Chic Summer Shirtdresses for Work or Play
A post about shirtdresses and ways to style them prompted a reader to email asking whether it was okay to wear one to work in the summer.
Absolutely! Here are two I’ve been wearing to business meetings and after-hours, too. Take a look!
What is a Shirtdress
Shirt dresses are always popular, especially in the summer, because they are so relaxed and easy to wear. Their dresses are inspired bymen’ssshirtst. Shirtdresses are typically made of cotton or linen, with a collar, sometimes cuffs, and button up the front.
At their most casual, they hang loose without a belt, but more often wear a self-belt. And they are typically a little shorter to give a more shirt-like look. In the last few years, with midi dresses being so popular, we’ve also seen many longer midi shirtdresses, including this cute pink one I wore last year.
Pinstripes shirtdresses are everywhere this summer. You’ve probably seen the casually smart-looking blue-embroidered shirt dress I wore to the rewardStyle conference, or the sassy ruched, ruffled-hem one I often wear on weekends. Well, it seems this trend has taken hold of me because I bought another! 
One of the reasons I love shirtdresses like this is that they are so crisp and sophisticated looking, especially when you turn up the collar. This is like a man’s shirt, but with a feminine twist. Do you see those beautiful buttons? They’re so dainty. My pretty earrings are sold out, but here are similar ones by Kendra Scot.t
Here’s a look at the beautiful ruching, which is like origami folds. This is a great work dress because it has corporate flair, but it’s also light for summer and very feminine. Plus,s purple is so fashion-forward.
My white coach bag picks up on the stripes and makes them pop. On a side note- I love this bag. It’s the perfect size for me,e and that gold hardware is my style.
And these soft taupe/blush sandals blend right in. I like a slide inthe summer. It’s more relaxed than a heel.
There’s my cute ruched purple shirtdress for work or play!
Shirtdress # 2
Lately, I have been loving this cute new shirtdress from Talbots! It’s slightly different from your typical shirtdress because of its feminine fit.
How is this Shirtdress Different?
Like a classic shirtdress, it has the collar, the basic shape, the buttons down the front, and the shorter length, but here’s the difference. The dress is pulled in and twisted under the bust.
It’s as if someone grabbed the middle of the dress, twisted and flipped the fabric, then knotted it underneath.
See how the waist is more defined compared to a typical shirtdress? That twist gives this dress an interesting crisscross shape.
This chic shirt dress is also super comfy. It’s made from jersey fabric, so it has plenty of stretch and doesn’t feel tight. You could say it’s a bit of a mix of a wrap dress and a shirt dress, and you know how comfy wrap dresses are!
I also love the colors and the bold, cheery print. There’s white, navy, and mint green, combined with capri blu. The combination is so fresh.
Shirtdress | Green Blazer | purse | shoes | earrings | cuff | pink ring | sunglasses
How to Style this Shirtdress
See how great this shirt dress looks with this gorgeous green double-breasted blazer I wore with pants last week. It’s bold and modern.
I didn’t have a navy purse or shoes, so I paired it with this sporty black over-the-shoulder bag and these fabulous slingbacks. I think slingbacks are the best shoes or dresses (and pants, too) this spring. They are so ladylike and on-trend. I adore them! They are also the perfect height for this dress. It’s above the knee, so you don’t want anything with a higher heel. It just wouldn’t look balanced or classy.
My beautiful jewelry – the cuff and earrings are from Dean Davidson’s French-inspired Forme collection.
This shirt dress, worn with this jacket,t is a very modern work outfit. Or you can wear the dress on its own anywhere!
What do you think of this modern shirtdress, or do you prefer more of a true menswear-inspired look?
