Casual Style: A Chic Sweaterdress

Sep 26, 2011

 

Polyvore Set Here.

 I’ve mentioned before that sweaterdresses are my go-to for travel, but they’re also my favorite look for Casual Friday.  With the right accessories and the right attitude, this comfortable look can be your new favorite look as well.  But there are some things that you need to keep in mind when wearing a sweaterdress to work.

First off, the dress needs to be long enough.  Just because your mini-dress is also knit, does not make it work appropriate, not even with two pairs of tights.

Secondly, you need a scarf.  It just lifts the outfit from casual to casual chic. 

Third, you also need to make sure your hair and makeup are tights.  The casual sweaterdress looks infinitely more casual and less chic if you’ve got that “I stayed out too late last night” vibe going.  I find that hair up in a slightly messy, but not dirty-Meredith Grey, updo is always a good choice with that much volume around the neck.

Lastly, tights are an ABSOLUTE necessity.  I don’t want to see your pale, mid-winter knees ever, but especially not when wearing a sweaterdress.  The tights (I wear two pair for maximum blackness) are an integral part of making this look work-appropriate.

There’s no reason why you can’t be comfortable on Casual Friday.  And wearing a sweaterdress is as close as you can humanly come to wearing pajamas to work.

Casual Style

share this post

Leave a Reply to Dr. Jean Grey Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. annalou says:

    hooray for sweaterdress season!

  2. amy b.s. says:

    i am in need of a sweater dress!

  3. Laura says:

    sweaterdress recommendations please?!

  4. Sam says:

    How do you wear two pairs of tights at once? Just curious…

  5. Belle says:

    Sam you put one pair over the other pair.

  6. MidwestChic says:

    Belle, what color accessories/tights/boots would you recommend with a purple sweater drerss? It has the same shape and neckline as the dress you posted, but I am lost with the color!

  7. Belle, have you ever tried Falke or Wolford? I go through tights so quickly that I wonder if they would hold up better, although I hesitate to spend that much money when I can buy Hue at Filene's for $10.

  8. Belle says:

    Mdwest- Purple tights, cognac or grey boots.

    NDM-I haven't. I don't want to treat my tights with kid gloves. The Spanx ones are pretty good though.

  9. Anth says:

    I wear 2 pairs of tights when it's really cold, but I'm not sure how I feel on a 2 pairs day to day… I found an outstanding pair of lined tights last year (maybe at target?) which wear completely solid colored. I also like a patterned tight (either embroidered or a ridged or cabled) to keep boring black interesting.

  10. Dr. Jean Grey says:

    Two pair of tights? I can't imagine doing this. I've been happy with the opaqueness of my black Hue tights. Those seem dark enough, but to each her own.

  11. Rachel says:

    I agree with your statement likening sweater dresses to pajama-levels of comfort, but all of that comfort disappears if you introduce two pairs of tights into the mix. Stuffing my lower half into one sausage casing all fall and winter is bad enough; the thought of wearing two pairs makes me cringe. I'm not sure I understand the need for that level of opacity.

  12. Belle says:

    Rachel, maybe you need to buy a bigger size. I also don't buy control top, so that might be part of it, but I'm very comfortable in tights. If you're still not, switch them out for leggings.

  13. norwegianette says:

    Ah totally agree on wearing two pair of tights. One is just not black enough! I live in skirts and dresses and 2 pair of black tights is practically part of my winter uniform. Rachel, like Belle said, it helps to buy them a size up. I'm a size 4 but I usually buy M and sometimes even L in lights because they're tight enough to stay on perfectly anyway and my philosophy is why would you want them to be tighter than they need to be? 🙂

    I'm flying home to Norway (where it's COLD already) on Thursday and this will definitely be my travel outfit. It's one of those outfits that's actually comfy chic (not comfy “chic” like uggs and Juicy), and the scarf is perfect to protect your neck from the cold draft fron the plane AC 😉 Plus opaque tights allow you to wear compression stockings under on trans atlantic flights (just buys ones that are the same color as the tights).

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

1

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

1

READ MORE 

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Ask the Edit, Style, Top Posts | March 28, 2024

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

1

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 28, 2024

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

1

READ MORE 

Beauty, Posts | March 27, 2024

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 27, 2024

The Find: Shirts That Don’t Gape

I remember when Rochelle Behrens launched The Shirt — a button-down blouse with anti-gape technology (a patented internal button that keeps the look smooth). The idea seemed brilliant, but at the time, my bust didn’t require an extra button. One baby later, I understand the need for some extra security.

6

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO