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Layering under or over dresses

Sal

Veteran

Hi All,

I have these three dresses that I love wearing. But I don't layer over OR under them. I don't see a reason why they could not be worn in late March, April or May here from a style perspective...but from a warmth perspective they might not be warm enough soon even though our weather is pretty temperate and mild.

I think the black tunic dress would work with a tulle top similar to the picture, or a blazer or a leather jacket, or maybe my wrap coat.

I am not sure about the shirt dresses? I have worn with slips as an extra layer, but don't think any of my coats or blazers would work with them. But I do think they would work with boots......

Layering would allow 2-3 extra months a year when they could be worn, but I also then think they might get another 2-3 wears only during this time. I could just get a merino vest to wear under.

What do you do to extend the wear of short sleeved dresses into the fall or spring?
Is this worth considering or is best to put them aside and treat them as warm weather options?
Any layering ideas for these dresses?

Sorry to be a forum hog today!

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Deborah

Joy

Veteran

I make sure that every dress has some sort of topper. Most of my dresses are sleeveless but I do have a couple of tee shirt dresses with short sleeves. I usually wear a jean jacket with them, although I do have a long open denim colored cardigan that I will try.

cat2

Veteran

Hmm, I sometimes layer knit tops under shirt dresses, or if they unbutton all the way, use them as open jackets over knit tops and jeans.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

So interesting about extending the season. Here in Berlin, I feel like they’re more likely to extend winter by wearing black and winter looks longer than absolutely necessary. I wonder if places generally extend their dominant seasons.

I layer over & under short sleeved and sleeveless dresses all the time, like these photos. I wear the LS blackberry T-shirt under the colorful patterned dress too.

The orange dress looks hard to layer over because of the sleeves/bodice shape. Underneath, you could do the merino vest you mentioned, or you could try a long-sleeved patterned top, like citrus bright stripes. It looks long and full enough that you could wear knee-length leggings/tights and no one would notice.

Have you tried the jackets with the pink dress? They look cropped & fitted enough to work, although the black one might be on the dressy side. On the bottom, you could let leggings in a contrasting color, like blue, peek out and try sneakers or other flats.

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rachylou

Veteran

Turtlenecks and thermals, that’s what I do. And Angie’s trick of double stockings!

Bijou

Veteran

I have lots of toppers to wear with sleeveless dresses so that I wear them most of the year. For more formal dresses, a cropped jacket works well - like my teal dress and cream bolero jacket.
For casual dresses, like my silk slip dress, I wear it with a range of toppers from knits and cardigans, a cape, a denim or leather jacket. With the right accessories, it does not look seasonally confused and works well for my mild winters. I also wear this dress over a lightweight black sweater.

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Sisi

Veteran

I have one short-sleeve dress that I wear in Spring and Autumn with a soft cardigan, pantyhose and closed shoes. The fabric is rather substantial. All my other short-sleeve dresses get worn only in Summer - they are too light, no layers would help ! (I run cold).

Brooklyn

Veteran

I actually bought a wool skirt with a metallic thread to wear under my midi skirts this winter. Because my midi skirts are asymmetric, it will peek out. So it will be warm and change the look too. I like that layered skirt look.

I think both shirt dresses could be worn open, coat style over a pencil skirt or fitted type dress. Or over an A-line skirt. Belted at the waist or buttoned down to the waist. Or both. I have a shirt dress I plan to wear this way in winter.

You could also wear them over jeans or pants. Slim (as opposed to wide leg) pants would probably be easier.

Is the Trenery dress linen? My only concern would be that it doesn’t look right as a cool weather dress. But it might be fine for March/April.

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ANNIE P. Maxi Skirts

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lyn67

Veteran

Love Brooklyn's layering she's speaking about above my comment! But, I for myself never could make work a layering with warm weather dresses for colder other than the common bolero, cardigan or jackets (structured denim/leather, hip length canvas safari, fluid cascade linen/faux leather). Not even a transparent long sleeve mesh- which is my all time desire, too. It just complicates everything- losing the easy, simple chic I aim for nowadays.

