Sharing a crop sweater over dress look to prove that your favorite maxis can still be styled throughout fall and winter outfits! | Photos taken at Granville Inn
I’m not sure how it’s fall already, but I refuse to put my favorite flowy maxi dresses away yet (or ever!). I’m always looking for ways to extend the life of my favorite feminine pieces into fall and winter outfits. There’s no better way to do just that than styling a dress with a sweater over it!
I love dresses, I’m not the biggest fan of fall, I get cold easily, and I love being cozy. So, naturally, the sweater over dress look seems like it would be right up my alley, right? Well, I’ve been trying (and failing) for years to get this just right. I was really, really hopeful last fall when I wore this plaid shirt dress. I really wanted the black sweater that’s draped on my shoulders to be worn for a sweater over midi dress look, but it just didn’t look right on me. However, after countless runs of trial and error, I think I’ve finally figured out the secrets to nailing a sweater on top of a dress outfit. I can’t wait to share these tips with you!
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The Look: LoveShackFancy Claudette Sweater (unavailable, similar here)| Gal Meets Glam Collection Maxi Dress (unavilable, similar here) | Madewell Loafers (unavilable in this color, similar here)
How to style a sweater over a dress successfully
For this sweater over dress look, I’m styling the Gal Meets Glam Collection Jasmine maxi dress in mint. I don’t have any photos of me just in the dress, but to get an idea of the silhouette, you can see it here on the lovely Emily Godoy (she’s wearing the blue version) and here on Stephanie Hill from The Style Bungalow.
Finding balance from top to bottom
One reason this sweater with dress look worked is due to the volume the skirt portion of this maxi dress has, which the tiers at the bottom further add to. The slightly flared silhouette of the dress on the bottom combined with the volume the puff sleeves of this sweater added on top created an hourglass look. This ensured my waistline didn’t get lost with the addition of the sweater. Here are some maxi dress options with similar silhouettes to consider:
Pick a crop sweater to pair over the dress
Let’s talk about what kind of sweater to wear with a dress! The slight crop of this sweater also contributed to the success of this look. I’m only 5′ 5″, so a full length sweater would have cut me off below the waist and wouldn’t have offered a flattering look. Better yet, the fitted, ribbed band of fabric at the hemline of the sweater further added definition to my waist. The moral of the story is, when deciding what pullover sweater to wear with a dress, opt for a style that ends at or accentuates your waist. Try this one for a more relaxed look, this one if you like unique details, or this one if you like the puff sleeve style. Below you’ll find more sweaters with voluminous sleeves and/or a cropped length to try!
Shoes to complete the dress with sweater look
To complete this look, I opted for a pair of Madewell loafers (similar blush loafers here). The pointed toe shape and close to skin tone color created a lengthening effect on my curvy, muscular legs. Since my skin is so pale, I tend to opt for lighter shades when I’m wearing a shoe that shows ankle skin, but this will definitely work with shoes in other hues on different skin tones.
