Fall Trend Report: How to Style a Sweater Dress

The sweater dress is a fall classic every year. But this year, the slinky sweater dress also has hot-trend status.

That's great news for two big reasons. One, you can retrieve any knit dresses from the back of your closet and wear them again confidently.

And, two, if you need something new to work this trend, you have many styles available: minis, midis, maxis, belted, sweatshirt-style, v-neck, sleek, oversized, and more. You’re sure to find some that flatter.

Below is your guide to styling a sweater dress and plus 3 outfit ideas

How to style a sweater dress

No matter the occasion, there are four guidelines to follow when styling a sweater dress.

1: Choose the right size and fit

I’ll just say it: Knit dresses that are too tight look trashy. And, knit dresses that are too loose look bulky. So, this is a garment that demands you wear the right size and fit.

The right fit skims your curves, without stretching or pulling. If the dress hangs around you with little contact anywhere but your shoulders, it’s either too big or an unflattering shape. You can possibly fix shape with a belt, but don’t bother trying to alter a sweater dress that’s too big.

You can spot a sweater dress that’s too small by comparing the dress’s color and weave around your curvy spots. If you can see your bra beneath the drss or the color looks lighter around your chest or hips, that dress is too tight. Get a bigger size or opt for a different style.

2: Pay attention to knit quality and weight.

You know we love bargains, but we don’t advise going cheap on sweater dress. Part of the appeal of this dress style is its luxuriously soft look and feel. A poorly made dress, at best, doesn’t have that luxury vibe. At worst, the knit is thin enough to look sheer when you step under a streetlight at night. Low-quality sweater dress are also more likely to snag or fade in the wash.

3: Plan what you’ll wear under a sweater dress.

Lots of women want to know: What do you wear under a sweater dress? As long as the dress isn’t see-through, you can:

• Wear seamless panties and t-shirt bra to minimize lines and lumps.

• For the sleekest outline, opt for shapewear if you’re into that.

• If it’s cold outside, add tights or leggings.

On your off days

You can also wear a sweater dress on your off days - when you have no one to intimidate in the office or impress on a first date. To cruise around, in simple comfort and in style, team your sweater dress with sneaker and a denim jacket.

Sweater dress style for work

When you’re building stylish sweater dress outfits for work, keep these strategies in mind.

1: Avoid v-necks and short hemlines.

The best sweater dresses for work have conservative necklines and hemlines. A mock turtleneck sweater dress works well, because it’s not too hot or too racy. You could also choose a modest boat neckline that lets your collar bones peek out.

As for the length, stick with knee-length or longer. If you work in a conservative office, you might even limit yourself to midi dresses or maxi dresses.

2: Add a blazer and lightweight scarf.

A softshell blazer looks amazing over a knit dress, especially when the dress has long sleeves. You can push up the sleeves of the blazer to let the sweater arms poke through. If your work environment is more creative, you could swap out the blazer for a long cardigan. Yes, you can double up on your knits!

A pretty lightweight scarf is also a nice complement to a sweater dress. The scarf adds visual interest and softens the impact of your all-over knit.

3: Try layering under

Depending on the shape and neckline of the dress, you might add a collared shirt underneath. This can be a very smart look, perfect for the office.