DENIM SHIRT DRESS

A denim shirt dress is possibly the easiest to find alongside a black one. I wore mine open because during to the pandemic, my hips widened due to my wine consumption (insert emoji here) :)

A denim vest will also be featured in this article for you but here I wanted to highlight these styles for you!

Under my denim tunic dress is a cotton t-shirt dress that I need to wear more. Styling it reminded me that I had it and how much I love it!

What do you have hidden in your closet that you wish you wore more??

BLACK BUTTON-DOWN RUCHED SHIRT DRESS

Why is ruched clothing awesome?

Ruching is a gathered ruffle or pleat of fabric used for trimming. It is very flattering in any material if you are wanting to hide your warbly bits.

SHEER SHIRT DRESS

This SHEER SHIRT DRESS option is unique. Not rare— but unique. I would link it for you if I could but I found it in a sale rack.

I am featuring it because I want to talk about it to show you how to style a sheer option.

This shirt dress has slits up the sides that stop at the small of my waist so whether I close it or wear it open it will always be a layering piece.

Items like this are purchased when you know it is a one-of-a-kind and you may not find it again. I loved it the minute I saw it and also wear it as a bathing suit cover-up.

I chose these looks bc SO many love to wear all black and, I am a stylist who encourages it.

If wearing all black is where you feel your best then by all means wear it!!!

STYLE TIP: To add pizazz I suggest you switch things up with textures when wearing all black!

LEATHER/ FAUX LEATHER SHIRT DRESS

Leather/ Faux Leather Shirt Dresses are a fun edgy addition to your closet.

Daytime Style Tips:

Shoes to wear your leather shirt dress: sneakers, ankle boots, slides, mules, oxfords, wedges, sandals, OTK boots with no or, short heels, combat boots, or lug boots.

** The difference between a combat and a lug boot is the soles. A combat boot does not have as thick of a tread and deep indentations as a lug boot.

Evening Style Tips:

Any heel on your shoe dresses up your look and makes it nighttime worthy! Pending on the occasion or venue is how dressed up you can style your leather shirt dress look.

THE BLACK COTTON T-SHIRT DRESS IS THE MOST COMMON SHIRT DRESS!

This dress is the most common and popular because it is comfortable & black is so versatile and easy to accessorize.

Your dress may have buttons or not, either way, this dress is the most common and likely in 80% of women's closets.

I will be showing you daytime & evening looks for this style of dress in MINI, MIDI & MAXI lengths.

BLACK T-SHIRT DRESS -MINI LENGTH

Your dress or skirt is considered mini-skirt length when it is above your knees.

The dresses featured here have cap sleeves and regular short sleeves.

**Note: you will also see other styles featured with these dresses throughout this article. Observe there are Sporty styles & Street-wear looks provided for you!

SHOP YOUR T-SHIRT DRESS HERE

BLACK T-SHIRT DRESS -MIDI LENGTH

A dress/skirt is midi-length when its hem lands just below the knee.

Midi-dress Style Tip:

This length can be tricky to compliment your body if you do not know what I am about to share…

Our calves are where our legs can look the bulkiest if the hem stops mid-calf. So, keep in mind midi length is past the knee so have your dress flatter you when the dress lands at the smallest part of your leg (right below or above the round of your calf). This tip goes for bodycon- flowing midi dresses!

BLACK T-SHIRT DRESS -MAXI LENGTH

This dress is more midi-length when in movement but if I stand still it’s maxi length!

Maxi length is when your dress’s hem lands at or just past your ankles. So please picture that length for these looks and visualize that hem length when creating your looks! I just did not find a dress I liked enough to buy to show you— but, I know you get the point!!

WHAT MAKES YOUR LOOK HAVE SPRING/ SUMMER VIBES!?

The material, the colors, and the execution!

For those of us who live in cooler climates we need to tweak our looks because it is common for us to have cold morning weather, a hot afternoon, and a brisk evening— so layering is key!

STYLE TIP: You can layer with a combination of our winter clothing in the spring/summer months— Just have your dominant piece of clothing/ accessory for your look be a light, airy seasonal representative to a fashionable look!

For the warm climate babes— you are fortunate to not always “have to” layer. Your style is easier to execute because you can make complete looks without having to guess what the weather may bring.

**CONTACT ME, if you need help learning how best to execute looks for your personality & demographic!

SPRING/SUMMER VIBES WITH 3 VERSIONS OF A CLASSIC T-SHIRT DRESS

The looks I’ve chosen to feature above can be tweaked in SO many ways to expand your wardrobe.

Switching your shoe, accessory or layering makes it appropriate for where you are going!

I chose the classic T-shirt dress, a classic ruche T-shirt dress, and a Tank-top T-shirt dress.

