We all love to wear breezy, pretty dresses in the sunshine and the shirtdress is an obvious choice – it’s so versatile. From wandering along the beach on vacation, to going shopping, to meeting for a drink on a warm evening, shirtdresses are perfect for just about anything life throws at you.
The shirt-dress is a wardrobe staple that gives immediate style and structure to your look, thanks to its collar and front buttoning. I love front buttons as an easy front fastening – no fiddling with little neck buttons at the back. But the straight line of buttons also adds interest and of course draws a great vertical line through your silhouette, helping to make you look taller and slimmer than a plain-fronted dress.
I’ve done a try-on with some shirtdresses I already own. I’m styling them in various different ways.
I’ve picked out some favorites below in the hope they will start your online search for styles that suit both your figure and your lifestyle. Although sleeveless shirtdresses look fabulous, I haven’t included any as most of us prefer some coverage of the upper arm.
Also, many retailers show shirtdresses with most of the skirt buttons undone. Again, gorgeous if you have cute knees and shapely legs! But I’ve tried to use pictures that show a more age-relevant styling. Hope that doesn’t make the dresses look too boring. When you’re on vacation, you can happily wear quite skimpy dresses then cover up for lunch.
This midi dress has a fashionable wide shoulder-line with its cap sleeves nicely balance by a flared skirt. This will look best on a medium to tall woman. A delightful simple summer dress at an incredibly low price.
Black is very popular again this year for summer outfits. This midi dress has a bigger look at the shoulder with very wide cuffed short sleeves. This dress would look great day or evening, depending on your accessories. A distinctive summer dress if you can carry off this on-trend top.
Shirtdresses at Boden are feminine and colorful. I love the floaty look and the bold check. An ideal frock for lunch outside in the sunshine.
I love the drop waist on this dress. It helps the skirt, though roomy, not to flare out too much – for short women like me this is a good silhouette.
Another of Boden’s colorful shirtdresses. Long sleeves – almost always turned back these days – give a smart look for around town and are an excellent mosquito defense when sipping cold rose wine outside in the evening.
Many shirtdresses look good with a belt – either a self tie or an added contrasting one. Tan leather belts have become the norm with summer dresses over the past couple of years. Not a look that seems to work for me though. I’d likely choose a woven cotton belt. The front pleats make this dress stylish enough for a summer event or wedding. Wear with wedge or kitten heels.
Once you get past the three name brand, you’ll find LRL clothes are casual and classic. I love this simple frock. The sleeve length is perfect for my saggy arms and the front tie would camouflage my tummy! Check the length if you are standard or tall – you might find it is shorter than you are comfortable with. In general the more fabric in the skirt the longer it should fall. This dress works well as the skirt is not full. Ideal if you have good legs (or are short like me as it will fall over the knee).
Such a useful dress. The shirt hem gives a relaxed casual look, great for warm days. A beautiful color for summer which will look even better if you have a tan.
This is Sezanne’s take on the straight shirtdress. I love the typical shirt stripe and the loose hang. It would work just as well worn as a cover-up over a sleeveless vest and wide pants as it does as a casual day dress.
A lovely style for town or vacation. The owner has added a narrow dark belt which works really well – adding structure without heaviness. Add distinctive earrings and this little frock will take you anywhere, day or evening.
The archetypal shirt dress – sensible not-too-short short sleeves, sensible pockets, sensible belt, sensible length. What’s not to love? This unusual color – terracotta – looks good with tan leather shoes (or a tan leather bag) and will look just perfect outside a cafe in a sun-filled square in Tuscany!
What could be more feminine and floaty for summer than a silk shirtdress? Wear it quite long so the fineness of the fabric drapes well. If you’re a fashionable type then mix the weights of the outfit by choosing tan leather fisherman (or Roman??) sandals. If you’re more conservative, style with espadrilles or flat cream leather sandals. I adore this dress!
If you find my curated lists of clothes that suit us older ladies (even if they are almost always modelled on young women!) a useful starting point for your own research online, then take a look at another list: