Winterizing a Summer Dress? - YouLookFab Forum

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Winterizing a Summer Dress?

Dee

Veteran

Well, here is my attempt at getting more mileage out of one of my summer dresses by adapting it more for winter wear.
I chose this midi-length t-shirt flared dress because I thought it would work well with layers over top of it. The dress now functions more like a skirt for winter.

Photo #1 - How I'd typically wear this short sleeved Gap dress in summer

Photos # 2: Layered a black cable knit sweater over dress, added black tights with taupe booties, then a complimentary scarf and a brown/ratan belt.

Photo # 3: Tried layering a thick Uniqlo taupe turtle neck over dress and a black belt. Added a long black layerd necklace.

Photo# 4: Layered a thinner black Uniqlo U turtle neck and added an olive ON vest for a more casual look.

I think I'm fairly satisfied with these dress options and hopefully they'll be warm enough to brave the winters here in Canada.

Do you bother to adapt summer clothes for winter?

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Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Great job at extending its wear!

AndiB

Veteran

I especially love 4!

kellygirl

Veteran

These look great! I especially like the last version with the vest! I do think about winterizing some things but usually am too lazy to try. Thankfully I live in a mild climate and many of my clothes span a few seasons. I think it’s a great idea though! You nailed it!

Anonymous

Those work!
I normally don't, cause tights are a hassle, but I do have a rust dress that could be a good candidate!

Roberta

Veteran

Very resourceful! Thinking of a dress as a skirt is a good idea when the top is lightweight enough to easily pull a sweater over it.

I wear a couple of my long-sleeve-but-light-fabric dresses over jeans in the winter. With a Cuddle Duds tank underneath for another layer of warmth.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

These are great! I especially like the version with the vest.

I rarely do this because I have a bit of a thing about fabric weights and don't like to "match" lightweight fabrics with heavier ones. And most off my summer items are lighter weight and most winter items are heavier weight. Having said that, a jersey knit would be the exception -- or an all season wool. This works because -- with the dress being A-line and looser in the bottom, it won't stick to the tights the way a tube skirt might, for example.

I have a gored tech jersey skirt (with a top that makes it a two piece dress). The skirt works across every season in my current climate, with bare legs or tights depending on the weather, and different footwear and tops/ toppers. Or underlayers. In the really cool weather I put Uniglo heattech undies on.

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Sloper

Veteran

Clever! #4 is my favorite.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like #4 best too! Nicely done

Do the dark taupe boots match your hair? I think they do! Fab strategy.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I’m with Suz, I usually don’t do this because I’m picky about fabric weights and “feel” in different seasons. But these outfits look really good, and the top of the dress gives you some extra warmth too.

CarolS

Veteran

These are great examples of how to get more use out of a 'seasonal' piece. I particularly like the beige/tan sweater version, but every one of them works to my eye.

I don't tend to do this, My summer wardrobe is full of linen, lightweight cotton, and sleeveless tops -- I look forward to pulling pieces of it out for a winter vacation but until then, I live in happy anticipation of revelling in those pieces again when the weather is warm and the days long and sunny.....

Anonymous

Pretty! Very creative outfits. I like the addition of the scarf, belts and jewelry. Awesome vest and booties

kkards

Veteran

Nice done. Another vote for #4 as my favorite

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well done! I definitely use this strategy in the winter - mostly for warmth (the more layers the better!).

Helena

Veteran

Well done! I think the deeper colour palette of the dress makes it easier to winterize.

RobinF

Veteran

These all look great! I especially like the versions with a sweater so that the dress looks like a skirt - fun and different.

I don't generally wear dresses in the winter. I do wear some tops year round but then it's as a base under a sweater so doesn't require anything different.

lyn67

Veteran

Love how you aesthetically winterised a genuine summer dress-but for me it would depend on the fabric -to say so-and it seems your dress is thick enough for not charge/static or cling to the thights.

Sisi

Veteran

Nice outfits! I particularly like #2. I tried to winterize Summer clothing at the beginning of my YLF adventure and I miserably failed. No matter how I layer, a cotton dress is always too cold for me in Winter. I prefer to slip on a pair of warm woolen pants. Quick and easy!

bella

(website)

Veteran

A very successful effort! I like doing this, but like Suz, I am particular about fabric weight, too and currently, I don't have anything in my wardrobe that can cross over from summer into winter.

Joy

Veteran

All my summer dresses have toppers for air conditioning that also extend their season into spring and fall. Winter, I have tried dress S skirt by wearing a pull over swearer over it but that idea was not received well on the Forum. It could be that all my dresses are pull on sheath types due to back zippers being a problem . They usually have no waist. For winter I have some sweater dresses and a very casual sweat shirt dress with hood. I have an assortment of skirts that can be worn with sweaters and tights and boots in cold weather.

The Cat

Veteran

Your versions all look really great. But I wonder if such a thin dress/skirt will be warm enough for your winter, even with warm tights.

I wear similar versions for spring and fall, but in freezing winter temperatures I need warmer dresses/skirts.

rachylou

Veteran

These are great! I don’t winterise summer things anymore because of my closet situation. I do seasonal switch outs now

Dee

Veteran

Thanks for all your replies, it seems like look #4 is the favourite, I don’t usually buy dresses for the winter season, so I thought I’d try this experiment.

Roberta, these lightweight dresses that you wear over jeans would be knee length or shorter and act more like a tunic top I’m guessing.
Suz, Lyn67, Jessikams, bella, yes, the fabric of the dress certainly plays an important role on whether this strategy works or not. A light weight fabric would feel confusing mixing it with heavy fabric items. This dress is a substantial cotton and the A line does helps the dress from clingy to the tights.
Angie, you guessed correctly, the taupe boots do indeed match my hair.
CarolS, yep, linen definitely wont work, and I get the idea of joyfully reuniting with your summer wardrobe after a long winter.
Jamie, more layers makes wearing this possible.
Helena, dark colours do help that’s for sure.
Sisi, yep wool will certainly be warmer than cotton.
Joy, Sorry your attempt didn’t work out, I guess not all dress styles would work doing this.
The Cat, I think I should be warm enough, I’ve got lots of layers going on.

marija

Clever and winter practical! You look fab, cool and you are extending your wardrobe. The shoes are perfect for the cold!

Runcarla

Veteran

Good style workshop resulting in outfits worth repeating.

The only summer items I repurpose, are some sleeveless button downs I might wear under a sweater. I don’t normally layer shirts under sweaters, but when I do, I find it easier to wear the sleeveless versions vs wrangling long sleeves under a sweater.

Dee

Veteran

Runcarla, yes, you’re right, a sleeveless collared blouse works beautifully under a sweater for winter use.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Those work! I like the black & brown mix of #2 best.
For winter layering, I’ve heard of wearing 2 pairs of tights together, and fleece-lined tights feel as warm to me as leggings.