How to Style a T‐Shirt Dress

A simple styling guide for different types of occasions

Co-authored by Elle Monus

Last Updated: May 25, 2022 References

A T-shirt dress is a stylish piece of clothing that is comfortable to wear and has a relaxed fit. It works in both informal and formal situations, as well as during summer and winter months, depending on how you style it. You can create a range of outfits with your T-shirt dress by adding layers such as long-sleeved shirts, tights, or jackets. Choosing different accessories and shoes to wear with your T-shirt dress can also help you to create a range of elegant, casual, and bold outfits.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Adding Layers

1
Wear a long-sleeved shirt under the T-shirt dress for extra warmth. Pick a white long-sleeved shirt and match this with a striped T-shirt dress to be warm yet fashionable. Alternatively, choose a long-sleeved shirt that is the same color as the T-shirt dress so that the dress looks as though it has long sleeves.^{[1]
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- Don’t worry about the type of neckline that the long-sleeved shirt has, as it is unlikely that you will be able to see it under the T-shirt dress.
2
Put on tights or leggings under your T-shirt dress to add an extra layer. If you want to wear your T-shirt dress yet the weather is cool, then tights or leggings can help you to stay warm without having to bundle up. Wear plain tights or leggings with striped T-shirt dresses and try out patterned tights with solid-color T-shirt dresses.^{[2]
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- A T-shirt dress matches especially well with tights and boots or heels.^{[3]
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3
Add a denim jacket over the T-shirt dress for a light and casual outfit. Pick a light, dark, or black denim jacket to go with your T-shirt dress. This creates an effortless, casual, and fun outfit that is perfect for spring or an informal day out with friends.^{[4]
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- Light denim jackets match particularly well with striped T-shirt dresses. Dark and black denim jackets go well with lighter T-shirt dresses, such as white, grey, or pastel colors.
4
Pair the T-shirt dress with a utility jacket during cooler seasons. Khaki, olive, or navy utility jackets pair well with T-shirt dresses. This works well for outdoor activities and occasions because it creates a feminine yet adventurous style. ^{[5]
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5
Wear the T-shirt dress with a longline cardigan in winter. Wear the T-shirt dress with a light, knitted cardigan over the top and keep the cardigan unbuttoned. Choose a solid color for the cardigan such as white, a pastel tone, olive, or black.^{[6]
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6
Wrap a flannel shirt around your waist for a relaxed fall outfit. Choose a solid-color T-shirt dress for this look. Pick a bright flannel shirt that stands out against the T-shirt dress. If the temperature drops, you can easily pull the flannel shirt on.^{[7]
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- Avoid pairing a striped T-shirt dress with a flannel shirt, as the contrasting patterns may look overwhelming.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Accessorizing a T-Shirt Dress

