beltless shirt dress - YouLookFab Forum

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beltless shirt dress

Maya

Veteran

Do these exist? All shirt dresses seem to be belted styles and end up being shapeless without them, but I love the Angie-inspired look Tanya has been posting lately and I think it could work for me if I could find a dress that doesn't require a belt.

Shopping

33 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole

Julia

Maya why don't you like the belt?

Tanya

Veteran

Maya they do but are not so ubiquitous. If you find one you like that has a simple tie fabric belt you could always just remove the belt loops.

Three stores where I've always found plenty of shirtdress options in the summer are H&M, Esprit and Urban Outfitters.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....038;color=
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....038;color=

Nicole

Veteran

Maya, I remembered seeing this beltless shirt dress at Smart Bargains...but it's double breasted.

http://www.smartbargains.com/g.....408.prod.8

What are you specifically looking for besides no belt. Short sleeved? Any particular color? ( I recall seeing another one at Smart Bargains, but it was collarless, so probably not technically a shirt dress, but it did button all the way down). If I see something I'll post it.

Nicole

Veteran

Macys has some..If you want to wear them with denim though...2 of them are out because they are denim also...

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....=EverGreen

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26861

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26861

Not quite a shirt dress...but close..

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....ryID=26861

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes Express carried very long dress shirts (tunic length--they come almost to my knees). This is usually a fall item, but they may have some in now. It might be worth checking out. Plus, their shirt dresses tend to be very fitted. The belts could easily be removed and it wouldn't detract from the dress.

Antje

Veteran

Yes, the Express shirt dress would work without a belt. I own one in black, and the belt loops could indeed be easily removed. They have them on sale for $19 right now (if there are any left). They are super. I personally much prefer wearing it with a belt, though; it adds shape and punch. Note that the belt loops are rather high, which might actually be great for you.
I like the first two denim dresses Nicole linked to. The very last link in Nicole's post, though, points to the worst example of a beltless dress - I think it looks like a nightgown (and not just because of the color). Some of the first few links others posted (the first one in Tanya's post, and even the one Nicole posted from SmartBargains also point to dresses that might just look a little shapeless. But it can't hurt to try it out.

Tanya

Veteran

I second Ana's and Antje's suggestion of the Express dress. I went and checked them out yesterday, but unfortunately the only thing left in my size was the weird purple/white/black animal print. The fit was great tough! And they even had extra 20% of reduced prices, so that would bring it to around $16! I was so sorry they had no normal colors left, I would have gotten maybe more than one.

Maya

Veteran

I actually enjoy "shapeless" shift dresses and trapeze tops and the like. I think they're a bit funkier and interesting (as long as they fit SOMEWHERE--that's the key). But for this purpose I do want something more fitted. I'll give Express a try. I haven't shopped there since high school. Blast from the past.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Give Express another bash, Maya.

Just for the record, you'd look great with a belted shirt dress over skinnies, but I hear you on preferring a funky voluminous style. That’s fab too as long as it fits on the shoulders and hits you mid-thigh or above the knee. Go to the Macys petite department for these dresses to wear over skinnies! The discounts will blow your mind.

Antje

Veteran

Maya, I did have one more thought on the Express shirt dress. It's super over skinnies (see Tanya's look, and I wear that, too). However, it doesn't seem like the kind of shirt dress you'd wear without skinnies (or leggings) underneath, at least I can't really see that. Tanya, do you think that as well? So Maya, if you're looking for a shirt dress to wear as a dress by itself, it might not be right.

Maya

Veteran

I'm not looking to wear it as a dress. I already have my heart set on a dress from Esprit for that purpose. I realize that to wear it over jeans, it will have to be fairly short...too short to wear by itself.

Tanya

Veteran

Hey Maya, I have just found this:
http://www2.victoriassecret.co.....rfnbr=4876
It has no belt and seems to be quite fitted, tough the picture is not great. Their stuff
alway goes on sale too.

Then there's this one too, which is a real tunic and does not button all the way down:
http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....=cat350012

Maya

Veteran

Oh man I LOVE that NY and co tunic in my favorite color ever (turquoise). I don't know if I can wear those pockets though Maybe If I wear my minimizer bra...

