It’s overcast, hot and muggy today in Portland, and here I am in a sweater dress. Haha. But I have to admit, regardless of this dress being highly inappropriate for today’s weather, I had a fun time styling it up for when it does actually cool down. These are the challenges I love facing — getting back into the grind after a holiday weekend and lazy days of summer, not so much…
Often times a giant piece of fabric is quite tricky to style. You may remember me mentioning this trickiness before from this dress post and this jumpsuit post. The key is breaking that fabric up so your eye has somewhere interesting to rest. This sweater dress feels like you’re wearing a nice blanket, but I don’t think we actually want to look like that. I’m seeing adorable sweater dresses all over the place for fall, and since I feel most comfortable in a midi dress these days, without legs to break up the look, I had to look elsewhere. While searching for ideas in my closet, I found two good solutions for breaking up a one-piece garment: bags and jackets. Easy enough. Let’s check out the options.
1 Cute Midi Sweater Dress Styled 8 Ways
Look 1: Sweater Dress + Printed Belt Bag + Combat Boots
As I said in the jumpsuit post, fully on board with the belt bag worn over the shoulder. Look how fun and convenient it is! I’ve worn it quite a few times like this, actually in public, and Tuesday night to the Joan Jett + Heart concert (OMG SO GOOD), so don’t hate. I love it. And this fun snake pattern is a perfect accessory to break up some of that gray. I love this dress with combat boots so much.
sweater dress (6) // boots // bag
Look 2: Sweater Dress + Crossbody Bag + Pretty Mules
OK, so maybe sometimes we want a dress and dressy shoes…not often over here, mind you, but sometimes. And yet again these gorgeous little leopard mules save the day with their cuteness. If you’re taller you could definitely get away with a flat mule here, too. The crossbody bag does a bit of breaking up that gray here for us, too. Look at me wearing a structured bag…fancy.
sweater dress (6) // mules // bag (similar)
Look 3: Sweater Dress + Ivory Jacket + Printed Bag (Oh, &Red Boots!)
I love this combo. Besides the combat boots I think this is what I’ll grab to pair with this dress most often. Red and gray just are so great together and the ivory jacket is a nice third shade to pull in here that provides a little break from blue denim. I’m adoring this Everlane jacket by the way and have already worn it so much!
sweater dress (6) // jacket (s) // boots // bag
Look 4: Sweater Dress + Denim Jacket + Hiking Boots (Daring, I Know)
Before you go all crazy on me here, I’m seeing hiking boots styled with non-hiking clothes all over the place, so I thought I’d try it. With this particular dress, styled down with a jean jacket, I am loving it. Not your thing? COOL. You don’t have to go there, but this PNW gal is digging it. And these are the hiking boots to top all hiking boots, IMO, made right here in Portland.
sweater dress (6) // boots // jacket (similar)
Look 5: Sweater Dress + A Denim Jacket + Printed Sneakers
This look, while not as practical with a wool blend sweater as some of the others, still works. Yes, I’d actually wear slip on sneakers with a wool dress because a)I’m pretty warm natured and b) they’re Vans…they go with everything. I love the sporty (in this case skater-sporty) with the preppy/dressy. You know this by now.
sweater dress (6) // sneakers // jacket (similar)
Look 6: Sweater Dress + Hoodie + White Sneakers + Beanie
For another fun sporty look, I grabbed the nearest hoodie style jacket and my fav handmade beanie, and of course the-sneaker-that-goes-with-everything, Adidas Superstars. This will be like my most upgraded drop off outfit ever this fall. Cozy! Easy!
sweater dress (6) // jacket // sneakers (love & sustainable)
Look 7: Sweater Dress + Moto Jacket + Combat Boots (secretly my fav)
I mean, I guess I don’t have to keep it a secret since this will reach thousands of eyes, haha, but you had to know a moto jacket look would top out for me. I’m not a tights girl usually, but if I were I’d put on some sheer black tights here.
sweater dress (6) // boots // jacket (my favorite ever)
Look 8: Sweater Dress + Printed Coat + Red Boots
Aaand, here’s your full dose of leopard print you probably knew was coming. I adore this coat and it’s so great with this dress! It really jazzes up the gray and again, the red boots make a fun appearance.
sweater dress (6) // boots // coat (similar or plus size, exact)
I can’t say enough good things about this sweater dress. And I’m also totally digging this v-neck version from Everlane, too, and may have to snag it in black.
Shop More Sweater Dresses For Fall
xo,
L
Hey, friends. Hop on over to follow me on Instagram @laurajansenstyle to see more of what I’m up to in Portland, Oregon. If you want to shop my current pieces I’m loving and wearing, head over to My Closet!
