How to Style a Sweater Dress?

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

You’ve come to the right place.

As a fashion enthusiast, I certainly enjoy wearing beautiful evening outfits, such as long dresses or tailored jumpsuits, but I also appreciate staying stylish in my everyday life with essential staples like the knitted dress.

To help you uncover the secrets of the sweater dress, I have prepared this comprehensive guide for you, packed with tips and useful information!

The knitted dress is perfect for everyday wear, at work, or for a night out with friends during the mid-season and winter months. Choose one that suits your body shape to accentuate your waist, neckline, or legs, depending on your silhouette. You can wear a knitted dress with a ¾ length coat, a leather jacket, or simply an oversized scarf to keep warm. When it comes to footwear, don't hesitate to pair it with ankle boots or heeled boots. Finally, accessorise with a belt and a stylish bag to complete your look!

Would you like more details? Continue reading to discover:

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

When and how to wear a knit 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 suggest when to wear it throughout the year and in what type of setting.

In which season?

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

For what occasion?

Knitted dresses are perfect for wearing everyday, whether for work or studying, as they allow for freedom of movement and are easy to match with the rest of your wardrobe. They offer a little warmth and keep drafts at bay, which is ideal if you need to spend time sitting still or being outdoors.

With a neat makeup look, a lovely hairstyle, and a few accessories, the knitted dress can have a slightly dressed-up vibe for a casual night out with friends or a romantic date.

In this case, choose a style that hugs your body’s curves for a feminine and sexy finish!

👉 Sweater dresses are not really suitable for evenings and formal events (weddings, cocktails, christenings, receptions, etc.): in these cases, opt for more luxurious fabrics and deeper necklines. Find out more about this in our comprehensive guide dedicated to evening dresses!

How to Choose the Perfect Knitted Dress for Your Body Shape

Because they are often quite fitted and made from a single fabric, knitted dresses can be a real asset for enhancing your silhouette. To achieve this, simply choose a style that flatters your figure. Let’s explore how to do this together! 😉

👉 If you're at all unsure about the size when choosing your knitted dress, opt for a larger size. Avoid overly thin knits and fabrics, as they may not be particularly flattering, especially if you have a curvy figure.

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

If you have this body type, commonly referred to as an "hourglass figure", you can almost wear anything with confidence. So why not take advantage of this to highlight your body's curves? To achieve this, opt for a dress that fastens at the front:

• either in a wrap-over style with a belt,
• or with buttons.

👉 If you're fastening your dress with a fabric belt, don't hesitate to make a large bow 🎀 that will 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 the upper part of your body, it would be beneficial to wear a sweater dress that creates some contrast. You can choose a mid-length flared dress, which highlights your figure without clinging. If the lower part of your dress has a skater style, meaning it flares out from the waist without sticking to your legs, that’s ideal!

For an Androgynous or Slim Athletic Figure

Wearing a knitted dress with a slender silhouette is a perfect opportunity to suggest feminine curves. To achieve this, you just need to find dresses with voluminous details (such as lines) around your neckline and shoulders. This could include lovely shoulder pads or a high collar. Balloon sleeves are also a great choice for this look.

You can also play with colours to add dimension to your figure by opting for a fitted dress with horizontal lines in vibrant colours at the waist, which will accentuate your hips and waist.

What jacket to wear with a jumper dress?

To keep warm over your knitted dress, you can definitely wear a jacket. However, since these types of dresses can be a bit thick, I would recommend opting for subtle and minimalist coats, such as a biker jacket or a simple tonal jacket that falls mid-thigh.

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

What Shoes to Wear with a Sweater Dress?

Choosing footwear to pair with a jumper dress isn't too complicated! Shoes that rise slightly up your legs will always be a perfect choice to highlight your look, as long as they don't get lost beneath your dress. Here are a few styles that work particularly well with this type of dress.

Thigh-high boots or ankle boots paired with a fitted mini dress

To give yourself a sexy look with a knitted dress that falls above the knee, don’t hesitate to wear boots or thigh-highs that match your dress or provide a subtle contrast. With light or beige styles, camel-coloured shoes will be perfect for adding a bohemian chic touch to your outfit.

Trainers or ankle boots with a knee-length sweater dress

For a slightly longer dress, I recommend opting for ankle boots, as they will accentuate your legs and create an elongating effect. You can choose a style with small stiletto heels or flat heels, to help create a lovely posture that will make you appear like an ambitious and determined woman.

If you're looking for a slightly more modern outfit, you might choose to wear some high-top trainers, or even wedge trainers.

Heeled Shoes with a Long Sweater Dress

With this type of jumper dress, heels are essential to avoid flattening your silhouette. You can opt for lovely sandals or ankle boots. Perhaps avoid stilettos, as they may come across as a bit too sophisticated for your dress and could disrupt your overall look: that would be a shame!

What accessory to enhance a knitted dress?

The sweater dress is a fashion piece that is lovely for its simplicity and elegance. Therefore, be careful not to overload it: for this, choose one or two accessories that will allow you to achieve a unique and stylish look!

A belt to define your silhouette

If you want to elevate your jumper dress and achieve a stylish look, a belt is an ideal choice. Opt for a colour that matches your shoes, especially if they are leather: this will create a lovely balance that complements your silhouette.

If you're slightly curvy, choose a wide belt (3 to 5 cm), as this will accentuate your hips without constricting them.

A sophisticated bag to elevate your outfit

As the sweater dress is quite casual, you might want to choose a lovely handbag to add a touch of elegance to your outfit. Similar to the belt, I recommend opting for one that is in the same shade as your shoes, to create a cohesive look.

A small handbag with fine details is generally more suitable than a large bag: it’s best to avoid oversized, slouchy totes, as they may not look elegant with a knit dress.

High Socks

Looking to wear a vintage sweater dress? If so, pairing it with black knee-high socks is perfect for creating a grunge style, which is characteristic of the 80s and 90s and very on-trend.

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

Lovely Hair Accessories

Knitted dresses are great for achieving a lovely look when it’s slightly chilly, but they do have one small downside: if they are made of wool, they can easily generate static electricity, making your hair difficult to manage.

To avoid this kind of inconvenience, you can style your long or medium-length hair in a bun or ponytail to keep it off your face. Feel free 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 to the jumper dress has answered all your questions about it! However, if you still have any queries, please feel free to leave me a comment below this article and I'll be delighted to respond!

If you love fashion or are looking for original and trendy clothing at affordable prices, don't hesitate to take a look at the bohemian collections we have selected for you and which we offer in our online shop! 😉

Bohemian Long Dress