How to Style a Sweater Dress?

Would you like to know how to style a sweater dress flawlessly? How to pick one that enhances your figure? Which jacket and shoes should you wear with it?

You're in the right place.

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

To help you uncover the fashion secrets of the sweater dress, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide, filled with tips and useful information!

The knitted dress is perfect for everyday wear, at work, or for a casual outing with friends during mid-seasons and winter. Choose one that suits your body shape to highlight your waist, neckline, or legs, depending on your silhouette. You can pair a knitted dress with a ¾ jacket, a leather biker jacket, or a simple oversized scarf to keep warm. When it comes to footwear, feel free to team it up with ankle boots or heeled boots. Finally, accessorise 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,
• What style to choose to flatter your body shape,
• What jacket to pair with a sweater dress,
• What shoes and accessories to match with this type of dress,
• Plus loads of tips and trendy outfit ideas with a sweater dress!

When and How to Wear a Sweater Dress?

Practical and comfortable, a knitted dress is a great alternative if you’re looking for a stylish look that allows you to move freely. In the following sections, I’ll share when during the year you can wear it and in what kind of situations.

When is the best season?

The knitted dress is perfect for the mid-season, which means during autumn and spring when it's neither too cold nor too hot. When autumn comes, you can wear it on its own. In winter, you can still wear it, but with a jacket.

For what occasion?

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

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

In this case, go for a dress that hugs your body shape for a feminine and sexy look!

👉 Knitted dresses are not really suitable for evening events and formal occasions (weddings, cocktail parties, baptisms, receptions…): in such cases, opt for more luxurious fabrics and styles that feature deeper necklines. Learn more about this in our comprehensive guide on evening dresses!

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

Because they are often quite fitted and seamless, knit dresses can be a great asset to enhance your silhouette. All it takes is choosing a style that flatters you. Let’s explore how to do that together! 😉

👉 If you're unsure about the size when picking your sweater dress, go for the next size up. Avoid knits and fabrics that are too thin, as they might not be flattering, especially if you have curvy shapes.

If you have an hourglass figure: defined waist, prominent bust and hips

If you have this body shape, commonly known as the “hourglass figure”, you can almost wear anything! Why not take advantage of that to show off your body curves? To do this, opt for a dress that closes at the front:

• either in a wrap design with a belt,
• or with buttons.

👉 If you're cinching your dress with a fabric belt, don't hesitate to tie a fluffy bow 🎀 that will draw attention to your slim waist and the curve of your hips!

For those with an A-shaped body: curvy hips and thighs

Since your thighs and hips are broader than your upper body, it's a good idea to wear a sweater dress that creates a contrast. You can go for a mid-length flared dress that hints at your curves without clinging. If the lower part of your dress has a skater style, 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 if you have a tall and slender figure is a great way to enhance your feminine curves. All you need to do is look for dresses with volume details (like lines) around your neckline, shoulders, and so on. This could be pretty shoulder pads or a high collar. Balloon sleeves are also a good option for this.

You can also use colours to add dimension to your figure by choosing a fitted dress with horizontal coloured lines at the waist, which will highlight 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 types of dresses are a bit thick, I suggest you go for subtle and minimalist coats, such as a biker jacket or a simple tone-on-tone jacket that reaches mid-thigh.

Another option is to simply wear a maxi scarf over a warm dress to keep your neck and bust warm. In this case, don't hesitate to layer a few pieces underneath your sweater dress to shield yourself from the cool drafts.

What shoes to wear with a sweater dress?

Wearing shoes with a sweater dress isn't too tricky! Shoes that rise slightly up your legs will always be great for accentuating your look, as long as they don't get lost under your dress. Here are some styles that pair particularly well with this type of dress.

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

To add a sexy touch with a knee-length sweater dress, don't hesitate to pair it with boots or thigh-highs that match your dress or are in a subtle contrast. For light or beige styles, camel-coloured shoes are perfect to give a chic bohemian vibe to your look.

Sneakers or ankle boots with a midi knit dress

For a dress that’s a bit longer, I recommend opting for ankle boots, which will accentuate your legs and make them look longer. You can choose a style with small heels or flat heels, to help you achieve a nice posture that gives off the vibe of an ambitious and determined woman.

If you're looking for a more modern outfit, you can go for some high-top sneakers or even wedge sneakers.

High Heels with a Long Sweater Dress

With this type of sweater dress, it's essential to wear heels to avoid flattening your silhouette. You can go for pretty sandals or ankle boots. It's best to steer clear of stilettos as they might look a little too fancy with your dress and throw off your overall look: that would be a shame!

What Accessories to Elevate a Knit Dress?

The sweater dress is a stylish piece that stands out for its simplicity and elegance. It's important not to overdo it with accessories: instead, pick one or two accessories to create a unique and elegant look!

A belt to shape your silhouette

If you want to spice up your sweater dress and achieve a trendy look, a belt is a perfect option. Choose one that is matched to your shoes, especially if they are leather: this creates a nice balance that complements your silhouette.

If you're on the fuller side, go for a wide belt (about 3 to 5 cm) to accentuate your hips without feeling restricted.

A sophisticated bag to elevate your outfit

Since the sweater dress is quite casual, you might want to go for a nice handbag to add a touch of chic to your outfit. Just like with the belt, I suggest you choose one that is the same shade as your shoes to create a coordinated look.

A small handbag with fine details is usually more suitable than a large bag: it's best to avoid oversized slouchy bags, as they may not look stylish with a sweater dress.

Long socks

Thinking of wearing a vintage sweater dress? If so, pairing it with some black knee-high socks is perfect to achieve a grunge style, which is characteristic of the 80s and 90s and very trendy right now.

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

Beautiful Hair Accessories

Knitted dresses are great for achieving a cute look when it’s a bit chilly, but they do have a small drawback: if they're made of wool, they can easily build up static electricity, making your hair a bit tricky to style.

To avoid this kind of hassle, you can style your long or medium-length hair into a bun or ponytail to keep it up and away. Don’t hesitate to enhance your hairstyle with pretty accessories made of metal or fabric to add a final touch of elegance to your outfit.

I hope this comprehensive guide on the sweater dress has answered all your questions about it! If you still have any queries, feel free to leave me a comment below this article, and I’ll be happy to get back to you!

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

Long Bohemian Dress