Outfit Formula: The Shirt Dress

The Shirt Dress is a timeless staple that’s been regaining popularity over the past few years.

Unfortunately, many of the reimagined styles we see in stores look like oversized men’s shirts with belts.

And I don’t know about you but I don’t want to look like I forgot my pants.

But today’s key piece in our Outfit Formula is a classic, flattering cut, that shapes the shoulder, pulls the waist in and falls beautifully from the hips. 

And if all that isn’t enough, it has pockets, too.

Let’s get dressed.

Outfit Formula #23: The Shirt Dress

 

Shirt Dress, $125 | Block Heel Sandal, $90 with Ruched Handbag, $67 |  Sneakers, $140  with Crossbody Bag, $128 | Pearl Ear Jacket Studs, $148 

Let’s start with the dress, a cotton blend option available in navy and black, in sizes 00 – 18.

This dress style works best for a pear, rectangle and hourglass shape. 

For the pear shape, it defines the shoulder, helping balance out the hips. And the fullness of the skirt works well with wider hips. 

For the rectangle, the pulled-in waist and full skirt create more shape to a body type that is more straight up and down (me). 

For the hourglass, the design is a dream if your shape is naturally balanced, as it will highlight your curves and smaller waist. 

Please note, I’ll update with an appropriate plus option once I find one I’m willing to recommend. Right now the options are terrible. 

What’s lovely about this kind of dress in your closet is that you can dress it up or down. 

So let’s do just that. 

First, add a sandal and a cute bag. 

I featured these Cole Haan block heel sandals a few months ago after buying them myself. I wore them a few times last week and was thrilled with the comfort factor. Sizes are limited, but if they have your size, they are worth it. 

They go with the black or navy version of the dress. 

Then this ruched hobo-style shoulder bag has been all over my social feeds, so I ordered it to see what the big deal was. Happy to report I was very impressed with the quality. I like it as an alternative to a clutch—lots of color options. 

To style it casually, you only need a pair of sneakers and a sporty bag. 

Here, I’m wearing black and white Veja sneakers for no other reason than I think they look fantastic. If you already bought a pair of crisp white sneakers, they would look great here. 

Then, I found this black and white crossbody bag at Madewell. Easy-peasy.

Finally, for both looks, I love these pearl earring jackets by Mejuri. I’m working on updating our post about creating a jewelry capsule, and these will be front and center. They are the perfect pearl stud done in a modern way. 

52 Outfits in 2022!

Follow Us on Instagram!

Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers. 

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail. 

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

If you enjoy our content and would like to help us grow, please  follow on Instagram and join our Private Facebook Group to access more advice and exclusive in-depth conversations with other like-minded women.

Learn about our mission to help women look and feel their very best, every day, here. 

Sign Up for Daily Content and Receive Our Free Classic Wardrobe Checklist