(Keep in mind these dresses can 100% be worn in fall/ winter months also— it all depends on how you style them!)

OUT OF THE BOX LOOKS FOR EVERYDAY

The looks featured here are perhaps not what you would think to wear in the daytime.

Often women downplay what they wear to run errands.

Mind you— with LOOK #1 I would not wear it to the grocery store but to a brunch or meeting a client. But, if I just switch the shoes to white sneakers then I’d absolutely wear LOOK #1 to buy food!

SO, wear your shirt dress open, closed, belted, or styled as a shirt— REALLY expands your wardrobe!

SHIRT DRESS AS A BATHING SUIT COVER-UP!

Styling yours open or, closed on the beach is sooooooo polished and sexy!

STYLE TIP: All shapes, sizes & ages can wear your shirt dress as a bathing suit cover-up

1 DRESS- 4 WAYS

WHAT MAKES YOUR LOOK HAVE FALL/ WINTER VIBES!?

Outfits with fall/winter vibes have cool tones, cozy & heavier textures (leather, fur, etc), layers, & rich-deep colors.

HERE ARE FALL TONES!

For the really cool fall days or when the winter air is cold--add tights/ nylons to these looks under your oversized jacket or parka!

Please tag me on you social media with the looks you create from this Fall/Winter INSP.

SPORTY LOOKS ALLOW YOU TO BE ACTIVE, COMFORTABLE & POLISHED. WHEN WEARING EDGY LOOKS YOU ARE EXPRESSING YOUR DARING SIDE!

Be encouraged to intertwine these style options!

SPORTY LOOKS ARE RELAXED & ALLOW LOTS OF MOVEMENT!

WHAT MAKES A LOOK EDGY!?

Streetwear is:

Streetwear is a style of casual clothing that became global in the 1990s. It grew from New York hip-hop fashion and Californian surf culture to encompass elements of sportswear, punk, skateboarding, and Japanese street fashion. Eventually, haute couture became an influence.

What makes a look edgy?

An edgy look is personal to everybody!

This fashion genre is a reflection of the unconventional and those daring to be different. When wanting to wear an edgy look—Think bold, defiant, and cool. (Boy George, Billy Idol, LADY GAGA…)

Women with an edgy style aesthetic are not afraid to take risks with their wardrobe choices.

OTHER SHOES THAT WORK GREAT WITH YOUR SHIRT DRESSES ARE:

Combat Boots, Gladiator Sandals, Flip-flops, Sling-back Kitten heels, and Open-toed shoes!

STYLE TIPS WHEN A BELT WITH A SHIRT DRESS:

1. You do not have to have belt loops on your dress in order to belt! Just place your belt at the smallest part of your waist to compliment your shape.

** If your belt is too big- just hole punch the holes where you need them. My husband has this tool in this toolbox that I grab when needed!

2. You DO NOT have to wear the belt that came with the dress. Switch it up with a complimenting color that matches or is opposite on the color wheel.

3. Use a scarf as a belt for a french or bohemian look.

4. If your belt is longer and you are not a person who likes to wear a bow— tie your belt in a knot and let the ends hang to your side (between your belly button and hip). This elongates your shape and draws the eye away from your midsection.

5. Turn your belt backward for a sleek look.

6. Choose skinny or wide belts that are plain or have a print. The main goal is to accentuate your waist and create shape when belting.

HARNESS' & BRALETTE

HOW TO WEAR A HARNESS:

1. Wear a harness over your cotton T-shirt dresses or a shirt- dress in all seasons. Winterize this look with tights and OTK Boots.

2. Style your harness over your blazers as well for an edgy streetwear look!

3. FIT- make sure your harness is fitted enough that the straps are not falling off your shoulders while in movement and it’s not too tight it’s creating bulging like a bra that is too small— should be comfortably fitted!

HOW TO WEAR A BRALETTE:

1. Choose a bralette that fits you perfectly like your bra.

** I do not wear a bra when wearing my bralette over or under my style choice!

2. Wear your bralette under your lace/ sheer tops.

3. Wear over your button-up tops, tees, and graphic tees with leather pants, trousers, or high-waisted jeans.

YOUR CHOICE OF ACCESSORY REALLY SETS THE STAGE FOR YOUR SHIRT DRESS & MULTIPLIES THE MANY OPTIONS YOU HAVE WITH THE LOOK YOU CHOOSE!

EXPRESS YOURSELF WITH ANY EARRING: HOOP, STUDS, CLAY EARRING, MIXED METALS... THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS

If you have any styling needs please reach out for a free consultation to see if I can be a fit for you!

Thanks for reading!!

Kim, xoxo