How to Wear a Knit Dress?

Would you like to know how to style a jumper dress effectively? How to choose one that enhances your figure? What jacket and shoes should you wear with it?

You're in the right place.

As a fashion enthusiast, I love wearing beautiful evening outfits like long dresses or tailored jumpsuits, but I also enjoy staying trendy every day with essential wardrobe staples like a knit dress.

To help you uncover the secrets of the jumper dress, I've put together this comprehensive guide filled with tips and practical information just for you!

The knitted dress is perfect for everyday wear, whether you're at work or out with friends, especially during the mid-seasons and winter. Choose one that flatters your body shape, enhancing your waist, neckline, or legs, depending on your silhouette. You can pair a knitted dress with a ¾ length jacket, a leather biker jacket, or even a simple oversized scarf to keep warm. When it comes to footwear, feel free to match it with ankle boots or heeled boots. Finally, accessorise with a belt and a lovely handbag to complete your look!

Would you like to know more? Keep reading to find out:

• What is the perfect time to wear a jumper dress,
• Which style to choose to enhance your figure,
• What type of jacket to wear with a jumper dress,
• What shoes and accessories to pair with this style of dress,
• And plenty of tips and trendy outfit ideas featuring a jumper dress!

When and How to Wear a Jumper Dress?

Practical and comfortable, the sweater dress is a great alternative if you're looking for a smart look that allows you to move freely. In the following lines, I'll explore when to wear it and what types of occasions it suits best.

What season?

The knitted dress is perfect for the mid-season, that is, for autumn and spring, when it's neither too cold nor too warm. When autumn arrives, you can wear it as is. In winter, you can still wear it, but with a jacket.

For what occasion?

Knitted dresses are perfect for wearing everyday, whether you're heading to work or studying, as they allow you to move freely and are easy to match with the rest of your wardrobe. They keep you a bit warm and protect you from drafts, which is ideal if you need to spend time sitting still or outdoors.

With well-done makeup, a lovely hairstyle, and a few accessories, a sweater dress can have a slightly dressed-up vibe for a casual outing with friends or a romantic date.

In this case, choose a style that hugs your curves for a feminine and sexy look!

👉 Knitted dresses aren't really suitable for formal evenings and events (like weddings, cocktail parties, christenings, receptions, etc.): in such cases, it's better to opt for finer fabrics and more décolleté styles. You can learn more about this in our complete guide to evening dresses!

How to Choose the Perfect Knitted Dress for Your Body Shape?

As they tend to be quite form-fitting and solid in colour, sweater dresses can be a fantastic way to enhance your silhouette. To achieve this, all you need to do is choose a style that flatters your figure. Let's explore how to do this together! 😉

👉 If you're unsure about the size when choosing your sweater dress, go for the larger size. Avoid overly thin knits and fabrics, as they might not be the most flattering, especially if you have a curvier figure.

If you have an hourglass figure: a slim waist with defined bust and hips

If you have this body shape, often referred to as an “hourglass figure”, you can pretty much wear anything. Why not take advantage of it to show off your curves? To do this, opt for a dress that buttons up at the front:

• either as a wrapover style with a belt,
• or fastened with buttons.

👉 If you’re fastening your dress with a fabric belt, don’t hesitate to create a big bow 🎀 to draw attention to your slim waist and the curve of your hips!

For Those with an A-shaped Figure: Generous Hips and Thighs

As your thighs and hips are wider than your upper body, it’s a good idea to wear a sweater dress that creates a contrast. You might choose a mid-length flared dress, which highlights your curves without clinging too tightly. If the bottom part of your dress has a skater shape, meaning it flares out from the waist without hugging your legs, that’s perfect!

For an Androgynous, Slim, or Athletic Figure

Wearing a sweater dress with a long, slender figure is a fantastic way to suggest feminine curves to your silhouette. To achieve this, you just need to look for dresses with voluminous details (such as lines) around your neckline and shoulders. For instance, lovely shoulder pads or a high collar can work well. Balloon sleeves are also a great option for this look.

