Looking for a stylish, get-on-the-go article of clothing that you can easily slip on and make a fashion statement? Try a shirtdress. It’s suitable for any casual and smart casual occasion. But if you don’t know how to wear a shirt dress, you have nothing to worry about.
On this page are super stylish outfit ideas to guide your shirtdress outfits. Do sit back, read and be sure to save this page for your ‘rainy day’.
But before we go right in, let’s take a quick look at this style of dress.
What is a Shirt dress to a Fashionista?
From the name, you can tell that whoever invented the shirtdress got inspired by a man’s shirt. And if you look at one of these types of dresses, you’ll see it’s true.
A shirtdress is a dress that borrows details such as a collar, button front, cuffed sleeves, etc., from a man’s shirt. They are usually made with fabrics suitable for men’s shirts such as silk, linen, jeans, and cotton.
Moreover, you can have them in different prints ranging from striped to plaid, checkered, floral, polka dot, etc. They also come in different colors too.
Shirt dresses have no defining waist and this makes them good for every woman regardless of her body type.
Brief History of the Shirtdress
During the 1950s, Shirtdresses were a trend and they were called shirtwaist dresses. It was the luxury brand Christian Dior that launched the 1950 version of this wardrobe staple. The brand included it among its post–World War II “New Look” couture designs, with a full skirt held up by wearing a crinoline.
Even since then, shirt dresses come in varieties. And they go beyond the usual collar and buttons to include frills, statement sleeves, oversized look, and other interesting details.
How to Wear a Shirt Dress
To style your shirt dress in chic ways, do any of the following:
1. Add a Belt to Define Your Waist
Since a shirtdress has no seams around the waist, you can add a belt when you wear yours. This will help to cinch your waist and give you an hourglass illusion.
2. Wear It on Its Own
This one is the easy and conventional way to style a shirtdress. Whether it’s a striped, plain, long-sleeved, or short-sleeved shirtdress, you can wear it like that.
Just pair with the befitting shoes and add some accessories to magnify your look. We’ll look at accessorizing as we proceed.
3. Pair with Your Pants, Shorts, Jeans, and Leggings
Even though this piece of clothing is a dress, it’s still a shirt. It’s a dress-cum-shirt and as such, you can pair it with your trousers.
It could be a pair of jeans, leggings, biker shorts, tapered pants, or even palazzo pants. The result will be a mind-blowing outfit especially if you get your accessories right.
4. Pair with a Skirt
And yes, you can also pair your shirtdress with a skirt. Just make sure they are of two different colors so both can stand out simultaneously and people see the stylish queen in you.
5. Turn it into an Outerwear
You can also use your shirtdress to layer your outfits.
For example, let’s imagine you have on a pair of jeans and a tank top. Rather than button your shirtdress from top to bottom, leave it open so it becomes an outerwear to layer your clothes.
6. Layer Your Shirtdress
Another outfit idea on how to wear a shirtdress is to layer it. If you don’t want to use your shirtdress to layer your outfit, you can as well layer your shirtdress.
Here your denim jacket, kimono, duster, blazer, sweater, etc., come in handy. Layering your shirt dress will help to add more accents especially if you aren’t pairing with a bottom.
7. Go Monochrome
Thinking of wearing a solid color shirt dress and you don’t wanna worry about matching colors, how about you go monochrome?
This is how it works: For instance, you have a black shirt dress. You can go all-black by combining it with black shoes and accessories. The same also works if you want to create an all-white or all-red ensemble with your dress.
Going monochromatic is a simple way to match colors in your outfit. It involves making your outfit comprise the same or most of the same color.
8. Wear it Underneath a Dungaree
This is an innovative way to style dungarees, you know. You can utilize the shirt part of your dress by pairing it with a dungaree for your casual outings.
This works best if your dress is a short one.
9. Pair with Good Shoes
Depending on the look you want to achieve, any type of shoes for women will be good with a shirt dress.
For instance, if you have a luncheon at work, you can combine your shirt dress with a pair of cover-toe heels and get going. For a casual outing with friends, a pair of sneakers or knee-high boots will give you a sporty look. You can also wear ballerinas for a business casual look or nice slip-ons if you wanna be underdressed.
You only have to ensure the color of your shoes matches your dress and suits the occasion you have in mind.
10. Accessorize for More Accents
Did you think we’d leave this out? I hope you didn’t. And that’s because accessories are way too important to be deemed trivial.
Once you add them to your shirt dress look, they’ll elevate your look. You can go for accessories that transform your look such as a hat, belt, necklaces, sunglasses, wristwatch, scarf, etc.
You’ll never regret doing that.
There you go with the outfit ideas on how to wear a shirt dress. The fact that these dresses require minimal styling before you rock them makes them a wardrobe staple. And as you put these tips into practice, don’t be scared to break some fashion rules and explore. It’s the first step to becoming a true fashionista.
