Jacket for layering over shirt dress - YouLookFab Forum

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Jacket for layering over shirt dress

Antje

Veteran

I wore my new shirt dress on Saturday evening, and realized I hadn't thought yet of what jacket to wear with it. Usually, for a smart casual look I like wearing my dark wash denim jacket over a summer dress in the evening (or inside if it's air conditioned). However, that looked really bad over the shirt dress, and I think it's because of the two rows of vertical buttons that were too similar.
Does anyone have some ideas??
The shirt dress is this one: http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ory=Misses

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole

Patience

Veteran

Antje, I'd recommend the green jacket I posted about previously for the color combination, but I'm afraid it also might be too cluttered for this particular dress. It is zip up but it also has zip pockets. If you do want to try it, I got it at Nordstrom and it wasn't too expensive. Otherwise, it seems like you need something fairly streamlined. A cardigan might work except that I'd be afraid that the sleeves of the dress would bulge out. What about a blazer of some sort? Sorry I'm not more help.

emilykate

What about a wrap style sweater instead of a jacket?
http://www.us.redoute.com/clot.....haseType=G
Or a short-ish leather jacket that zips up the front?
http://youlookfab.com/2008/01/.....d-classic/
Or... a swingy jacket with one button like the yellow one on the left?
http://youlookfab.com/2007/09/.....-flatters/

Julia

How about a trench that ends at the same length as the dress, preferably in cream or white? I feel that trenches and dresses go along very well in chilly weather. Add color to your belt/bag or shoes if you think it's too boring.

Nicole

Veteran

I like the idea of adding something soft and feminine to a shirt dress. I see a shirt dress as almost masculine--well as masculine as a dress can get...so the image of something girly juxtaposed with something not so girly appeals to me. With that in mind...how about a subltle ruffled cardigan...like this one:

http://www.bodenusa.com/col.as.....e+Cardigan

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I like Nicole's idea. I might steal it for my shirtdress. The coral or green would look awesome!

Nicole

Veteran

Hey Ana, did you get the new Boden catalog today? Some nice stuff in there.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

No, I don't get the Boden catalog. I should sign up for it though, huh? I like their stuff.

Nicole

Veteran

I like looking at clothing in catalogs better than online. The photo quality is better and the colors are more true.

In another thread, Maya commented on Boden's skirts being on the long side. I saw a really cute skirt in the catalog and it was listed as a "mini" skirt. I almost bypassed it, but I read the length and then compared the length to my measurements and it would fall on the lower half of my knee cap! Definately not mini.

Antje

Veteran

Thanks all for the tips. I especially like Nicole's pointer to the ruffled cardigan (lovely!), and the wrap style sweater EmilyKate suggested. Alas, the problem with a cardi/sweater is that the sleeves of the shirt dress would show. They roll up and are buttoned, so I can't wear a knitted layer - it would just show a bad bulge on the upper arms.
I tried a couple more light/short jackets from my closet, but I just look at that double row of buttons and it looks real odd... I'm a bit at a loss, still!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Antje, the sleeves unroll down to 3/4 length.

Antje

Veteran

Hmm, but I don't know if the jacket would stay on. So if I took the jacket off, I'd have to get those sleeves rolled back up... I can't quite see that working. Sorry if this seems all very fussy. Maybe I just have to wait until the weather is consistently nice so I don't have to bother with a jacket at all... Do you have a jacket figured out yet with your shirt dress?

shiny

Veteran

I would look for a short-sleeve cardigan, one where the sleeves are shorter than the dress sleeves, so the cuffed part sticks out of it (no lumps) and looks deliberate.

This length sleeve would work:
http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301172

You could possibly get away with sleeves this short - just roll or scrunch the dress sleeves up a little higher:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301172

I really like the idea of a patterned sweater to go with this dress. This one has 3/4 sleeves. See how the long sleeves of the blouse underneath are cuffed and rolled up? Since your dress sleeves roll up higher, you can experiment with scrunching the sweater sleeves up higher.

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat301172

If you don't want buttons on the cardi at all, try this shrug:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=565040

(hmmm.... I may have to get that one myself!!)

And this sleeve length is perfect for layering over that dress. I own this one. It would work:
http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=564875

A completely off the wall idea, which could work depending on your personal style, if your goal is simply to add interest with another layer (rather than keep warm), is to try layering a sleeveless sweater vest (belted) or a regular suit vest in a contrasting color. Vests are all over the stores right now. It could be an interesting look.

Otherwise, for accessorizing, if you like scarfs, this is definetly the dress to have a colorful silk scarf tied at the neck.

I have a very similar black dress myself - but with short sleeves. I'm not a scarf person (neck too short) but I do think this dress needs something substantial around the neck, peeking out of the collar. I wear a string of multiple pearls similar to this style:

http://tinyurl.com/47k2n8

emilykate

I agree with shiny's suggestion to let the cuffs show, otherwise perhaps knitwear with more voluminous sleeves?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

The Boden jacket I just got is light weight and the sleeves on it are wider than a traditional jacket. I was thinking of trying that over the dress. It's at the alterations place right now, but I get it back tonight, so I will try it and report back. Here's the jacket:

http://www.bodenusa.com/col.as.....;gen=1#img

I have the Corrine Sweater Jacket from J. Crew that shiny posted before. The sleeves would probably be a little tight fitting to go over the dress. The Lattice print short sleeve cardigan could work, the "rolled up" part of the sleeve would stick out at the end of the cardi sleeve, and make for an interesting layering effect.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Shiny's suggestion of the short sleeved cropped cardigan or shrug is a good one. The layer needs to be short for your body type, Antje. You need to show the waistline that is created by the belt of the dress. I’d personally go with a Spring trench that’s the same length as the dress. And I probably still wear the cardigan for extra warmth.

Antje

Veteran

Thanks everyone. Shiny and Angie, I LOVE the idea of a short sleeved cropped cardi that lets the dress sleeve peek out so it's deliberate. Great concept, and I hadn't thought of this at all. I'll look for one (I don't really own any cardigan right now, which is a big hole in my wardrobe anyway.) I'm not a shrug type gal, so I'll look for something like the BR v-neck short sleeve cropped cardigan Shiny linked to. Fab idea.

Shiny, I was indeed looking to add a layer for warmth, rather than interest. One thing I love about dresses is actually that it's just one piece of clothing, so I'm not really looking to add additional layers to it just for the look. I was looking for a layer to put on in the evening or in my office, which sometimes gets cold; I will want something that I can put on and take off easily at different times throughout the day or evening. So the cardigan really fits that bill.
In terms of accessories, I think my current strategy of bright cami (e.g. lime, yellow, acqua) and bold earrings will do the trick, in addition to glasses that I wear anyway and that I consider an extra accessory I'm definitely not a pearl type gal. I do like the idea of a scarf, though. I often wear little neckerchiefs for fun and color, and will try that.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Let us know how it turns out. I love your ideas for doing different things with the dress.

Nicole

Veteran

I was going to make the same suggestion as shiny about letting the sleeve of the dress intentionally show at the bottom of the cardigan sleeve. As a matter of fact, I did that today for a funeral I had to attend. Remember the Esprit top with the flounce at the wrist? I wore a cropped black cardi and let the flounce hang out. It looked great.

Also, I've seen models roll the two sleeves together...so the dress sleeve is rolled in with the cardigan or jacket sleeve. If the outer layer isn't a thick fabric, this will work best.