In This Post: A shirtdress is a classic dress style derived from the collared, button down, and cuffed details of a men’s dress shirt + timeless styles to shop! | Photos by Alex Barone
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The Look: Gal Meets Glam Collection Shirtdress | Aldo Boots (similar here) | Calia Sweater (similar here)
I recently found myself on the hunt for a new shirt dress to add to my closet. After all, they are classic, timeless, and versatile which makes them perfect for the traveling and on-the-go lifestyle that I live. I was getting so frustrated because all of my searches for “shirt dress” kept pulling up t shirt dresses. Prioritizing search rankings over accurate titles and descriptions, I could not believe how many retailers were interchangeable using “shirt dress” and “t shirt dress” because they are really not that same thing! I felt that it was my duty to clear things up, so here we are!
What is a shirt dress?
While a t shirt dress is a version of a shirt dress, they have distinctive qualities. A t shirt dress is what it sounds like – a t shirt like style that has been lengthened into a relaxed-fitting knit dress. These are t shirt dresses:
A shirt dress, on the other hand, has a more “borrowed from the boys” look with one or more features that mimic a classic dress shirt such as a button-down front, collared neckline, buttoned sleeves that can be cuffed. Shirt dresses typically have a fabrication that is more like a blouse than a t-shirt. These are shirt dresses:
What to Wear with a Shirt Dress
Stay tuned because I have another post coming up where we’ll dive into what to wear with a shirt dress more! Overall, one of the things that makes a shirt dress so amazing is the ability to effortlessly be dressed up or down. For an easy summer look, I love how cute a shirt dress looks with fashion sneakers and a baseball cap (I love this one – it fits my head the best!). For fall, boots and a denim jacket or moto jacket give any shirt dress an edge while staying practical for seasonal activities – like my recent trip for apple picking at Simmons Farm. Nude pumps (this pair will forever be my go-to because they are actually comfortable – see here!), a blazer (look for one that narrows at your natural waist or one that ends at the very top of your thighs), and simple jewelry give any shirt dress a polished and professional feel. Here are a few more class options at a variety of pricepoints:
