Short dresses are the chameleons of your closet—you can dress them up for a night out, or layer them with other garments for a relaxed outfit. Rifle through your wardrobe and see what kinds of shoes and accessories you can transform into a fun, stylish ensemble. Whether the weather is warm or cool, your short dress will be able to get the job done.

1

Layer over leggings or pants.

3

Slide on some boots.

  1. Balance out your ensemble with long boots. These shoes are a great option for cooler weather, and help keep your legs insulated and warm in the cooler months. You can try a knee-high variety, or keep your legs covered with thigh-high boots instead.[3] If you don’t have any long boots, opt for a pair of ankle boots instead—these can be a fun, casual addition to your dress without taking away from the rest of your outfit.[4]
    • For example, you might pair some ankle boots with your favorite midi dress.
    • Long boots go great with short, thigh-length dresses.[5]
  2. Advertisement
4

Match your accessories.

  1. Pick a handbag that matches with some element of your dress. Take a look at your outfit’s color scheme—is your dress a solid color, is there a pattern or accent that you can play around with? Search through your closet for a handbag that matches part of your dress’s color scheme, which will help your outfit look really striking and dynamic.[6]
    • For instance, if you’re wearing a gray dress with red accents, you might grab a red clutch to match.
    • If you don’t have any matching accessories, pick out something neutral-toned instead, like a black clutch.
6

Pick out open-toed shoes or sandals.

8

Wear over a long-sleeved shirt.

  1. Prepare for chillier weather by layering your dress over a long-sleeved shirt. You can play around with neutral tones, or pick a top that matches your dress—the choice is yours! [11]
    • For instance, you might pair a neutral-toned dress with a light-colored long-sleeved shirt.
    • You might pick out a neutral-toned shirt that goes well with just about any short dress.
    EXPERT TIP
    Susan Kim

    Susan Kim

    Professional Stylist
    Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
    Susan Kim
    Susan Kim
    Professional Stylist

    On cold days, you can also try layering different dresses or dresses and skirts. If the dress has an A-line skirt, for instance, you might layer it over a longer lace dress. Try playing around with different fabrics, like combining corduroy and lace!

9

Play around with texture.

  1. Mix and match different materials when styling a short dress. Pick out a pair of shoes that are made with a different material than the rest of your dress. Then, grab a jacket or cardigan that’s made from something different than your shoes and coat. This is a great way to dress up for chilly weather, or just add a little extra dimension to your look.[12]
    • For example, you might pair a cotton dress with a pair of leather boots, along with a wool coat.
    • You can pair a quilted jacket with a faux leather dress and some suede shoes.
  2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

  • Question
    How can I make my short dress look casual?
    Susan Kim
    Susan Kim
    Professional Stylist
    Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
    Susan Kim
    Professional Stylist
    Expert Answer

    Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

    Wear the belt low to give the look more of a street-style vibe. For an even more casual look, toss on a fanny pack over your dress!
Advertisement

About This Article

Susan Kim
Co-authored by:
Professional Stylist
This article was co-authored by Susan Kim and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Susan Kim is the owner of Sum+Style Co., a Seattle-based personal styling company focused on innovative and approachable fashion. She has over 5 years of experience in the fashion industry, and received her AA from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. This article has been viewed 32,920 times.
8 votes - 87%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: November 25, 2022
Views: 32,920
Advertisement