How to Style a Sweater Dress?

Would you like to know how to wear a sweater dress stylishly? How to choose one that flatters your figure? Which jacket and shoes should you pair it with?

You’ve come to the right place.

As a fashion enthusiast, I love, of course, wearing beautiful evening outfits like long dresses or tailored jumpsuits, but I also enjoy staying trendy in my everyday attire with essential pieces like the sweater dress.

To help you uncover the secrets of sweater dress fashion, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide just for you, packed with plenty of tips and practical information!

A sweater dress is perfect for everyday wear, at work, or for a night out with friends during the transitional seasons and winter. Choose one that flatters your body shape to highlight your waist, neckline, or legs, depending on your figure. You can style a sweater dress with a ¾ jacket, a leather moto jacket, or a simple oversized scarf to keep warm. When it comes to footwear, feel free to pair it with ankle boots or heeled boots. Finally, accessorize it with a belt and a nice bag to complete your look!

Want more details? Keep reading to find out:

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

When and How to Wear a Sweater Dress?

Practical and comfortable, the sweater dress is a great alternative if you’re looking for a stylish look that allows you to move freely. In the following lines, I will show you what time of year to wear it and in what type of context.

What Season?

The sweater dress is perfect for the mid-season, which refers to fall and spring, when the weather is neither too cold nor too hot. When fall arrives, you can wear it on its own. In the winter, you can still wear it, but you’ll want to add a jacket.

For what occasion?

Knitted dresses are perfect for wearing everyday, whether you’re headed to work or studying, as they allow you to move freely and are easy to pair 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 without much movement or if you’re outside.

With a polished makeup look, a nice hairstyle, and a few accessories, a knitted dress can have a slightly dressy vibe for a casual outing with friends or a romantic date.

In this case, choose a style that complements your body shape for a feminine and sexy look!

👉 Sweater dresses are not really suitable for formal evenings and events (weddings, cocktail parties, baptisms, receptions, etc.): in this case, opt for more luxurious fabrics and more décolleté cuts. Learn more about this in our comprehensive guide dedicated to evening dresses!

How to Choose the Right Sweater Dress for Your Body Shape?

Because they are often form-fitting and made of solid colors, sweater dresses can be a great asset for enhancing your figure. To achieve this, simply choose a style that flatters your shape. Let’s explore how together! 😉

👉 If you’re in any doubt about the size when choosing your sweater dress, opt for the next size up. Steer clear of thin knits and fabrics, as they might not be flattering, especially if you have a fuller figure.

If you have an hourglass figure: a narrow waist with pronounced bust and hips

If you have this body shape, often referred to as an “hourglass figure,” you can almost wear anything. So why not take the opportunity to show off your curves? To do this, choose a dress that fastens in the front:

• either with a wrap-style design and a belt,
• or with buttons.

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

For Those with an A-Shaped Body: Generous Hips and Thighs

Since your thighs and hips are wider than your upper body, wearing a sweater dress that creates contrast can be a great choice. You might consider a knee-length flared dress, which highlights your curves without being too clingy. If the bottom of your dress has a skater silhouette, meaning it flares out from the waist without hugging your legs, that’s perfect!

For an Androgynous or Slim, Athletic Figure

Wearing a sweater dress with a slender body type is a perfect opportunity to suggest feminine curves in your silhouette. To achieve this, simply look for dresses with volume details (like lines) around your neckline, shoulders, etc. This could include beautiful shoulder pads or a high collar. Bishop sleeves are also a great choice for this look.

You can also play with colors to enhance your silhouette by choosing a form-fitting dress with horizontal colored lines at the waist, which will accentuate your hips and waist.

What Jacket to Wear with a Sweater Dress?

To keep warm over your knit dress, you can definitely wear a jacket. However, since these dress styles are a bit thick, I recommend opting for subtle and minimalist coats, such as a biker jacket or a simple tonal blazer that reaches mid-thigh.

Another option is to simply wear a maxi scarf over a warm dress to keep your neck and chest cozy. In this case, feel free to layer multiple items underneath your sweater dress to shield yourself from chilly drafts.

What Shoes to Wear with a Sweater Dress?

Choosing shoes to wear with a sweater dress isn’t very complicated! Shoes that slightly rise on your legs will always be a great choice to enhance your look, as long as they don’t get lost under your dress. Here are a few styles that pair particularly well with this type of dress.

Thigh-High Boots or Booties with a Short Fitted Sweater Dress

To add a sexy touch to a sweater dress that falls above the knees, don’t hesitate to wear boots or over-the-knee boots that are matched to your dress or in a subtle contrast. With lighter or beige styles, camel-colored shoes will be perfect for giving your look a chic bohemian vibe.

Sneakers or Ankle Boots with a Midi Sweater Dress

For a longer dress, I recommend going for ankle boots, which will enhance your legs by making them look longer. You can choose a style with small slim heels or flat heels to create a beautiful posture that will make you look like an ambitious and determined woman.

If you’re looking for a more modern outfit, you can choose high-top sneakers or even wedge sneakers.

High Heels with a Long Sweater Dress

With this type of sweater dress, heels are a must to prevent your silhouette from looking shortened. You can choose stylish sandals or ankle boots. It might be best to avoid stilettos, as they could make your outfit look too formal compared to your dress and throw off your overall look: that would be a shame!

What accessories enhance a sweater dress?

The sweater dress is a fashion piece that is beautiful in its simplicity and elegance. Therefore, it’s important not to overdo it: to achieve this, choose one or two accessories that will give you a unique and stylish look!

A Belt to Define Your Silhouette

If you want to dress up your sweater dress and achieve a stylish look, a belt is an ideal option. Choose one that is matched to your shoes, especially if they are made of leather: this will create a nice balance that enhances your silhouette.

If you have a curvier figure, go for a wide belt (1 to 2 inches) to highlight your hips without feeling constricted.

A Stylish Bag to Elevate Your Outfit

Since the sweater dress is quite casual, you can opt for a nice handbag to give your outfit a chic touch. Just like with the belt, I suggest choosing one in the same color as your shoes to create a cohesive look.

A small handbag with fine details is usually more appropriate than a large bag: it’s best to avoid bulky, non-structured totes, which might not look elegant with a sweater dress.

High Socks

Do you want to wear a vintage sweater dress? In that case, pairing it with black knee-high socks will be perfect for achieving a grunge style, typical of the 80s and 90s and currently very trendy.

👉 To learn how to choose your knee-high socks, what accessories to pair them with, and discover many other tips on the subject, check out our dedicated guide!

Beautiful Hair Accessories

Sweater dresses are a great way to achieve an adorable look when it’s a bit chilly, but they do have one small drawback: if they’re made of wool, they can easily become statically charged, making your hair hard to style.

To avoid this type of inconvenience, you can style your long or medium-length hair in a bun or ponytail to keep it out of the way. Don’t hesitate to enhance your hairstyle with some beautiful accessories made of metal or fabric to add a final touch of elegance to your outfit.

I hope this comprehensive guide on sweater dresses has answered all your questions about them! However, if you still have any questions, please feel free to leave me a comment below this article, and I’ll be happy to respond!

If you love fashion or are looking for original and trendy clothing at affordable prices, feel free to check out the bohemian collections we’ve curated for you and that we offer in our online store! 😉

Bohemian Long Dress