You can also play with colours to enhance your figure by opting for a fitted dress featuring horizontal coloured stripes at the waist, which will accentuate your hips and waist.

What jacket to wear with a jumper dress?

To keep warm over your knit dress, you can definitely wear a jacket. However, as these types of dresses are a bit thick, I would recommend choosing understated and minimalist coats, such as a biker jacket or a simple tonal jacket that reaches mid-thigh.

Another option is to simply wear a maxi scarf over a warm dress to keep your neck and chest cosy. In this case, don’t hesitate to layer up underneath your jumper dress to protect yourself from chilly drafts.

What shoes to wear with a sweater dress?

Wearing ankle boots with a sweater dress is quite simple! Shoes that rise slightly up your legs will always be a fantastic choice to enhance your look, as long as they don’t get lost under your dress. Here are a few styles that work especially well with this type of dress.

Thigh-high boots or ankle boots with a short fitted sweater dress

To add a touch of glamour to your outfit with a knitted dress that falls above the knee, don’t hesitate to pair it with boots or over-the-knee boots that complement your dress or provide a slight contrast. With lighter or beige styles, camel-coloured shoes will be perfect for giving your look a chic bohemian vibe.

Sneakers or ankle boots with a mid-length jumper dress

For a slightly longer dress, I recommend opting for ankle boots, as they will enhance your legs by making them look longer. You can choose a pair with small, slender heels or flat soles to achieve a lovely posture, giving you the appearance of an ambitious and determined woman.

If you're looking for a more modern outfit, you might consider going for some high-top trainers, or even some wedge trainers.

Heels with a Long Sweater Dress

With this type of sweater dress, heeled shoes are a must to avoid flattening your figure. You could opt for lovely sandals or ankle boots. It might be best to steer clear of stilettos, as they could come across as a bit too formal for your dress and throw off your overall look: that would be a pity!

What accessory to enhance a sweater dress?

The jumper dress is a fashion item that stands out for its simplicity and elegance. So, be careful not to overdo it: to keep it stylish, choose one or two accessories that will help you achieve a unique and sophisticated look!

A belt to shape your figure

If you want to elevate your jumper dress and achieve a stylish look, a belt is a perfect option. Choose one that’s matched to your shoes, especially if they’re leather: this creates a lovely harmony that will balance your silhouette.

If you're on the curvier side, go for a wide belt (3 to 5 cm) to accentuate your hips without constricting them.

A stylish bag to complement your outfit

As the jumper dress is quite casual, you might want to choose a lovely handbag to add a touch of chic to your outfit. Similar to the belt, I recommend picking one that is the same shade as your shoes, to create a nice cohesive look.

A small handbag with subtle details is usually more suitable than a large bag: it's best to avoid oversized soft totes, as they may not look particularly elegant with a jumper dress.

Long Socks

Are you thinking of wearing a vintage sweater dress? If so, pairing it with black knee-high socks is perfect for achieving a grunge style, reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, and very on-trend.

👉 To learn how to choose your over-the-knee socks, what accessories to pair them with, and to discover plenty of other tips on this topic, check out our dedicated guide!

Lovely Hair Accessories

Sweater dresses are great for achieving a lovely look when it's a bit chilly, but they do have a slight drawback: if they're made of wool, they can easily build up static electricity, which can make styling your hair a bit tricky.

To avoid this kind of hassle, you can style your long or medium-length hair into a bun or ponytail to keep it tidy. Feel free to accessorise your hairstyle with pretty metal or fabric accessories to add a final touch of elegance to your outfit.

I hope this comprehensive guide to the sweater dress has answered all your questions about it! However, if you still have any queries, feel free to leave me a comment below this article, and I'll be more than happy to respond!

If you love fashion or are on the lookout for stylish and unique clothing at affordable prices, be sure to check out the bohemian collections we’ve curated for you and available on our online store! 😉

Bohemian Long Dress