I’ll never forget the moment I realised shirt dresses were life-changing. It was at my friend Emma’s garden party last summer and I’d arrived in what I thought was a cute – if slightly over-shirt dress-y – floral midi, only to spend the whole time fussing over the fact that it wouldn’t stay tucked in at the waist and kept trying to slide off my shoulders. Emma, meanwhile, flitted around us as cool as you please in a crisp white number while serving guests gin and tonics and steering her windswept spaniel away from the ham sandwiches. “How do you look so put-together?” I demanded of her after hopping off to the bathroom for the fourth time to hitch up my back. “Shirt dress, love,” Emma said, eyeing me up over her shoulder. “Absolute game changer.
Best bit? It looks fancy but it’s actually really hassle-free.” Fast forward twenty-four hours and I’d treated myself to my first ever shirt dress. A basic denim cut from one of the high street’s culprits costing a cool £45.
I’ve since collected quite the few in three years – each style offering something completely different and serving its own purpose when I need flatteringnbreezy, work-appropriate femininity without the faff of actually feeling like I’m dressed up. Today, I’m sharing my ultimate guide to shirt dresses, whatever your style or body shape.
Scroll on for everything from timeless classics (think: cotton button-downs) to weekend Warrior (yes, that means denim!) styles.
I even fancy laying in a sheet dress section at some point, but we’ll cross that road when we come to it.
Scroll on for my 11 ultimate picks to help you build your own shirt dress collection… The All-Rounder: Classic Button-Down Shirt Dress Style name: Classic button-down shirt dress Oh, the timeless classic cotton shirt dress.
If you’re only going to own one shirt dress then make it this. I picked mine up in white cotton from Primark years ago (don’t laugh – £75 is actually not much for how often I’ve worn it) and love how easy it is to dress up or down. Throw on a belt and a pair of pointed-toe flats or low block heels for work.
Leave it loose with the sleeves rolled up for weekend chores. Heck, I’ve even worn mine as a beach cover up, washed over my bikini when we hit the Greek islands last summer (sunburn and all). The main thing to consider with a classic shirt dress is the length.
I’m only 5’4” and any dress that doesn’t reach my knee is giving me my mum-vibes. If you’re shorter than average, look for a shirt dress that hits above or just on your knee – it’s the most flattering for my figure. If you’re taller than me?
You lucky thing. I know heaps of my taller friends who can rock longer styles – up to and including maxi shirt dresses. My office-mate Priya wears an oversized shirt dress by Astrid and Miyu nearly year-round and it always looks incredible on her long frame.
If you opt for a classic shirt dress made from 100% cotton, be warned that it will crease. I learned this the hard way at an outdoor summer wedding a few years ago and spent half the day looking like I’d slept in the dress. Cotton will always crease, so look for something with a small percentage of elastane if you’re worried about this.
Not only will you get the breathability and softness of cotton but your dress will have just enough stretch to resist wrinkles. The Weekend Wonder: Denim Shirt Dress Style name: Denim shirt dress Picture this: you roll out of bed on a Saturday morning. It’s one of those weekends when you have lots you want to do but no motivation to do it.
You suddenly remember you’re babysitting your nephew all weekend and spend 20 minutes scrolling Googling “baby proof the house” but deep down, you know there’s nothing that needs doing. Time for plan B. You make a rewardingly cup of coffee and pick yourself a trusty denim shirt dress.
Problem solved. Unlike your typical shirt dress denim shirt dresses are relaxed and cozy enough that you can pull on without looking like you’ve made an effort at all. Obviously I wear mine with espadrilles and a straw bag 95% of the time to create impossibly chic_Cote_d_Azur_a lunch date vibes with my husband…but let’s be real, we’re actually just eating beans on wholewheat toast while picking fluff off the carpet.
Throw it with tights, ankle boots, and a big knit when the weather turns cooler. My first denim shirt dress was INCREDIBLY heavy. It was thick denim that looked great but felt like it was digging into my shoulders after about an hour.
Now I look for finer denims that have a softer drape. Look for shirt dresses that include lyocell or modal as part of the fabric mix. These are both types of wood pulp fibre that give your denim that gorgeous draping quality without losing the shirt dress shape.
My top style tip for finding the perfect denim shirt dress is to try and find one with a slight empire waist. Mine was completely straight and made me look wide as rowboat. I since learned that this style is not the most flattering on my pear-shaped figure.