Anonymous

I only layer over my dresses (all sleeveless), because I figure layering under would cause a weird bump where the shirt ends. Just cardis or little jackets over- nothing creative. I don't wear them that way far out of their normal season though- maybe April or November.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Some good suggestions here, but also wanted to add my all-time favourite layering piece - a great, big, cuddly blanket scarf!

I pretty much live in mine in my office lol - I will either cross the ends over my torso/ waist (layered underneath another topper for extra warmth), or loop it round my neck/ shoulders (for mild weather). Works well with dresses!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Brooklyn’s ideas are so cool! But I don’t extend the wearing season of my dresses — they are summer, full stop. When the weather cools, I am thrilled to finally have a good excuse to wear my pants and jeans again, so I have little desire to keep wearing those summer items. But I live in a climate where a seasonless wardrobe makes very little sense. I can’t think of anything except for maybe a graphic tee that I would wear in both January and July.

ETA: oh wait, I did think of something — I have some skirts that span the seasons. If the fabric is right, I can pair them with either sandals and a tee for summer, and boots, tights, and sweater for winter. But it’s not very often I do that.

Helena

Veteran

I think a black turtleneck, tights and boots would be a slam-dunk with the reddish print dress.

always trying

Veteran

I frequently wear a tank under everything for warmth. I wear dresses infrequently, but never buy any except sweater dresses that do not work with a blazer for dressier or denim jacket for casual.

Anonymous

I wish I was one of those creative layer-ers who adds an entire season to a summer dress , but I'm not. I don't even try, to be honest, and am happy to pack them up and give them a rest for a few months. I LOVE that orange dress .

Anonymous

Cardigans or even a not too long v or crew neck sweater. A short quilted jacket?

This winter, instead of long sleeve t shirts I wore only three quarter ones and it worked out super well, no more stretched out, raggedy looking cuffs and no more wet sleeves either.

I never liked the t shirt cuff peeking out from the sleeve of my sweaters either.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wear these toppers OVER my SUMMER dresses in the late Spring and on cool Summer days - or in a/c. I wear nude-for-me hosiery too, when it's cold in the Spring.

Joie Anilah Single-Button Jacket

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SCOTCH & SODA Scotch & Soda Workwear Cotton Jacket | Nordstrom

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Banana Republic

Collarless Peplum Denim Jacket

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29

Hackness Wool Jacket

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9

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BILLY T Embroidered Denim Jacket

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26

Banana Republic

Cropped Denim Jacket

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12

Marks and Spencer

M&S Collection Cotton Hooded Parka Jacket

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Helene Berman Rever Lapel Coat

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Levi's Levi's Water Repellent Hooded Parka | Nordstrom

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Saskia Trench Coat

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have two woolly Winter dresses that I layer thermals under, with hosiery, and pop my long wool coats over the top.

Eliza J Eliza J Stripe Midi Dress | Nordstrom

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Banana Republic

Italian Superloft Turtleneck Midi Sweater Dress

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27

Anonymous

I wear cardigans over shirt dresses often. I also do a denim jacket or a faux leather moto, but those are more restricted by the sleeves on a dress. My arms are always cold before my legs so a cardigan, dress, and sandals is a spring staple for me.

Sal

Veteran

Joy - that's a good idea! Layering is something I am not very good at doing.

Cat2 - I think the red and white would work well over jeans, and I will try that!! Great idea.

Fashintern - I haven't tried. The red leather might work and possibly the black blazer. I like your layered looks - layering suits you.

Thanks Rachy - I do wear thermals a bit....and this could work here too.

Bijou - I love your ideas. I really struggle with layering other than coats or blazers over a simple top. But maybe I can do a bit better this winter.

Sisi - thanks. I think these dresses would only work for another six weeks or so, not in the middle of winter. The orange dress is quite a thick cotton (almost like a denim) but I know what you mean - sometimes they just don't feel right.

