Just had an idea, but is it ridiculous?

I've talked at great length about the outfit I plan to wear to my industry party tomorrow night (pic 1, in all likelihood). I have to wear the dress at the office all day and want to figure out a way to make it more casual during that time. The grey jacket I originally considered is honestly too warm for the temperatures being forecast for tomorrow...but I just had a thought. Take a look at the yellow top I'm wearing in pic 2. If I unbuttoned it completely and wore it over the dress, in manner of a jacket, would that work? Maybe with some grey pearls and a white bag? Could also stick with white pearls or none at all. I'll be wearing black hose and pumps.

If the mental picture sends you fleeing the forum screaming with terror, please say so straight up and I'll abandon the idea at once.

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14 years ago

marianna

Veteran

Hmmm. Honestly I'm generally not a fan of shirts worn open as jackets. But I'm curious to hear what others have to say.

Is your denim jacket too warm too?

Michelle

(website)

I could do the white one. I wore it that way last week...I just wanted to see if I could do the yellow and purple combo everyone seems to be advocating.

rosee

I've had difficulty making a shirt work as a jacket, rarely has this worked, and usually only for a casual outfit. I think the dress is dressier than the shirt so it might not look right. Sorry Michelle, I love your style but I'm not keen on this idea.

Misia

I have to agree with Marianna on this one, do you have other options?

anne

Another no vote from me Michelle. I think the weights are wrong - the yellow shirt is too lightweight for the dress ( I do realise that is its appeal, weatherwise!)

I think shirts as jackets can work in a more casual outing - say layered over a cami with clams. I think Joy is quite into wearing them like that

The experts have spoken. I won't do this. Thanks a lot for preventing a style mishap, ladies! I'll wear my white dehim jacket instead.

Steph

Michelle, I agree with everyone else that it's a difficult look to pull off generally. I also think that it will be particularly tough here, because it looks to me like the dress is a weighty, substantial fabric (some kind of wool or wool blend, perhaps?), and the shirt is very lightweight--I just don't think the two fabrics would look like they work together properly. The shirt also looks pretty light in color, whereas the dress is a pretty deep purple, so you might end up with the dress kind of showing through the shirt.

If the weather forecast now appears warm, I do think that you would look great in the other dress you posted.

Maya

I have found that shirts just don't have the structure of jackets and never look quite right. when worn that way. I could see it on a J Crew model for a photo shoot and that's about it.

Nadya

Michelle,
While I love the color of the top, I'm afraid it's too light weight to work as a jacket. I often wear button downs over a tank, and I find I usually like something fairly crisp so it holds it's shape unless I'm dressing pretty casually. But I'd be happy to be over ridden if others think it will work!

Lynne

Have a great evening, Michelle - nothing to add to the above, except that I am short of lighter weight jackets, too!

Aida

Looks like you're sorted out but wanted to cast another nay vote here :\ I think either a denim denim or white denim jacket would look great for daytime.

You ladies are so wonderfully tactful! Love Ylf.

Kappy

Sounds like you're all set, but I just wanted to chime in and say have fun. Looks like you have lots of cute options to choose from.

Anonymous

I'm late but just want to add that, although I do wear buttondown shirts and jackets very casually, I think your yellow shirt may be too fitted in the seaming to wear that way. It may work if belted.
I need to post pictures to see if I should be doing this, even casually. The only shirts I've tried as jackets with a sheath dress have been one that's cropped and constructed of heavy cotton black lace, and another cropped boxy little silk piece that isn't really a shirt cut.
You need to look for a light weight red jacket to wear with this dress.

Sheila

I agree with all comments above...Do you have a pashmina or a shawl that would help keep you warm, but provide an accent color to your dress?

Lisa

Good question, I've often wondered about shirts as a jacket replacement myself. I agree with others, it lacks the structure to stand alone as an outer piece to layer with.

Linn

Active Member

Pic #1 is lovely - I like Sheila's idea about a pashmina or shawl.

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