A t-shirt dress is a must for the warmer months of the year. It’s often made in a loose fit without a seam at the waist. A t-shirt dress can be made in a variety of colors and fabrics and because of the unstructured nature, it is flattering on most body types and there are a ton of ways you can make this your own.
My t-shirt dress is on the fancier side in a blue and cream snakeskin print. The fabric is a really thin polyester blend and hangs beautifully. It’s one of those easy items where when I don’t know what to wear, I reach for this. I bought it secondhand (seeing a trend?) And it has paid for itself one hundred times over. Length in a t-shirt dress is important to me. I want to be able to “belt and fluff” for the max amount of ways so it can’t be too short by itself. So consider buying one about two inches longer than you would like it to be at its shortest.
Side note: When I came downstairs ready to take photos in this outfit, Kevin (my fiancé) said, “oh, is it snakeskin edition this week?”. Which not only was a great idea, but he is clearly enjoying life as a blogger spouse. Hi dear!
Dressed Up
The first way I wore this dress was in all its unstructured glory. I reached for a long necklace with a heavy bauble. The way it falls against my chest helps create SOME shape on the top part without actively creating a waistline. Because of the unstructured nature of the t-shirt dress, it can be a challenge to really dress it up so I went with a metallic gold theme for the accessories.
That said, textures go a LONG way in helping to elevate this simple piece since it often comes in basic fabrics. The purse was the perfect choice because of the natural woven texture and gold tassel which went perfectly with my necklace.
Accidental miracles like the purse and necklaces happening to match is the KEY to throwing it together. Did I think about this in advance, not quite, but does it look like I did…. Heck yes. As you get more confident in your outfits, as it’s been said, fortune favors the bold and you’ll find a lot of coincidences just fall in your lap.
Last of the group are these gold Michael Kors wedges (bought secondhand, again). These keep it casual, but still as dressed up as it gets.
Dressed For Business
If you want to look professional or give the impression of organization and control, a strong structured outfit will definitely do that for you. Each item picked for this looked was specifically chosen to give that impression.
A blazer and t-shirt dress is a winning combination for a summer event. The dress is light and airy, but the blazer adds class, sophistication and much-needed shape for this occasion. You’ll want to make sure yours is VERY fitted. Otherwise, boxy and boxy just don’t mix and will do nothing but swallow you up.
A round quilted purse feels intentional and the pointed mules are a strong statement. An outfit like this should look thought-out even if it was a last minute decision.
Dressed Down
My personal favorite way to wear a T-shirt dress! It’s classic, feminine and you can’t go wrong. A skinny belt at the natural waste totally changes the whole game without taking up too much real estate. A larger belt may take away from the ease of the look.
The rest is simple, coordinated natural purse and shoes. They don’t have to be match-y match-y, but it keeps it looking really clean. Because of the pattern, this felt like the most organic choice.
Other Ways to Play
This is where you could have a lot of fun with a t-shirt dress. It is essentially a blank canvas to play with. Want to do a neon accessory set? Fabulous. Want to play up an animal print palette? Meow. Want to jazz it up with metallics? Glam it up.
If you REALLY wanted to kick up your t-shirt dress a notch… leave it completely unstructured (no belt or cinching allowed), toss your hair in a ponytail or top knot and toss on some stilettos. This will level up this piece in a new way.
Do you have a t-shirt dress? What’s your favorite way to wear?
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