This post is sponsored by Nordstrom & ShopStyle Collective.
If I had to name my most-worn item of clothing all winter…well, my answer may surprise you. (Caveat: We all know that it’s *technically* this giant UGG robe my sister hates, but I’m talking about real clothes.) My most-worn item of clothing, once it’s truly cold outside, is…a sweater dress.
Or, more accurately, any sort of comfy, long-sleeve, midi-length, cozy dress.
I lounge around in dresses like these (this and this are my current fave sweater dresses; this is my fave midi dress), and I layer them over thick tights or leggings when venturing outside. These comfy dresses look great with all kinds of boots (moon, chunky, Western, tall), and I love how I can feel both comfortable and put-together.
Best of all, when it’s time for a cold night out, I can simply tweak this daily uniform into something that’s shockingly sexy. The key?
The Best Way To Spice Up Sexy Winter Outfits: Sheer, Lacy Black Tights
Lace (or sheer, patterned) tights are perfect to spice up winter dresses — whether we’re talking about a classic sweater dress (of any length) or just a basic long-sleeve midi dress. They’re just warm enough to add a bit of protection from the elements, but not so warm that I overheat in restaurants.
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
I also swear by patterned tights like these for making my distressed jeans winter-ready too. I actually am working on an entire article about this, but here’s a sneak peek:
similar sweater | jeans (27) | tights (M/L)
When looking for a pair of lace tights, there seem to be two schools of thought: expensive or budget-friendly?
My sister swears by pricier brands like Wolford and Falke (and OK — normally I’d make fun of her, but she’s been happily wearing a pair of her old Wolford tights for more than 10 years), but I prefer the less precious, budget-friendly brands.
Not only do I not worry nearly so much about getting a snag, but I don’t need to wear satin gloves to put them on (no, really, my sister does this). Besides, I like finding sexy new patterns — lace versus dots versus fishnet versus scribble print. Nordstrom (per usual) has the best selection, carrying both the fancier brands my sister prefers, as well as some gorgeous options under $25.
dress (S) | tights (M/L) | bag
Case in point? The lace tights I’m wearing here are $19, and they’re great. They do run a bit small — I’m wearing a M/L and would NOT want them to be any tighter (although they do have a control top, so they hold everything in quite a bit!).
Shop My Fave Patterned, Sheer & Lacy Black Tights
Don’t Be Afraid Of A Slit: The Perfect LBD For Winter Date Night
OK, I’ve gotta talk about this dress. As I mentioned, I’m a pretty frequent winter-dress-wearer, but this ruched midi dress from Nordstrom is pretty special. It manages to be both comfortable and sexy, and is fundamentally casual yet dresses up easily.
It’s basically the perfect dress to pack for a vacation — one that transitions effortlessly from day to night with the swap of a pair of shoes and can be thrown into a bag (not to mention a washer and dryer) without having to worry about wrinkles. It’s also under $100.
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
But it’s also a perfect fit for flirty date nights (ooh, maybe for Valentine’s Day?). The genius of this dress is both the dramatic (yet wearable) side slit and the ruching along the side. The ruching is a little bit asymmetrical and gives the dress a unique look. It also creates just a hint of excess fabric right where I’d want a bit of forgiveness (tummy/butt area), but not so much that it loses that sexy shape.
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
For a little extra warmth, I layered this Mini Cami Slip from Commando underneath. It feels incredibly smooth and soft against the skin, and the weighted hemline prevents it from riding up and bunching. I love that it’s virtually undetectable underneath even lightweight dresses like this one (although I wear this cami under heavier sweater dresses all the time as well).
It comes in both black and beige, and the straps are adjustable for the perfect fit. I’m wearing a small/medium (size 2-8 via the size chart) and I’d say it runs fairly true to size since it doesn’t pull across my hips (I’m typically a size 6).
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
And don’t be afraid of the slit — it’s high enough to show off some leg (and sexy tights!), but not so high that it seems indecent…even when sitting down.
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
Lastly, I know I’m going to get questions about these Kurt Geiger booties. They’re SPARKLY (which I couldn’t tell from the pics online), and that stiletto heel is everything.
dress (S) | slip (S/M) | tights (M/L) | boots | bag
They are also stretchy, fit easily under cropped jeans, and are surprisingly comfortable for heels. The soles aren’t slippery — they’ve actually got great traction. Reviewers mention that they’re hard to take off, but I’ve always worn them without socks and haven’t had a problem. LOVE these boots!!
More on sheer lacy tights, coming soon.
XOXO,
Scotti
Photo credit: Daniele Carol
A huge thank you to Nordstrom & ShopStyle Collective for sponsoring this post! Nordstrom has been killing it with the dresses lately, and it’s always my first go-to when I have something specific in mind. As always, all product choices and opinions are my own. Daniele, thank you for the pictures — it’s always so fun to work with you! And, readers, thank you SO much for your continued support. It’s appreciated more than you know. ❤️
Hey, Pinners…
I get literally 99% of my style tips from things you recommend. Thank you! So I ordered the cream dress you recommended in a recent post (the one you said you wore at an airport, I think?) and I got it in cream color. Do you think the black tights would look weird with that because the dress is lighter? I also got a shorter, boxier black sweater dress recommended in a previous post, and I got the petite to make it even shorter and hit above the knee. I’m also wondering if it would be too much lace tights with that one. So basically I’m not sure if lace tights need to be kind of like, blended into what you are wearing, in terms of color? Or just peeking out a little bit? I don’t really want the look to be too much. Lace tights is kind of a lot, but they look amazing done right.
I love the look of lace tights with short sweater dresses – go wild! If you do want to tame it down, however, I’ve also added tall boots, or – my fav – chunky, lug-sole boots like Doc Martins, or my GANNI chelsea boots. They work amazingly well.
In terms of the lighter sweater dress…I think if you stick to darker footwear (again, I’d do the Docs or GANNI type boots), it should work! That said, in the shopping widget I think there’s a nude pair of tights with tiny black polka dots that might work, too….