How to Wear a Sweater Dress - The Spirited Thrifter

Today is not my day. It started off with an unfortunate discovery about the Cynthia Rowley wool sweater dress I had in mind for today’s Tuesday Try…

Scored at the Goodwill Boxing Day sale for $3.50... notice the roomy fit... — *Scored at the Goodwill Boxing Day sale for $3.50… notice the roomy fit… FINE the *slightly* roomy fit…*

Well, as I always do with my thrifted purchases, I washed it in cold water and hung it to dry and IT SHRUNK!

Not roomy anymore. And not, eh hem, much of a dress now that I'm not 41 anymore. — *Not roomy anymore. And not, eh hem, much of a “dress” considering I’m not 41 anymore.*

Since I ~~was running late~~ wanted to get my money out of the dress, I kept it on and worked it hard all day – I crawled around on the floor, did some crafts, ran some laps and had more than one kid take advantage of its softness by burying their snotty teary faces in it. All in a day’s work in my glamorous life. AND THEN, I came home and found 4 different ways to style it based on my extensive Pinterest research!

SWEATER DRESS FOR WORK

This is what I actually wore to work - with navy leggings from my closet, purple suede boots and teal necklace from my collection. — *This is what I actually wore to work – with navy leggings from my closet, purple suede boots and teal necklace from my collection.*

She Does Create earrings to draw the eye up... I hope. (Probably not, so just shhhh) — *She Does Create earrings to draw the eye up… I hope.*

I wore a teal scarf for part of the day too... SURPRISE, you can wear a scarf with a sweater dress. — *I wore a teal scarf for part of the day too… SURPRISE, you can wear a scarf with a sweater dress.*

Sweater dresses – well, all dresses – make for easy style. You throw ’em on with an accessory or two, with some boots, ankle boots or flats and away you go.

SWEATER DRESS & BELT

You can belt your sweater dress to add some interest or get a different look. This purple belt was thrifted for $1.40 and the suede boots for $11.90 - things don't have to match, they have to GO. — *You can belt your sweater dress to add some interest or get a different look. This purple belt was thrifted for $1.40 and the suede boots for $11.90 – things don’t have to match, they have to GO.*

Right about now you might be saying to yourself, that’s a pretty crappy photo for a fashion blog. So I just wanted to mention that me and my crew of pediatric photographers have a new snappy camera to play with and are still working out the kinks. Bear with us.

TGFF - Thank God for Filters. — *TGFF – Thank God for Filters.*

SWEATER DRESS & JEANS

LOVED this - soooo cozy and comfortable and the cropped flares make it contemporary. Jeans $3 Paige denim, $19 MARC Art of Walking leather flats and make-your-own pendant by She Does Create. — *LOVED this – soooo cozy and comfortable and the cropped flares make it contemporary. $3 Paige denim, $19 MARC Art of Walking leather flats and make-your-own pendant by She Does Create.*

A simple pendant necklace will always work with your sweater dresses - it should go over the girls! — *A simple pendant necklace will always work with your sweater dresses – it should be long enough to go over the girls!*

SKIRT OVER SWEATER DRESS

Another way to get more mileage from sweater dresses (or any dress) is to layer a skirt OVER the dress! No fiddly tucking in to fuss with and a bit of extra warmth in winter!

With my vintage midi skirt, Fly London shoes and stone necklace scored for — *With my vintage pleated midi skirt $4.90, Fly London shoes $13.30 and thrifted stone necklace.*

*Double duty, double the wardrobe mileage!*

There you have it: 4 ways to wear a sweater dress and there’s plenty more ideas on Pinterest! I liked the look of sneakers with a sweater dress but I don’t sneak so I don’t have sneakers and couldn’t try it out. I also like the look with tights but felt my particular “dress” called for leggings at least to be decent in public, though some pins suggest a short sweater dress with over-the-knee boots is stylin. It’s not my cup o tea. Also not my cup o tea: tying a plaid shirt around the waist of your sweater dress but if you’re young enough to be my daughter, you could give that a try. And lastly, if you don’t get yourself heated up through penguin walks in your daily work like I do, you could always add a finishing layer to your sweater dress with a blazer, cardi or vest.

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