Would You Wear a Shirt Dress?

Aug 09, 2007 @ 5:46pm

thus concludes the fashionista mix tape.jpg
One fashion trend inspired by Risky Business i is everywhere this summer, and this time, we’re not talking about Wayfarers:

Shirt dresses hang on the racks in almost every store we visit, from mass market chains (Gap) to more expensive boutiques (Philip Lim).

We decided to try the trend. and wear a navy Steven Alan shirt dress to work last week. We liked it - until dinner, when we paired it with heels and kind of felt like a prostitute - or like we woke up in the morning, put on our boyfriend's shirt, and went to the office.

Shirt dresses are tricky to accessorize, as too much jewelry or too-high shoes can ruin their natural simplicity. And then there’s another issue, since the cut is sometimes more pillowcase than pillar, you might need a belt - something we don't love with the style.

Are you wearing shirt dresses, and if so, how?

--NATALIE MATTHEWS

posted by Sara

Aug 10, 2007 9:34AM

I am actually wearing one right now, I got it at "le chateau" and it came with a belt that blends in with the shirt (so it's not bad). I just wear it with gladiator sandals and I'm done! It is very nice if you wake up late!

posted by chick3

Aug 10, 2007 9:36AM

I have an adorable sleeveless navy and white shirt dress with a white collar and spaghetti straps that I got from Zara in Paris this summer. I pair it with flats in the day and a Maria Bonita 80's purple bangle and 3 inch purple pumps at night. I would stick to a 3" heel or lower, that's for sure!

posted by MH

Aug 10, 2007 9:40AM

Blue and white striped oxford-style shirtdress, with one of those old nantucket knotted white belts and white jack rogers flats. I feel like you almost have to go with the casual nature of the dress and wear cute flats. I have a black one that I wear with black pumps, but its still just a summer dinner outside look, not a full-on nighttime outfit.

posted by Kaytie

Aug 10, 2007 9:40AM

These dresses can be hard to wear, something I'm acutely aware of. One of my coworkers actually refered to one of my shirtdresses as a pillowcase. Not a welcomed response, to be sure. I was wearing a cloth belt at the time, and I've switched now to wider pieces to show that I do actually have a waist.

posted by edith

Aug 10, 2007 9:50AM

i tried on the libertine shirtdress you have pictured and felt like laura ingalls. such a pity too because the style and informality are so appealing at this time of year.

posted by Lindsay

Aug 10, 2007 10:04AM

If I was wearing the above Libertine dress I'd probably roll the sleeves up a bit more. I'd then pair it with gladiators for the rest of summer. Come fall I'd wear it with tights and short motorcycle boots.

posted by missryanm

Aug 10, 2007 10:08AM

I think they're cool as long as they have a proper stand-up shirt collar and a straight hem.

posted by Ash

Aug 10, 2007 10:10AM

I have a few of 'em, which I usually pair with t-strap flats or gladiators.
My only issue with shirtdresses is that the all-white versions usually look too much like a nurse's uniform unless you add a belt, you know? Which is why I pair my white shirtdress with my tall Michael Kors McGraw boots and a low slung, wide belt.

posted by Liz

Aug 10, 2007 10:16AM

Absolutely! I actually wore the other shirt dress by Libertine yesterday to work. I belted it with a black rope belt and wore open-toe cream and brown pumps with a leopard-print scarf.

You can see it here: http://www.stylemob.com/index.php?author=QueenDistructo&selectId=23651&order=1

posted by kelly

Aug 10, 2007 10:18AM

Finding a shirtdress with a narrower cut helps, and I agree that keeping it casual works better than dressing it up.

I have a vintage navy shirtdress with tiny while polka dots. The dress has a tailored waist and an a-line skirt, so it has a great silhouette. It hits just below the knee and therefore does need heels. I like it with a wide belt and wedges.

I also have a shirtdress about the length of the one in the photo, linen, very casual, but again, narrower than the billowing pillowcase ones. I wear it with flat sandals and some bangles.

posted by m

Aug 10, 2007 10:36AM

i love shirtdresses .. but i have never been able to find one that looks good on me ... im short so all the ones i try on always come way to long and i have the "pillowcase" problem you guys are talking about

posted by olivia

Aug 10, 2007 10:43AM

I have the other Libertine shirtdress and wear it with a low slung belt and either flat sandals or open toed, white mini-wedges.

