Sweater over a Dress
The idea of wearing a sweater over a dress is not a new idea. I am revisiting it because I think that it is a great way to expand your closet and think of your dresses as skirts. I am sharing some older pictures at the end of this post to give you some more inspiration ideas and you will notice that in those outfits I usually chose neutral sweaters. This time, I wanted to do something a little different and decided to wear my “magic dress” which I shared earlier this year. This was actually the first time I wore it for more than just pictures: it was a Sunday church outfit.
This dress is more of a bodycon dress so it departs from my other outfits in that manner too. The length of the dress can be adjusted, but since it was winter and a church outfit, I kept it midi length. I used the colors in the dress to chose my sweater, but I could also have gone with a burgundy one I have.
The nice thing about this dress is that the overly large sleeves wrap around in a multitude of ways and in this case, I wrapped them around the waist which created a belt of sorts. I then tucked the front of the sweater in it.
I don’t wear my 2 pairs of tall boots very often as they have higher heel but they look great with dresses. The other pair is featured below (tan). Because I do not wear them often, both pairs barely show any signs of wear.
January has been an exercise is creativity in the kitchen and in my closet: by deciding to do a reset month of working on sticking to a grocery budget more strictly and in not shopping (even thrifting), I have had fun coming up with blog posts reminding people that they do not need to constantly add to their closet, but need to rethink about how they can wear or pair things. I love having something new, but a little restraint is great for the budget, the environment and for creativity!
So here are some ways I wore sweaters over dresses: my take away is that I like this combo best with maxi dresses.
This combo below that I wore exactly the same twice is probably my favorite. The funny thing is that the dress was not a favorite: the color didn’t do much for me, but it looked great with my tan sweater.
The combo worked with the shorter dresses too, but I do not feel like it’s as pretty of a look.
A critique of the first look below: the sweater needs to be cinched or tucked into to create a more flattering waistline. The grey sweater is the same as the tan one above so it works pretty well over dresses as it gathers at the waist and can be easily adjusted higher or lower.
Well, I hope I left you with a lot of inspiration and you will go in to your closet and try a sweater over a dress combination!
A bientôt!
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29 Comments
Debbie-Dabble
Looks great…Love that color blue in the first picture…Thanks so much for stopping bh!! I laeve out my beverage Bar year round and just change it for the various Seasons and Holidays….
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
mimifce
I love that. And yes, that blue is a good one.
Aarti
Love how you’re reimagining your dresses as skirts by layering sweaters—it’s such a clever way to get more wear out of your wardrobe! 🙌 The idea of pairing a bodycon dress with a cozy sweater is perfect for creating a balanced and chic look, especially for a Sunday church outfit.
Allurerage
mimifce
Yes, I have a couple other ones I should do this with before winter is over.
Jennifer
I love styling sweaters over dresses! The colour of your sweater is so pretty!
Jennifer
ttps://curatedbyjennifer.com
mimifce
Thanks, it’s one of my favorite.
Jill
Styling sweaters over dresses is a great way to get more wears out of both pieces! I love the vibrant blue sweater paired with the colorful dress! All of these outfit ideas are fabulous!
Jill – Doused in Pink
mimifce
Thanks, Jill! I love it too.
jodie
Great point about the sleeves of the magic dress being the “belt” and then you can tuck the sweater into it…love, love, love it
OXOX
Jodie
mimifce
Thanks, Jodie! I really enjoy this colorful outfit.
Danielle
How cute!
Danielle Writes | danielle-writes.co.uk
mimifce
Thanks, Danielle!
Joanne
These are all lovely looks; my favorite though is definitely the first one. That blue sweater is so pretty with the bright pops of color from that dress.
mimifce
That blue is a winner, isn’t it?
Andrea Nine
It’s such an easy way to get more out of a dress. And you really found great sweaters to compliment the dresses!
mimifce
It was fun to see how I had done it in the past!
Nancy
I love the idea but keep on forgetting it. It sure looks great! Especially on the maxi dresses!
mimifce
I don’t do it super often, as it needs to be cool enough to layer up.
Melody Jacob
I love this idea of rethinking how to style pieces already in your closet! Layering a sweater over a dress, especially with a bodycon dress like the one you’re wearing, is such a great way to create new outfits without adding more items to your wardrobe. The way you used the dress’s oversized sleeves as a belt is a clever touch, and I love how the sweater ties in with the colors of the dress for a coordinated look. Also, your approach to a “reset month” is inspiring. It’s refreshing to see how creativity and restraint can lead to a more thoughtful and sustainable wardrobe!
mimifce
It’s been really fun to do! I haven’t really felt the desire to shop for clothes at all.
Heather Noire
A sweater over a dress is so lovely. I am obsessed with your blue one.https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2025/02/7-reasons-coach-empire-carryall-bag-is.html
mimifce
Thanks, Heather! It’s one of my favorite colors!
Marsha Banks
I have only done it a couple of times, but you are a master at it! I wonder if we like the sweaters better over maxis because you get that 1/3 – 2/3 proportion that works so well.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
mimifce
I often forget about it. And your analysis makes sense about the proportions!
Kathrine Eldridge
You are queen of layering over dresses! The blue sweater is so pretty over this floral dress.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Sally in St Paul
That blue sweater is spectacular and so cheerful to see in winter. I love the sweater over dress technique, but since I don’t own many dresses, I don’t use it terribly often. I think figuring out how to deal with the volume/length of the sweater is key to being satisfied with the combination. The front tuck options you’ve demonstrated really look good.
mimifce
I have more than enough dresses to try this with. I do love how this one turned out.
Laura Bambrick
These are all so cute! Great ways to expand your closet without any new clothing or purchases.
mimifce
Thanks, Laura!