How To Style The Shirt Dress

The classic shirt dress is perfect for this time of year and is set to be very popular this spring and summer. You can wear it on its own or over trousers on colder days if you fancy channelling the tunic over trousers trend that we saw all over the catwalks. The shirt dress is also perfect for so many occasions whether you are after a relaxed weekend look or something a bit formal for a dressier event.
We have put together some top tips to help you nail styling the shirt dress.

Loose fitting.

Ideally a shirt dress should have a looser fit. We don’t mean oversized or shapeless, just that the dress should have a relaxed fit for comfortable wear so that you can move freely. This is particularly true if the shirt dress features buttons down the front. A skin tight fit may mean that the buttons will cause gapping and an unflattering look.

Heel height.

If you are choosing a dress that has a short hemline then pick footwear with a lower heel, particularly if you are wearing it during the day. Likewise, if the hemline is longer and sits around your knee you can then go for a higher heel height.

Accessorise.

Don’t be afraid to wear a belt that cinches in your waist if your dress is slightly shapeless. Doing this can help to create a more flattering silhouette. Experiment with different thicknesses of belts to achieve the look you want.

Print.

When you think of a shirt dress it is quite often plain blue denim that comes to mind but shirt dresses do come in a variety of colours and prints. A plain, neutral coloured shirt dress is perfect for smarter occasions but there is also a place for dresses with a vibrant print.

Layer up.

Get creative with your outfit and try out a spot of layering. You can wear one shirt dress and then layer a second over the top like a jacket. We have already mentioned wearing over trousers but how about wearing a petticoat underneath for a touch of volume.