I think it's a cute look for during the day only.

posted by h

Aug 10, 2007 10:49AM

I love my navy shirtdress, but I'm with the person who mentioned straight hems. It has to be cut more like a dress than a shirt. I don't understand the ones that have the scalloped hem (lack of a better term) like a man's dress shirt. It just looks odd and sloppy and would not be appropriate for work. Shirtdresses have to be belted IMO, helps to create a sleek line and avoid the pillowcase effect.

posted by cat

Aug 10, 2007 10:49AM

Ditto missryanm on the straight hem. A curved shirttail hem starts veering into the I-forgot-to-put-on-pants look, especially if you are a tall, leggy gal.

posted by anon

Aug 10, 2007 1:19PM

i have a sleeveless pinstripe balenciaga version that is perfection but i think the ruffle-front gap version are amazing. i'd buy one but it looks like they're pushing it as the must-have from the first fall rollout so i'm paranoid it will become too "look at my dress i bought AT THE GAP."

posted by Cougar

Aug 10, 2007 1:37PM

Shirtdresses, yay! Shirt dress, not for me. Shirtdresses are a perfect summer look, very easy. I always get lots of compliments when I wear them. Agree w/ the straight hem thing-- for me, needs to be clearly a dress, not a shirt worn as a dress. But I'm old.

posted by katie

Aug 10, 2007 2:15PM

I love the striped one with the french cuffs from Gap--I wear it to brunch on Saturday mornings, and I like it BECAUSE it looks like I'm wearing my boyfriend's shirt from the night before.

posted by puercotrou

Aug 10, 2007 2:34PM

I want to love shirtdresses, especially since in my old age, I am becoming increasingly preppy, but I am busty, so they never seem to work out, proportion-wise

posted by KA

Aug 10, 2007 2:53PM

pair it with a skinny belt, belted at your true waist. Not slung low or up too high under your chest.

the skinny belt is small enough to keep the attention on the dress and not over power it ..

(like the overrated-over worn-too large for life wrestling championship belts.)

as for shoes I like to wear a kittenheel with them. So you still have a heel making your legs look longer and toned, but your not hoochie-ing it up with 4 inchers

posted by Annmarie

Aug 10, 2007 3:48PM

Love it...but probably not for nighttime. I was out a few months ago (it was the middle of winter) and there was a model wearing only her boyfriend's shirt and a belt. I get it, directional...but ugh. It didnt cover her ass, and it really just looked like she forgot to put on pants. Or possibly that she had given them to the coat check along with jacket?

posted by sissy_winger

Aug 10, 2007 4:01PM

I wore that libertine dress the other day - with a cinch belt from jcrew and black and white spectator flats. I felt the real problem with it was styling my hair. Probably up is the way to go, as down it looked too bedhead with the pillowcase fabric

posted by knowitall

Aug 10, 2007 4:34PM

i own 3 of the Steven Alan shirtdresses that i got at barneys, i LIVE in them! they button down, they have a little skirt at the bottom, and they completely answer my i have nothing to wear dilemma!

posted by luv_bug

Aug 10, 2007 5:08PM

Yup, love 'em. I, like many others, bought the white Libertine shirtdress. I roll the sleeves up, open up all the buttons, strap a thick black belt around my waist, and pair it with red flats.

I think shirtdresses and wrapdresses are absolute necessities for the working girl. Especially if you aren't lucky enough to work in a free-for-all-fashion zone. They are just conservative enough to be appropriate for an office, but you don't feel like a tool wearing for drinks after work.

posted by nadarine

Aug 10, 2007 7:04PM

another vote for "yes": I have a few shirtdresses, and their one common feature is defined waist by way of a belt. That, and a kinda low v-neck, to take away the granny nightgown factor that sometimes happens at the neckline.
I nearly never pair them with heels, though: my gold gladiator sandals end up being the go-to shoe, as they keep the look youngish and casual.

posted by kellie

Aug 10, 2007 8:50PM

i have a kelly-green H&M shirtdress that i had altered so it was more defined at the waist and less baggy-looking. i either wear it casually with flat sandals and a simple necklace, or black tights and black patent heels for looking more dressed up. i also have a really short one that's basically more of a shirt and a little see through, but it's great over a tank top and jeans.

posted by MegO

Aug 13, 2007 8:54PM

Ahhhh I also own that green H&M dress Kellie is talking about...GREAT idea! Shirt dresses are awfully hard to pull off if you have a bigger bust, so they must be tailored. I actually don't mind throwing a belt over it to cinch things in, as long as it's not one of those wide 80's belt that I still see all the time at clubs.

posted by joni

Aug 14, 2007 5:41PM

yes. i bought one last fall by sanctuary. it's charcoal/black with suttle grey and orangish stripes, snaps all the way down and snap front chest pockets. wear it alone or over pants/jeans. super comfortable and looking forward to breaking it out again this fall.