You Can Look Great in a Sheath as Skirt, …

One of the most versatile pieces you can add to your wardrobe are jumper dresses. There are many more ways of wearing it than in the classic sheath under sweater combination shown in the Mad Men TV series. In this guide, you learn how to wear your sheath as a skirt and in multiple other ways year round. Read to create more looks with the pieces you own for more sustainable fashion.

 

 

Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.

 

Sheath Dresses Are Versatile to Style

Well, it’s because they have no sleeves or just short sleeves like cap sleeves or 3/4 sleeves. They look great just on their own. A sheath dress is an instant outfit with a pair of pumps. It’s a no-brainer to wear them with something underneath, at least in the cold season. You can even create an outfit for St. Patrick’s Day by adding a green sweater, shirt or cardigan.

 

Sheath Dress Outfit Ideas

Here some ideas how not to get into a style rut and how not to look boring or get bored over time. In fall, a jumper looks great with a blouse/shirt underneath or worn over the sheath. In winter, you may wear a turtleneck cashmere sweater underneath, and even add a blazer for those 40 below zero days. A motor cycle jacket pulls a sheath into the cool territory for a girls’ night out on the town. A denim jacket shifts the sheath to casual territory for a Sunday brunch. It looks office appropriate with a pair of pumps and a blazer or cardigan. A sheath dress is really worth its money. Read on to get inspired and learn about even more options.

Sheaths are the champions in being able to create multiple looks with the same item.

 

 

Sheath Dress as a Skirt

In fall, use blazers instead of a coat because it will helps you to not get bored of your outerwear already early in winter. In regions with long winters, try to wear various pieces in quite different ways, and to incorporate pieces from summer in your summer-to-fall transition outfits.

 

 

 

 

An Easy Way to Create a Separates Look with a Sheath

The following outfit idea features a sheath dress worn as skirt. In this inspiration, the colors make the look work. The argyle pattern has purple, grey, and burgundy colors, which seem to scream for my patent leather burgundy ankle strap pumps and my lilac Coach bag. The lilac stays in the color families of the sweater’s pattern as it seems to be a mix of grey and purple. To finish the outfit I added a long pendent necklace.

 

 

 

 

 

A Fair Isle sweater in original design makes a beautiful winter separates look with a hounds-tooth patterned dress.

Tip: Look at a dress as a skirt or even top to get more outfits out of your wardrobe.

 

The example below works with the same principle, but turns a leather jumper into a skirt under an Irish cable-knit Sweater.

 

 

Same Style Recipe, Different Color Scheme, New Look

The following two work outfits both base on the same styling recipe: Dress with knit jacket, tights and booties. Nevertheless, these two work outfits look quite different from each other due to the change in the color scheme. Who says that instant style would lead to boring outfits over time? On the contrary, it can make up your signature style!

Tip: Make a styling recipe your signature style.

The work outfit shown below has a burgundy jacket and burgundy tights. The accessories, a square silk scarf worn as arm candy and wood watch stay with the burgundy theme. The color combination works two basic colors red and blue darkened with black to burgundy and navy. It also would work with the black and white extreme with the white in the tweed and the black booties.

 

 

Tip: Change the vibe of the look with your color choice.

 

The next outfit uses blue and green, which are adjacent colors. You can add brown as a neutral for balance. This outfit has a calming vibe, while the first outfit has a more powerful attitude.

 

 

Don’t forget to add at least one trendy item to look great in tweed over 40, no matter whether the tweed clothing is a sheath, (styled as) skirt or blazer.

 

A Leather Sheath Can Be Styled for the Office

Leather sheaths are often considered as party dresses. However, when you buy one in around the knee length, you can wear them in your everyday life. You can even style them like a normal solid color jumper for the office when your work dress  code allows leather.

Stylist tip: It’s easier when the leather isn’t shiny or black.

 

 

Wear Your Jumper with a Blazer

Paired with a blazer a solid color sheath looks always office appropriate. It’s a perfect look for a business casual work environment when meeting customers or for a meeting.

 

 

 

 

How to Style a Plaid Sheath Dress

It’s a no-brainer to pick up the colors of the plaid pattern (next photo). Why not going for an unexpected look with a pop of color like in the second next photo? Not so brave?

 

 

 

A sheath dress can go from sophisticated to girly, to street style.

 

 

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Accessories

There is this saying

A pair of shoes can make or break the look.

Use your footwear as to vary your look. For example, think about the difference a pair of pumps with pantyhose makes vs. tall boots with opaque black tights.

Don’t forget to accessorize. Read how to change a good look to an awesome one with brooches.

 

 

Wearing a sheath as skirt with a bulky sweater can look frumpy. Therefore, accentuate your waist with a belt for shape.  Also, try altering the vibe of your jumper with a belt. More on how to best accessorize with belts.

 

Sheath Dress as Skirt in a Nutshell

Using style recipes like presented here is an easy way to achieve ageless style. They also help you to get more outfits from your wardrobe. Moreover, style recipes take the stress out of getting dressed. My style recipe book How to Dress for Success in Midlife has timeless, easy-to-follow outfit suggestions for all kind of dressing situations in midlife. Buy the book now.

More outfit ideas for a sheath dress.

 

Photos: G. Kramm, N. Mölders

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