Hard to tell what the Victoria's Secret one looks like. You would think they'd take the 'sexy" aspect would be secondary to showing the actual clothing in this case, right? I doubt many women intend to wear it as a coverup for their bikini. I do see the potential though!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I LOVE the NY & Co tunic. Maya, what size chest do you have? I have a shirt dress with chest pockets and I wear a C cup. I don't think it overemphasizes my chest at all, even if I wear it buttoned up most of the way. Nice find, Tanya, I think I might order that ASAP. Now to choose a color.....I think I might have to get it in the white AND the brown.

Maya

Veteran

I'm a 32DD =\ Perhaps Angie is better equipped to answer this. I'm wondering if the pockets blend with the shirt enough that they don't add too much emphasis.

Tanya

Veteran

The pockets look relatively flat in the picture, unlike on my VS one. If there's a store nearby, you could try it on and see if it works.
The other day I also saw a turquoise one at H&M. It was bit looser and and a bit see trough-the material was a bit gauzy, kind of like a long shirt. It did have a fabric belt but it was jut held by two pieces of string at the waist that would be super-easy to get rid off if the dress is otherwise working for you. And it had no chest pockets

Nicole

Veteran

I love teh NY and Co one too. I don't know why that VS model would wear that as a coverup...it wasn't covering much (neither was her bathing suit!)

Maya, I had forgotton how buxom you are. I don't think those pockets or that collar would work with DDs.

Tanya

Veteran

Btw, I have found and posted a whole bunch of dresses on the other post that Ana started about dresses to wear over skinnies, but for some reason you can't see that in the forum overview, it wasn't bumped up! Strange..

Maya

Veteran

I can't see your post in the other thread, Tanya. I see your name on the overview and it says 3 responses, but yours won't appear. Weird!

Tanya

Veteran

Yea, it's quite strange. Maybe the system thinks it's some kind of a spam since I included so many links in such a short time. Hopefully Angie/Greg will fix this. This happened to me yesterday with couple of other posts as well. I'll repeat only one here hoping you can see it:
http://www.tulle4us.com/shop/s.....;nPageNo=2

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Greg is sorting out the spam filter. Thanks for the patience everyone!)

DD’s are not created equally. A 40 DD is much bigger than 32 DD. You have a bust Maya, but you’re not extremely busty. I had a client on Sunday who measures exactly what you do. She also wears a 32DD at 5ft 2 and wears a size 2-4, but has broader shoulders. She looks splendid in a shirt dress. Cami underneath and unbuttoned to just below the belt to create a deep V effect. Cargo pockets on the breast were not problematic on her.

Love the turquoise tunic. Looks short, but might be fine for your short waist, Maya. You are looking for a length that is mid-thigh to just above the knee. Collar looks great to me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tulle dress has cargo pockets on the hip area. That’s harder to wear unless you are an inverted triangle. Nicole can wear cargo pockets on her hip area.

Maya

Veteran

I'm also going on the assumption that I'm quite a bit shorter than the model, so it could be long enough for me. Looks like a trip to the mall is in order.

Nicole

Veteran

I do like that Tulle shirtdress...but I don't think I can wear skinnies. Now if that dress were a bit longer, I'd be tempted to try it on as a dress.

Maya

Veteran

I think you can wear straight skinnies, Nicole. Give them a try and you might surprise yourself.

Nicole

Veteran

Hey Maya....How about a dress like this for your quest for a beltless shirtdress? You'd have to shorten it, but no biggie.

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....=EverGreen

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Absolutely, Nicole. You can wear straight skinnies chop, chop. Also like the Macys dress that you suggested to Maya for you (shortened, of course).

Maya

Veteran

I have to say that somehow I don't like shirtdresses or anything with a collar to be sleeveless. I do not know why. I think it's just a subjective thing. But the color is fantastic and the shape is also spot on.

As for the skinnies, I actually think you're very well suited for them Nicole. They are a great way to add curves to your bottom half. It's true they can potentially make you look top heavy, but only if you wear them incorrectly, and that's true for anything. Wear a medium wash, straighter pair with a longer top, deep v, and dark color. You have such nice legs so make the most of them!

Nicole

Veteran

Ok, I'll give them a try. The difficulty will be finding a pair in a store with a top to try on together. I don't think I'd be able to see the whole picture unless I had both pieces on together. What length do you guys think I should look for in the top? A few inches below my crotch? (Gosh I hate that word.) I think I prefer the one with the hip pockets that is on the other thread.

I forgot you wanted the shirtdress to have sleeves. So many people are looking for shirtdresses right now, I forget who wants what.

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