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A model standing against a clay wall wearing a green and white shirt dress from Saint and Sofia. It's made with an open collared neckline, three quarter length sleeves, and a mini skirt length

Style

Why You Need to Invest in Shirt Dresses This Season

By Emily Weatherill

There’s one hero piece you’ll spot in the wardrobes of the fashion pack this season: shirt dresses. The classic, collared, button-up shape is the easiest way to inject effortless style into your outfit rotation. Wherever your diary takes you over the coming months, the shirt dress’s unique combination of tailored neckline and relaxed silhouette will become your go-to solution for getting dressed with ease, for every occasion.

A model standing in front of a white sheet that hangs over a clothes line under the sun. She wears a red and white striped shirt dress with three quarter length sleeves and an open collared neckline.
A close up shirt of a model wearing a green and white shirt dress. It features a buttoned neckline and three quarter sleeves with a relaxed silhouette.

Collared Shirt Dresses

The classic shirt dress features the collared neckline of its traditional top layer counterpart, but pairs the button-up look with a looser, more relaxed fit from your waist down. The resulting mix is smart yet informal and can be styled to create a slick office-appropriate outfit or a more laid-back look. Take our Stevie Shirt Dress – it’s handmade from the same smooth cotton as the familiar boardroom layer and features a sleek stripe design in timeless blue, contemporary khaki or bold red. At the top, an open placket creates a gentle V-neckline while three-quarter-length sleeves provide an elegant finish that’s business-ready but never boring.

But, as with all the best fashion finds, your wardrobe should work hard to create plenty of versatile styling opportunities from your foundation pieces. For a less city-smart aesthetic, take inspiration from the style set’s favourite cat with our Stevie Shirt Dress in Green Leopard. This animal print is infused with hints of earthy green for a contemporary twist on the classic golden brown colourway, making it perfect for pairing with black leather accessories like our Vega Ballerina Flats. The bold print creates a fresh option for weekend-ready looks, whether you’re looking for an evening-ready outfit or pared-back daytime dressing.

A model standing in front of a white sheet that hangs over a washing line under blue skies. She wears the Saint and Sofia Stevie Shirt Dress in Green Leopard with an collared neckline, three-quarter length sleeves and a mini skirt. It is styled with a studded leather belt around the waist to create a cinched silhouette.
A model standing in front of a white sheet that hangs over a washing line under blue skies. She wears the Saint and Sofia Stevie Shirt Dress in Green Leopard with an collared neckline, three-quarter length sleeves and a mini skirt. It is worn with leather ballerina flats.

How to Style Shirt Dresses

Options are plentiful when it comes to styling shirt dresses. They offer a “blank canvas” thanks to the classic silhouette that allows you to incorporate any element of your own personal style to the versatile base layer. Take inspiration from styling a simple shirt; you can pair a shirt with a whole host of accessories and outer layers to build multiple looks from one piece. It’s the same with shirt dress. A layered stack of necklaces adds glamour. Add a blazer for a formal feel. Or slip the dress over jeans for a fashion-forward layered look. A belt will also add definition and a chance to showcase your personal style, depending on the buckle and finish. For footwear, trainers keep things casual, a kitten heel reads elegant and boots can add an unexpectedly tough twist to the tailored shape.

A model standing in front of a white sheet that hangs outside under clear blue skies. She wears the Saint and Sofia Easy T Shirt Dress, a crew neck, short sleeve style with green and white stripes.
A close up shot of the Saint and Sofia Easy T Shirt Dress. A short sleeve, crew neck style with green and white stripes and a midi skirt length.

T-Shirt Dresses

When it comes to more casual events, the classic crew neck T-shirt dress is a strong contender to become your staple style choice as the sun continues to shine.

Imagine the ease of your favourite tee, but with a longer-line hem. A T-shirt dress mimics the shape of a classic tee, but simply extends the hem to create a style that’s effortlessly wearable, while also leaving you cool and comfortable on warmer days. We love T-shirt dresses for the way they can adapt to any wardrobe occasion. Dress them up with colourful accessories or a smart jacket, or keep them casual with slides or trainers.

Designs like our Easy T-Shirt Midi Dress are perfect for bringing this flexibility to your daily looks. Available in essential shades such as navy and black, along with more playful prints like navy and green stripes, it offers a crew neckline with short sleeves and a relaxed fit that hits at mid-calf. Slits at the side help to keep movement easy and leave a hint of skin on show as you stride.

A model standing in front of a white fitted sheet that hangs outside under the sun. She wears the Saint and Sofia Easy T Shirt Dress, a crew neck style with green and white stripes. Over the top, she pairs it with a white denim jacket and finishes the look with a khaki suede shoulder bag.
A model standing in front of a white fitted sheet that hangs outside under the sun. She wears the Saint and Sofia Easy T Shirt Dress, a crew neck style with green and white stripes. Over the top, she pairs it with a white denim jacket and finishes the look with a khaki suede shoulder bag.

How to Style T-Shirt Dresses

For a wear-anywear outfit, team your T-shirt dress with our denim Bowie Jacket, a cross-body bag, and trainers for a classic daytime look, or opt for a leather jacket and boots for that city-inspired style. You can also up level up your styling game by layering a shirt dress over a pair of jeans; the jeans and dress trend has become a favourite street style styling trick and is actually way easier to wear than you’d think.

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