Shirt-dresses are probably one of the most functional dresses you can own. What I like most is that they are perfect for layering and this changes up their look entirely, so you get another outfit! When it’s cold outside you can wear leggings and a turtleneck with a pair of boots for added warmth. Then in springtime when it’s warmer ditch the turtleneck and boots and wear your shirtdress over a pair of denim jeans leaving the bottom buttons unbuttoned.
How to layer a shirtdress: Mix different layers in different seasons
I shot a few different looks for this post. In the first group, it was a nice warm spring day. I choose to wear my tunic style shirtdress with skinny jeans and a pink blouse.
In the summer you can wear your shirt dress as a duster coat. This duster coat look is fun and it seems like it’s sticking around for a while.
To wear your shirt dress like a duster coat just add a tee shirt or camisole underneath and then leave the dress unbuttoned all the way down. If it has a tie, belt then tie the belt in the back.
In the second groups of pictures shown it was a cool spring day, so I choose to wear this long sleeved shirtdress, from Ann Taylor. I paired it with cuffed skinny jeans underneath and kept the original tie belt that came with the dress. Depending on what style you want you can switch up a tie belt for a color coordinated leather belt.
I own a few shirtdresses because when I worked, they were both comfortable and suitable business attire. Now that I’m no longer working, I like to play around with layering the dresses so that I can still get use out of them.
In the next group of pictures below, I’m wearing a long tunic type shirtdress by Leith that I found at Nordstrom last year. I wasn’t sure I liked the thin straps as it was a more exposure then I was comfortable with. I layered a white tee and jeans under the dress and found that I liked this self-styled Boeheim look so much, I wore this combo several times.
How to layer a shirtdress: Shop your closet and have fun!
Try shopping your closet for a dress that you can layer with a short or long-sleeved tee, a camisole, or a lightweight shirt. Then look for a pair of pants you can want to wear underneath. Jeans are probably a good way to go if your looking for a more casual look. I like the way loose fitting pants look underneath shirt dresses, but that look is dressier. Either way go shopping in your closet and create a new outfit with a dress you already own.
You do not have to always wear leggings or slim fitting jeans underneath either. I have a long sheer shirt dress that originally came with a slip that I styled differently with a cami and wide legged long pants underneath. I do like leaving the bottom buttons left open no matter what style pants I’m wearing underneath. Leaving the dress unbuttoned makes certain it looks more like a shirt rather than a dress.
Back in the 70’s I remember long tunic dresses that came with matching wide legged pants that you wore underneath. I had a few of these outfits and I liked that they elongated your figure. Wearing a longer shirt dress gives much of the same elongated look.
Shirtdress Style
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