Love your blog, your writing, your style tips and your sense of humor! Can you help me out with something? I need advice on how to turn a dress into a skirt? I have a strapless white and red eyelit dress that I'd like to wear a top over the dress so it looks like a skirt and a top, but I have no idea what kind of top to cover up with. I see you be very creative with dresses and am hoping you can give me some tips!
Thanks, Jennie
When is a dress not a dress? When you cover the top and call it a skirt. This little trick can get you twice the life out of your dresses. It’s especially helpful if the top of the dress is inappropriate for a more conservative venue (like the office or church).
The easiest dresses to layer over are sleeveless/strapless and of a lightweight fabric. You'll see, below, that I have worn and reworn a strapless, khaki sheath as a skirt. Sleeved dress work, as long as the material is thin. Bulky sleeves don't layer well.
I’ve tried a number of different style tops over my dresses.
1. Cardigan (buttoned) or sweater
I recommend a fitted cardigan/sweater if the dress’ skirt is full. If the dress has a straight or tapered skirt, a looser top will work.
2. Buttoned Shirt
The same rules apply for a shirt as a cardigan/sweater; look for a fitted shape. Shirts with seaming and darts are ideal. Add a belt for more waist definition.
3. Tee
Well, I’ve only tried this once, but I liked it! It works best with a fitted and/or knotted t-shirt.
4. Vest
A vest (or waistcoat) over a sleeveless dress gives you the look of a separates outfit, but keeps you cool.
5. Multiple Toppers
Layer two or more toppers over the dress for dozens of different looks. Try a tank and a shrug. A blouse and a vest. A jacket and a scarf.
P.S. Cover the bottom (with another skirt) and you can triple the potential of a dress.
6 comments:
I have never done this...but all of these looks are so cute..I think i will give it a try! Thanks for the motivation and great ideas!
I love the retrospective of all the ways you've turned a dress into a skirt. I wish I had your creativity. BTW, has the top of the brown strapless Newport dress ever seen the light of day?
Great post and very explicit! No more questions!
I also love strapless dresses worn OVER a button-down shirt (you can add a jacket and a belt to keep it more conservative). This works really well if your strapless is a heavy fabric (I have a grey wool strapless that works wonderfully).
Awesome illustration of your tutorial!
I never think to wear a dress as a skirt~and if I do--the textures are always fighting each other! Very ingenious in all your looks~Paula
Awesome!! Thank you!
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