Would you like to know how to wear a knitted dress in style? How to choose one that enhances your figure? What jacket and shoes should you wear it with?
You’ve come to the right place.
As a fashion enthusiast, I absolutely love wearing stunning evening outfits like long dresses or tailored jumpsuits, but I also enjoy staying trendy in my everyday life with essential basics like a knit dress.
To help you uncover the secrets of the sweater dress, I have prepared this comprehensive guide for you, packed with plenty of tips and useful information!
The knitted dress is perfect for everyday wear, at work, or for a night out with friends, especially in mid-season 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 three-quarter jacket, a leather biker jacket, or a simple oversized scarf to keep warm. When it comes to footwear, feel free to match it with ankle boots or heeled boots. Lastly, accessorise with a belt and a stylish 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 flatter your figure,
- What kind of jacket to wear with a sweater dress,
- What shoes and accessories to pair with this type of dress,
- And plenty of tips and trendy outfit ideas featuring 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 sections, I'll share when during the year you can wear it and in what types of settings.
In which season?
The knitted dress is perfect for the mid-season, meaning autumn and spring, when it's neither too cold nor too warm. When autumn arrives, you can wear it on its own. In winter, you can still wear it, but with a jacket.
For what occasion?
Knitted dresses are ideal for wearing every day, whether you're heading 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 warm and shield you from drafts, which is perfect if you need to sit for extended periods or spend time outdoors.
With well-applied makeup, a lovely hairstyle, and a few accessories, a knitted dress can take on a slightly dressed-up vibe for a casual outing with friends or a romantic date.
In this case, choose a style that hugs your body shape for a feminine and sexy look!
👉 Knit dresses are not really suitable for evening events and formal occasions (weddings, cocktail parties, christenings, receptions, etc.): in these cases, opt for more luxurious fabrics and more décolletage cuts. You can find out more about this in our comprehensive guide dedicated to evening dresses!
How to Choose the Right Knit Dress for Your Body Shape?
Because they are often quite fitted and solid in colour, knit dresses can be a real asset to enhance your silhouette. All you need to do is choose a style that flatters you. Let's explore how together! 😉
👉 If you're unsure about the size when selecting your knitted dress, opt for the next size up. Steer clear of overly fine knits and fabrics, as they may not be the most flattering, especially if you have curvier shapes.
If you have an hourglass figure: a slim waist, defined bust, and hips
If you have this body shape, often referred to as an “hourglass silhouette”, you can almost wear anything you like. Why not take the opportunity to showcase your body's curves? For this, choose a dress that buttons up at the front:
- either as a wrap-top with a belt,
- or with buttons.
👉 If you're fastening your dress with a fabric belt, don’t hesitate to make a big bow 🎀 that draws attention to your slim waist and the curve of your hips!
For those with an A-shaped body type: generous hips and thighs
As your thighs and hips are broader than your upper body, it's a good idea to wear a sweater dress that contrasts with this. You might consider a knee-length flared dress, which highlights your curves without being too clingy. If the lower part of your dress has a skater shape, meaning it flares out from the waist without hugging your legs, that’s just ideal!
For an Androgynous or Slim Athletic Silhouette
Wearing a sweater dress with a slender physique is a perfect opportunity to suggest feminine curves in your silhouette. To achieve this, you just need to find dresses with voluminous details (such as lines) around your neckline, shoulders, etc. For instance, this could include lovely shoulder pads or a high collar. Balloon sleeves are also a great choice for this look.
You can also rely on colours to enhance your figure by choosing a fitted dress with horizontal coloured lines at the waist, which will accentuate your hips and waist.
Which jacket to wear with a knitted dress?
To keep warm over your knit dress, you can definitely wear a jacket. However, since these dresses are a bit thick, I recommend opting for subtle and minimalistic coats, such as a biker jacket or a simple tonal jacket that hits mid-thigh.
Another option is to simply wear a maxi scarf over a warm dress to keep your neck and upper body warm. In this case, don't hesitate to layer up with several pieces under your knitted dress to protect yourself from chilly drafts.
What shoes to wear with a knit dress?
Wearing a jumper dress isn’t too complicated! Shoes that rise slightly up your legs will always be perfect for showcasing 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.
Knee-high boots or ankle boots with a short, fitted sweater dress
To add a touch of sexiness with a knee-length sweater dress, feel free to wear boots or over-the-knee boots that match your dress or create a subtle contrast. For light or beige styles, camel-coloured shoes will be perfect for giving your look a chic bohemian vibe.
Trainers or ankle boots with a mid-length knitted dress
For a slightly longer dress, I recommend opting for ankle boots, as they will highlight your legs by elongating them. You can choose a style with small thin heels or flat heels, to create a lovely posture that gives you the appearance of an ambitious and determined woman.
If you're looking for a more modern outfit, you could consider high-top sneakers or even wedge sneakers.
Heels with a long sweater dress
With this type of sweater dress, heels are a must to elongate your silhouette. You can opt for lovely sandals or ankle boots. It might be best to steer clear of stilettos as they could look a bit too formal compared to your dress and imbalance your overall look: that would be a pity!
What accessory to enhance a knit dress?
The sweater dress is a fashion piece that stands out for its simplicity and elegance. Therefore, it's important not to overload it: to achieve this, choose one or two accessories that will help you create a unique and stylish look!
A belt to shape your silhouette
If you want to smarten up your sweater dress and achieve a trendy look, a belt is an ideal option. Choose one that is matched to your shoes, especially if they are leather: this will create a lovely balance that enhances your silhouette.
If you're a bit curvy, go for a wide belt (3 to 5 cm), as this will accentuate your hips without being too tight.
A sophisticated bag to elevate your outfit
As the knit dress is quite casual, you can go for a lovely handbag to add a touch of chic to your outfit. Similar to the belt, I recommend choosing it 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: try to avoid oversized slouchy bags, as they may not look elegant with a knit dress.
High Socks
Are you looking to wear a vintage sweater dress? If so, pairing it with black knee-high socks is perfect for creating a grunge style, typical of the 80s and 90s and very on-trend.
👉 To find out how to choose your high socks, what accessories to pair them with, and discover plenty of other tips on the subject, check out our dedicated guide!
Beautiful Hair Accessories
Sweater dresses are a fantastic option for looking cute when it's a bit chilly, but they have one small downside: if they're made of wool, they can easily build up static electricity, making your hair difficult to style.
To avoid this sort of inconvenience, you can style your long or medium-length hair in a bun or ponytail to keep it off your face. 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 complete guide to 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 more than happy to respond!
If you love fashion or you're on the lookout for original and trendy clothing at affordable prices, don't hesitate to check out the bohemian collections we've curated for you and that we offer in our online shop! 😉