What cool ideas Brooklyn. I will try the red and white dress over white jeans - maybe even tomorrow. I think I saw you wear a two skirt look last year and I have seen Deborah do this too. Really stylish and original. The orange dress is cotton - almost like a denim. I think it might be best with either a sweater over the top to make it look like a skirt, or with a fine gauge knit under. I can't see it working with a jacket somehow. Time to get creative though!!

Lyn - I think Brooklyn is at the advanced level with layering, and I am still in the beginners class!!

Suntiger, I know what you mean. I think it can work if the top is fine enough and especially with a fuller skirt. As a child I did it all the time with pinafores!!

Zaeobi - actually that could really work too. Might be enough for the next few weeks. I don't see myself wearing these dresses in mid winter, only just for a few more weeks in our mild autumn.

Sal

Veteran

Janet - I haven't really done it either (since I was a child when I wore hand knits over dresses). And I have a few winter dresses with long sleeves that I will pull out soon to start wearing. Skirts can be quite trans-seasonal - with boots and a sweater they really can be warm enough here.

Helena - I have worn the red and white with camel boots, but I don't have the right coat or jacket...I do have a black turtleneck and black boots so I can try that. It might feel too high contrast but it can't hurt to try.

Always trying - yes a fine layer under extends the wear by a few weeks.

Thanks Lisa - I love it too. It has had steady wear this season - probably about 8 -10 times in total, or once every week or two during summer. I am not confident with layering at all, so I will see how I go!

Phoebe - I will try a sweater, I have a couple that could work. I like three quarter sleeves too!!

Angie - thanks. You have a fantastic range of light- mid weight toppers. And hosiery can help!!

Gillian Pearl - Good ideas and yes my arms get colder than my legs. I don't have a denim jacket because I struggle to find ones I like but they are perfect in this situation.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don’t really do this Sally. I have enough clothes not to need to, but I would perhaps with your Ricochet dress, which is similar to my sheer black/floral tunic that I layer different weight tops under for 4 seasons. I have two or three specifically autumn or spring dresses, slightly thicker but not winter weight, with 3/4 sleeves, that I wear in say autumn eg April. For less warmth I wear thinner tights with booties, and for more warmth I use leggings or thermals hidden under midis and tucked into tall boots.
For a small extension of the season it may not be worth too much effort?

Sal

Veteran

I am wondering that myself Jenni.......

I am going to try with the black Ricochet dress and experiment with white jeans under the red and white.

I will have a play around this weekend with my winter pieces and photograph anything that may work - but I don't want to buy something just for this reason.

Runcarla

Veteran

Could you wear the yellow blazer over the orange dress, and green shoes - with a scarf that has citrus colours and other colours? Can you wear the black coulottes under the orange dress, and undo the bottom buttons?

Does the Marsala sweater coat work with the red print dress?

Sal

Veteran

I will experiment in the weekend Carla - I feel as though the yellow and orange will be too bright for me (I do wear the dress with a yellow bag though so I might be wrong...)......I don't think the culottes would work, but I will try because why not!!

I could try the Marsala cardigan, it might work although the colours feel like different families to me. But I am wearing a combo today that I might have felt similarly about this time last year.

10 years ago I would have had a simple cardigan to the waist that I wore over most of my summer dresses for a few weeks at the start and end of the season (I had a cream one, and I had a bone one). 15 years ago I wore a denim jacket... I could go back to one of these looks but I feel (rightly or wrongly) that it is either too young or too old for me now....and not quite where I am at.

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Deborah

Veteran

Gorgeous dresses Sal,

My suggestion would be a turtle neck under Dress 1 and 3 and then boots. Dress 2, remove the belt, layer a chunky jumper over the dress and add your own wide belt and tuck the front of the jumper in. Also add boots :). Also the cocoon dress could possible be worn with slim ankle pant and a long draped cardigan about the same length. Just my thoughts xxx