My late Mom always preferred separates over a dress. She argued that when you spill only one piece goes into the laundry or to the dry cleaners. Another reason was that you can wear a dress only one way. Well, indeed, in the 1960s and 1970s, you could only vary the look of a dress slightly with accessories. However, today, a dress provides many more options. Of course, the exact number depends on the cut, your style, weather, etc.. Different ways to wear your dresses is the modern way to slow fashion down and make fashion more sustainable. Read on to get inspired and shop your closet for new looks with the dresses you already own.
Contents
- A Dress Can Be More Than a Dress
- A Fit-and-Flare Knit Jumper Dress Is Like “Buy One, Get Three Pieces” … Sort of
- Jumper as Skirt with (Faux) Twinset
- As a Jumper with Sweater
- As Skirt with Cardigan as Top
- An Abstract Print Empire-waist Summer Dress
- Layering with a Tank Top
- Casual Athleisure Outfit for Meeting with Friends
- Summer Work Outfit with Cardigan
- Mini Dress over Skirt
- Never Underestimate the Power of Color and Accessories
- Wrapping Up Different Ways to Wear Your Dresses
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post.
A Dress Can Be More Than a Dress
Except for my beloved Lederhosen I always was a skirt and dress kind of gal. The movement of a skirts – no matter whether it’s a real one or that of a dress – is so feminine. Even a pencil skirt or sheath are all about being a woman. They show off the curves (even if there are none). According to my late Mom dresses are boring as one can wear them only one way. For an evening gown, cocktail dress, wedding dress, the statement may be true. But I never agreed with this statement for everyday dresses. However, as a kid or teenager I wasn’t allowed to wear a dress another way than as a dress.
First, there is nothing wrong wearing the same dress with different pairs of shoes, and bags. Second, one can wear a dress as a shirt, and one can wear a dress as a skirt. What you can do with a dress all depends on your personal style, the dress and what’s in your closet.
A Fit-and-flare Knit Jumper Dress Is Like “Buy One, Get Three Pieces” … Sort of
This pink striped dress was a great shopping find on eBay and love on first sight. The price was affordable, so I got it. See how you can create three different looks with the same dress for two seasons. O.k., you could also wear the dress with just a slip underneath in summer. But that’s a no-brainer.
Jumper as Skirt with Faux Twinset
This outfit is a creation around colors that occur in the skirt. A short sleeve sweater from summer and a cardigan worn over the dress make a great summer-to-fall transition outfit. Fold a part of the sweater inside and pin it with a safety pin to the dress. Doing so creates the illusion of a tuck-in.
Stylist tip: For a variation, use a real twinset or try a crew-, mock- or turtleneck sweater.
As a Jumper with a Sweater
This outfit is an example for what to wear under a dress. You may have seen this type of concept already in the Alaska October lookbook. Here the link, in case you missed it).
As outerwear add a trench coat and work bag that pick up a color of the stripes are great options. The different footwear gives even the outerwear a different vibe when wearing the coat open. On the contrary, when closing the coat, the look turns into a gray and black desaturated look with a pop of pink.
As Skirt with a Cardigan as Top
The following photos are a winter outfit inspiration. Herein shopping the own closet goes to the next level. A cardigan is styled as a top with a belt over the Missoni. To stay stylish, but warm in cold weather outfits, a shearling in burgundy adds the right amount of insulation.
Stylist tip: As a variation use a light wash jean jacket.
Read more on how to wear knit dresses in this guide.
An Abstract Print Empire-waist Summer Dress
The easiest way to look instantly stylish is throwing on the dress, add a pair of pumps, earrings, a bangle and necklace, makeup, and finish with a bag. Done. You are ready to go.
Tip: Style your dress up or down.
Layering with a Tank Top
Up the style factor by layering a tank top or lacy camisole underneath.
Casual Athleisure Outfit for Meeting with Friends
When you jumped the bandwagon of the athleisure trend, add an athleisure jacket.
Tip: For further looks wear this dress with a white denim jacket or a jean jacket.
Summer Work Outfit with Cardigan
Depending on your collection of cardigans this sleeveless print dress can make various business casual style summer work outfits. Simply pair the dress with cardigans in the different colors of the print. When you need evidence that the color of the cardigan can change the vibe of an outfit, see these inspirations how to wear a fav sheath differently.
Tip: You can style a dress down with an athleisure jacket!
Mini Dress Over a Skirt
The next inspiration show how to wear a mini dress when it is too cold for its hem length. The belt serves to create a 1/3 2/3 balance also in the other direction and picked up the red of the lower third of the outfit.
Never Underestimate the Power of Color and Accessories
Colors and accessories can change the vibe of a dress as the two inspirational photos below demonstrate. The first photo features a business casual winter work attire with the red turtleneck sweater as pop of color. On the contrary, the second photo presents and eclectic style desaturated look.
Tip: You can mix all patterns when they are gray and of different size.
Wrapping Up Different Ways to Wear Your Dresses
As part of my series on tips to get more wear from your wardrobe, this post illustrated different ways to wear your dresses other than just as a dress. Not all options work for all cuts. However, being creative when styling your dresses for everyday can increase your wardrobe options by a manifold. Furthermore, it helps to slow fashion down and saves money without scarifying style.
Photos of me: G. Kramm
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