Look out for styles with a touch of gathering at the waist – you’ll thank me later. The Figure-Flattering Choice: Belted Shirt Dress Style name: Self-belted shirt dress I was self-conscious about my waist after having my daughter last year so naturally gravitated towards shirt dresses that had an actual belt built in. Fast forward 12 months, I own enough to do a whole blog post on them.
They’re the quickest way to create the illusion of a waist, even if you don’t have one. My favourite shirt dress at the moment is this safari style one I picked up from M&S a few months ago. I love the khaki colour, tortoiseshell buttons, and patch pockets.
You Might Also Like
Oh and did I mention the belt is self-made? Gone are the days I lose my belts at the back of my handbag drawer only for them to reappear half a year later when I’m cleaning out said drawer! Embrace sleeves: Not only will they keep you covered up should you be breastfeeding/post-nursing, they’re also amazingly flattering.
My slim-in-ALL-the-right-places sister-in-law Kate wears shirt dresses all the time and they always look great on her. She’s very thin and mostly looks like a straight pole without sleeves, so the addition of sleeves actually adds some curves to her frame. Add sleeves to my more pear-shaped figure and it balances out my hips and shoulders.
Dear friend Deepa has a larger bust than me so loves how belts and V-necks cinch her waist. My style tip? Invest in a couple of leather belts to swap out depending on the look you’re going for.
A wide belt is figure-hugging and super feminine. Thin belts are great for when you want the waist-cinching effect without too much drama. Pro tip: if your shirt dress has a removable belt, thread it through the belt loops before chucking it in the wash.
Ask me how I know this lesson is learned the hard way. The Summer Essential: Linen Shirt Dress Style name: Linen shirt dress I still remember stepping out of tube station into 33-degree heat during a London heatwave a few summers ago. My office’s AC had broken that week and my entire workplace was a sweatbox.
I spotted this lightweight linen shirt dress on display in Zara and bought it without even trying it on. My office mate spotted me in it later that week and raised both her eyebrows in that ‘I-know-something-you-don’t-know’ way. “It’s got creases in isn’t it?” She laughed. “Yes,” I replied. “But at least I don’t feel like I’m melting.” Linen truly is the best for keeping you cool in summer. It does crease a lot but that’s kind of linen’s charm, isn’t it?
If you hate creases try looking for linen blends that incorporate cotton or even synthetics to keep the shape. My go-to option for summer is always linen – I have roughly seven shirt dresses come summertime so I can easily mix and match with my Mum Jeans and flip-flops. Style tip: Midi lengths work best for linen, in my opinion.
Too short and it’ll look like a nightshirt. Too long and you’ll drown in fabric if you’re on the smaller side. And don’t be afraid to experiment with colour when it comes to linen.
Because of its texture bolder colours like terracotta, mustard, or sage actually look really stylish and aren’t too overpowering. Statement Style: Printed Shirt Dress Style name: Leopard Print Shirt Dress Ah printed shirt dresses. They’re my confidence boosters.
Give me a bold print and I’ll instantly perk up. They also really make you feel dressed up – so they’re great for weddings or those days when you need a bit of a pick-me-up. Leopard was my first foray into the world of printed shirt dresses.
I picked this pretty number up at Whistles thinking I’d wear it once to a festival that summer. Spoiler alert: leopard print never goes out of fashion. I wore this dress all summer to work (blasphemy, I know) and have been wearing it for pretty much every occasion since.
It’s great for dates night as you can dress it up or down. Throw on trainers and a denim jacket for a laidback look or sky-high heels and some bling to dress it up.
Pro tip: when buying a printed shirt dress pay attention to the size of the print.
Smaller prints are more versatile and won’t go out of fashion as quickly.
Bulky, oversized florals or geometrics don’t tend to age very well and can look really cute on. I learned this the hard way when I bought a ‘sunflower’ print shirt dress a few years ago… If you’re nervous about jumping into a bold print go for something small and understated like pinstripes.
They’re been SUCH a big trend recently that they basically qualify as a neutral. Another cute print for beginners? Polka dots.
For those of you looking to make a statement, go for large florals or colourful geometrics. Just ensure that the colours featured will work with stuff you already have in your wardrobe. It’s much easier to jazz up a basic shirt dress with cardigans, blazers and shoes you already own than it is vice versa.
Shop My Favourite Shirt Dresses Below… Shop shirt dresses from Tapestry Marketplace here…. PS. Fancy more closet staples guides?
Make sure to cheque out my guide to capsule wardrobe dresses & bestselling jeans for women…