1
Wear a belt to create a defined waistline. If you feel that your T-shirt dress is too casual or relaxed, it is easy to create the illusion that is has a defined waistline. Simply pair it with a black or white belt to create a more elegant look.^{[8]
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- Adding a belt is an easy way to change your T-shirt dress outfit from a day look to more formal evening wear.
2
Add a pair of sunglasses to make your outfit chic and relaxed. Sunglasses are both a practical and fashionable accessory during the warmer seasons. Stick to simple frames if your T-shirt dress is bright or patterned, or experiment with more bold frames if your T-shirt dress is more minimalist in style.^{[9]
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- If you don’t want to wear the sunglass but still want to keep them as part of your outfit, simply tuck them into the neckline of your T-shirt dress.^{[10]
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3
Pick a cross-body bag to add a simple accessory to your T-shirt dress. A small cross body bag is a great accessory because it means that you don’t need to carry your personal items and can keep your hands free. This is ideal if you are wearing your T-shirt dress out and about. You can either dress up or dress down your T-shirt dress depending on the type of cross-body bag that you choose.^{[11]
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- Pick a black, brown, or white cross-body bag for a simple and elegant look with your T-shirt dress. Alternatively, choose a bright colored bag such as orange, yellow, pink or red to pair with a neutral or striped dress to make a fun, day outfit.^{[12]
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4
Carry a bright tote bag to create a bold outfit with your T-shirt dress. Tote bags are excellent because they are both fashionable and can fit a lot inside. Choose a bright tote bag such as pink, red, yellow, or green, and match this with a T-shirt dress to create an outfit that is perfect for going out with friends.^{[13]
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- Alternatively, pick a tote bag in a neutral color to create a more minimalist look.
5
Wear a pendant necklace to create an elegant look with your T-shirt dress. A pendant necklace is a simple accessory that can transform a T-shirt dress into a stylish and chic outfit. Choose a small symbol or stone to wear with a solid color T-shirt dress as this will stand out.^{[14]
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- Pick a gold, silver, or rose gold pendant necklace for a minimalist look.
- A pendant necklace can help to dress up your T-shirt dress outfit into something that you can wear for a night out.
6
Slip on a chunky bracelet with your T-shirt dress to help dress it up. The simplicity and relaxed fit of a T-shirt dress means that it can easily be dressed up with just a simple piece of jewelry or two. Find a few chunky bracelets and use these to dress up your T-shirt dress for a night out.^{[15]
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- There is a huge range of bracelets that pair well with T-shirt dresses to choose from. Large gold, silver, or rose gold bracelets work well, as do bracelets that are made with large beads.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Footwear

1
Wear sneakers with your T-shirt dress for a relaxed, day look. White or grey sneakers pair well with all T-shirt dresses because they match the fun, relaxed tone. Wear the sneakers with low cut white socks.^{[16]
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- Try adding a cap and wrapping your jacket around your waist to complete this relaxed yet stylish look.
2
Pick knee-high boots to make a statement outfit. Black, brown, or tan knee-high boots can turn a T-shirt dress into a bold outfit. Wear boot socks that match your T-shirt dress and a pendant necklace to create a statement outfit for the cooler months.^{[17]
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- Pair a T-shirt dress, knee-high boots, and a faux fur coat together to create a loud and contrasting outfit. The faux fur coat and knee-high boots help to offset the casual tone of the T-shirt dress.^{[18]
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3
Slip on sandals with your T-shirt dress for a feminine, summery outfit. Strappy sandals can make a T-shirt dress ready for a day at the beach or outside in the sun. Pick sandals that are a neutral tone so that the T-shirt dress is the focal point of your outfit.^{[19]
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- If you want to dress up your T-shirt dress with sandals, pick sandals that have a small heel. This creates an outfit that is both classy and summery.
4
Wear your T-shirt dress with wedges for a comfortable, dressy outfit. Wedges pair well with a T-shirt dress because they create an outfit that is formal enough to go out in, yet informal enough to still be fun and comfortable. Choose neutral-toned wedges to wear with your T-shirt dress if you want to create a simple, minimalist outfit, or pick bright wedges if you are wanting a statement outfit.
5
Choose to wear stilettos with your T-shirt dress to create an elegant outfit. Wear a solid-color T-shirt dress with white or black stilettos. This outfit is perfect for a night out or a work function.^{[20]
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- To create a formal outfit with stilettos, choose a black, white or grey T-shirt dress rather than striped.

Expert Q&A

Question

What shoes can I wear with a t-shirt dress?

Elle Monus
Image Consultant
Elle Monus is an Image Consultant and the Co-Founder of True Image Group. With over 11 years of fashion industry experience, she specializes in holistic approaches to branding, size-inclusive image consulting, and personal styling. Additionally, Elle has had the opportunity to work on several New York Fashion Week shows and has been featured in multiple media outlets, such as Racked.

Elle Monus

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

There are no rules, really! They work really well with boots and booties. If you want a more casual outfit, pair your t-shirt dress with sneakers. If you want to dress it up a little bit, invest in some heels!