This ensemble was inspired by my own sweater dress outfit that I’ve so enjoyed wearing over the last few weeks. The exact items are shown in the collection below. It just goes to show that the right pair of current and tall tailored boots was all I needed to get me back on to Team Autumn & Winter Dress. I couldn’t be happier with the unplanned purchase of my new sleek ink blue boots. It’s created all sorts of new outfit possibilities, and is also making me entertain dress lengths that fall above my knee.
The outfit runs on the more maximal side of the continuum because it combines bold jewellery, a scarf, shine, texture, high-contrast colours, and perhaps a little pattern mixing too. And some of you — like me — will add eyewear, which makes things even more maximal.
Here are the components. Choose any colour palette. The outfit on the left approximates my own outfit.
Sweater Dress: Choose a sweater dress that tickles your fancy in any colour or pattern. I prefer mine swingy, trapeze and shift-like, but feel free to wear them in fit-and-flare, sheath or cocoon silhouettes. They work best on or just above the knee with knee-high boots. Feel free to wear a shorter hem with over-the-knee boots or mid-calf boots if that’s more your style.
Tall Boots: Choose tall tailored boots that are flat or heeled. Choose a length that’s mid-calf, knee-length or over-the-knee. Wear them in a colour that works with the dress. The sleeker the fit of the boots, the more versatile the style. I’ve found that dressy boots tend to work extra well with dresses.
Hosiery: Add hosiery for insulation. Patterned hose can be fun. I tend to choose sheer black hose, sheer black polka dot hose, or micro fishnets since I’m not a fan of black opaque tights. Sheer hose looks lighter and prettier to my eye, which works better with my style sensibilities.
Coat: Add a coat in a colour that works with the outfit. Personally, I like the coat to be the same length or longer than the dress because it looks more polished somehow. But that’s not essential. Bright and patterned coats, and coats with faux fur trim have a more maximal effect. Go for it.
Accessories: Add a scarf, jewellery, bag and eyewear as desired. I add a gold clutch for shine, a pile of pearls for a Modern Retro vibe, my watch, green specs, and a scarf that matches the colour of the coat. Indoors, I take off the coat and scarf so that you can see the pearls. A large scarf will double duty as a wrap over the dress, which I’ve found handy in a drafty restaurant. Cosy, easy, comfortable, and different from jeans.
