Shaina Mote tie dress | size 4 (white version & “neutral“)
T by Alexander Wang long sleeve tee
Emerson Fry slides | gift from Emerson Fry to review a year ago
Admonish curved leather tote
(haha, this is my “the-hills-are-alive-with-the-sound-of-music” look…)
I like this look more in theory than I do in practice. I always think, oh, what a great way to keep wearing my summer dresses into fall/winter/early spring, but what ends up happening is I feel more like Winona Ryder circa mid-90’s than I’d like. I love it when I see it in editorials, and styled (case in point + more – and LOVE THIS Helmut Lang look), but it’s definitely another one of those things I love on others and not so much on me.
I do sometimes wear my oversized cashmere cardigans over long slim dresses when it’s cool out, and I like that look, but layering a tee underneath a dress is another thing entirely. I used to do it all the time, but that was mostly because I was trying to hide my body and wanted all the coverage I could get.
Now, I feel like this dress, and any dress that is more straight, or full instead of fitted, looks best on me alone, not layered with anything, so you can see a little of my shape.
I don’t hate it, and wore it anyway, and will probably wear it again, and instead of this white tee, maybe I’ll wear my “pinot” short sleeve tee by James Perse underneath. You know, for some color. I’d love to stop being so serious about what I’m wearing and have a little more fun…
Do you layer dresses over tees, or button-down shirts?
Ha ha, you crack me up with the caption under the second picture:-D
How about layering the dress with a black tee/tank/muscle tee?
I personally do not layer dresses over tees or shirts, especially in contrasting colors.
I just can’t layer that way – fitted tee under dress/jumper. Mostly because I did it too much in junior high in the 90’s…. I have, on occasion, layered loose fitting tees, dolman sleeves, deep necklines that go below the dress line, and always in something more tone on tone, charcoal+black – but really prefer layering over dresses with sweaters, loose crop tops (long sleeved and swingy), cardigans, light jackets, etc. I can’t find a way to wear vests for a similiar reason – the tight fitted sleeves as a layer just bother me (on me). Now dresses/jumpers over a button-down – that is a look I can do!
I think this dress of yours has a lot of potential for layering underneath, and could handle a variety of shapes and silhouettes – but maybe something more tone on tone? black or charcoal layered, so the overall look is low contrast and there’s more attention on the overall shapes, silhouettes, and details than on the high contrast areas.
Oh, I’ve experienced this dilemma as well. For me this type of layering doesn’t work well with sleeveless dresses. I like much better a short sleeved dress over a long sleeved tee. Sleeveless dresses risk looking too much like aprons. However, if I do wear sleevless dresses sometimes like that, I keeping both layers in the same color, and I seem to like that well enough.
see…i really have a hard time with monochromatic or tone-on-tone dressing, as you might have noticed LOL – i love contrast and can’t seem to get past the idea that i must have white & gray or white & black or black & gray in an outfit, not grey & grey or black & black. i have such a hard time with that! i’ve done it, with some success, but i really just never consider it when getting dressed. i’ll try first with charcoal 😉 ease into it…
i saw that shot and immediately thought of julie andrews running through the fields in the sound of music. wind blowing, arms out… lol – i have no idea what i was thinking in that shot!!
Agree with Lori – the apron look isn’t for me. If I did try layering a dress like this one, it might be with a short- or cap-sleeve tee in either black or charcoal.
My disclaimer is that I’m not big on this type of layering at all though, for two reasons mostly: 1) I’m petite and busty – so I’m reluctant to add bulk to my already bulky chest.
2) I went to Catholic school and wore a uniform, which in grade school was a plaid jumper with a white shirt underneath. So I guess I’ve got a general aversion to that sort of look on myself – even if it’s a chic black dress that bears no resemblance to the plaid pleated-skirt jumper of my youth 😉
Try some mid-tones! I’ve been relying more on them lately as I try to figure out my ideal looks. I think this dress would look good with the JP shirt you mentioned too – that color would be great.
I have the opposite problem – I have such a hard time adding contrast, I learn towards all grey or all black with varied textures but similiar tones. I’ve been trying to add more contrast – I wore a white shirt and black bottoms this week and it was pretty wild 🙂
I agree – I haven’t had any success layering ts under sleeveless dresses, especially high contrast pairs, but I’m lovin’ the effort! thanks for the post; sometimes I just want to know the struggle is real 🙂
BTW just got my hope news trouser in the mail today -should be a big win for summer. thanks for all you do!
I have a Raquel Allegra jumper/dress that I will layer a long sleeve t or button up denim shirt under. But for the most part I prefer a sweater or cardi over my dresses. That EF dress is to die for…swoon.
Oh goodness! Now that’s all that I can think of!!! 😉
I love this dress when you wear it tied at the waist with nothing underneath…. Well, I mean SOMETHING underneath. I’ll just shut-up now.
You actually taught me to layer OVER maxis and other dresses. I had never done that before and now I love it. Thank you, Grechen! For the reasons others have stated above, I refuse to layer under a tank dress due to the “Oh you look so cute in your hand-me-down jumper, sweetie!” (Obviously, I still haven’t gotten over 4th grade).
haha!! i know what you’re talking about LOL
oh! so glad you like them!
I think it can be cute, but it does seem very 90s and as a 49-year-old, I definitely feel that “if you were around for it the first time” vibe.
i don’t know, i used to subscribe to that idea, but i don’t think it’s valid anymore: there are so many ways to make styles we wore decades ago more “modern” and feel very fresh, that there’s no reason to avoid wearing something just because we did when we were younger…
and anyway, that would leave out WAY too may things LOL