Collared dresses are a great wardrobe staple. Even summery pieces can be incorporated into your cool weather wardrobe when paired with a sweater. The collar adds cohesion to the outfit by allowing the dress to bookend the sweater, where a sweater over another dress might just look sloppy. Here, I took three very different items from my wardrobe and gave them a winter update.
The Lace-Collared Silk Dress
This first dress is a silk Temperley London dress that I purchased in 2018 on Martha’s Vineyard. Orchard Mile has had a pop-up store on the island every summer for the last few years, my family tends to go at the end of the summer when all of the stores are trying to clear their summer inventories with huge sales. I cannot recall what I paid for this dress, but I believe the discount was close to 70 percent off. The lace collar and midi length make me feel very Kate Middleton in this dress, but the swan and glass bottle pattern makes it a little too weird for a future queen.
I’ve paired the dress with the multi-textured Angora and wool peplum Ulla Johnson Rocia sweater. It was originally $595, but I purchased on final sale from Shopbop for $178. Peplum is a great shape to wear over a dress because the cinched waist keeps the look from getting bulky. I love the rose color of this sweater, and how it plays off the subtle rose elements in the skirt’s pattern. Rounding out the look are those AMAZING cream leather boots from Zara that I posted on Instagram a few weeks back. They fit true to size and are SO COMFORTABLE, so I’m in love and plan on wearing them well into the spring. Buy them!
The Silk Maxi Shirtdress
I purchased this Evi Grintela maxi shirtdress on sale at Net-a-Porter this winter. I love how casually cool it is, and has this fantasy of wearing it to the farmers market in spring and summer. However, you can definitely wear this outfit year round with a few inexpensive additions. That white Hanes sweatshirt is $6, and while it isn’t quite cropped, it isn’t overly long or bulky, either. And those espadrille sneakers are $35 at Target. I wouldn’t wear with the espadrille now, but any plain white sneaker would do.
This post is really about taking things from your existing wardrobe and making them more versatile, but since all of the items in this post are currently available online, here are links to each item:
The Pinstripe Shirtdress
This last dress is a blue embroidered shirtdress that I purchased from Zara a few years back. A cotton dress is going to harder to adapt for winter than, say, a silk or knit fabric, but because this collared blue pinstripe feels a bit like a men’s dress shirt, it doesn’t feel like it’s strictly a warm weather item. The best way to convert a lighter fabric into a season-less one is to compliment it with winter items that are also the lighter side. Those cream Zara boots work really well here, as does the cream braided Moon River sweater that I purchased from Nordstrom Rack in the fall.
Tips for Winterizing a Summer Collared Dress
- Try to Avoid Bulkiness: A big, bulky sweater will lack cohesion with a lightweight summer dress. A cropped sweater that hits just below the natural waist is the easiest way to achieve a less heavy look. However, peplums also work. If you try a longer sweater, attempt to remove some of the bulk by adding a belt (a thin, double-wrapped belt would be perfect).
- Keep the Footwear Light: Whether you’re pairing with a boot, a sneaker, or anything else, you’re going to want to keep the color and shape light. Dark is going feel clunky against against a summery fabric. The best way to make something summery feel season-less is to pair with cold weather items that aren’t heavy.
- Beware Certain Fabrics: It’s not totally impossible, but I’m less inclined to do this with fabrics that are incredibly seasonal. A linen or seersucker isn’t going to convert into a cold-weather item as easily as other fabrics. Silk is season-less. And when it comes to cotton, the less textured it is, the better.
- Play With Texture and Pattern: If you’re the adventurous sort, consider a sweater with a pattern or texture. Since the collar and skirt bookending the sweater add a level of cohesion, the braver among us can play with a textured or patterned sweater. Not sure how? I’m going to give a tutorial on the blog next week on how to mix patterns, so stay tuned.
