A shirt dress is a perfect way to be comfortable while still looking cute and flirty. It’s a step down from a fancy, ruffled skirt, but a step up from your everyday t-shirt. With a shirt dress, you can take your day head-on with a touch of style – and with little to no effort.
The most significant question mark that lies with a shirt dress outfit, however, is the question of what shoes to wear with it. The shoes you choose can have a considerable impact on your outfit, so it’s essential to get it right.
Today, we’re going to look at what shoes to wear with a shirt dress. There are many answers to this simple question, so let’s get started.
What Shoes to Wear with a Shirt Dress
One of the greatest things about a shirt dress is that you can dress it up or dress it down, depending on what your style goal for the day is.
If you want to make your shirt dress look a little classier and more formal, you can add some jewelry and a pair of high heels. But, if you’re looking to keep things casual and simple, you can pick a more straightforward style of shoe.
The options are endless, so let’s get into the specifics of what shoes you can wear.
White Sneakers
The most casual you can get away with when wearing a shirt dress is a white sneaker. I’m not talking about athletic sneakers here like your Nikes or Skechers. The best option to go with here is a pair of white canvas sneakers, like Converse.
White canvas sneakers are comfortable and casual – in fact, many people even wear their canvas sneakers to play in their community softball league or lift weights at the gym. While those probably aren’t on your schedule for the day that you’re wearing your shirt dress, it is nice to know that these shoes are versatile and work with several different outfits and styles.
When paired with a shirt dress, white sneakers let you be comfortable but still girly and flirty. They would be perfect for a picnic in the park or a day spent wandering around the city with your girlfriends.
White sneakers are also very functional. If you know you’re going to be on your feet a lot for the day, but you still want to look attractive, they make an excellent solution. A dress with high heels might leave you looking fabulous for a day of apple picking and winery tours, but your feet probably won’t be happy with your choice.
Pair your shirt dress with the whitest canvas sneakers you can find for a clean, cute, and semi-casual look.
Ballet Flats
Ballet flats are shoes that every woman should have in their closet. While they come in several different colors, materials, and styles, they serve as a wardrobe staple and a go-to shoe in many varied situations.
These shoes are fabulous because they let you look professional, adorable, and beautiful without the discomfort and drama of a heel. Many ballet flats are designed to be fashionable, but they give you the added element of comfort that other fashion-forward shoes may not.
Like the white canvas sneakers that we talked about before, your ballet flats give you the ability to walk endless hours for a day full of fun and activities. Their flat bottoms give your feet a break from high heels and exaggerated arches.
However, unlike the canvas sneakers, ballet flats are made to be a little more formal, adding a touch of girly fashion where canvas sneakers can be sportier.
If your ideal outfit for the day includes both style and comfort, then you can’t go wrong with a simple ballet flat. Your simple dress will take on a serious upgrade with an elegant and well-designed shoe such as the flat, so it’s the perfect option.
Plus, if you’re going with a plain-style shirt dress, then you can toy around with different colors and patterns on your ballet flats for some pop and flare.
Read Also: What Boots to Wear with Dresses
Sandals
Sandals sort of fall in the same category as ballet flats, in that they are super comfortable but still cute and girly for an adorable outfit. The difference is, sandals are perfect for the summertime. Although you can definitely rock a shirt dress in the early spring or fall with a chic jacket on top, they are excellent choices for the warm summer months when you want to show off those tan legs.
It’s pretty standard for ladies to also keep their feet and toes free during the summer, hence the intensive popularity of sandals and flip flops. When it’s time to enjoy the warmth and sun, kick off those closed-toed shoes and opt for a flirty pair of cute sandals.
You can find sandals in so many different colors and patterns these days. From the standard rubber flip flop to strappy leather sandals, there are so many options. Play around with different designs and materials to find the perfect sandal to complement your shirt dress.
You can even branch out to shoes like gladiator sandals, which involve tons of straps from your toes to your calves.
Wedges
When it comes to a shirt dress, it’s relatively easy to turn it from an elongated shirt into a flirty masterpiece. While sandals and ballet flats can certainly accomplish this task, most of us can agree that there’s nothing flirtier than an adorable pair of wedges.
Wedges give you the height of a stiletto without the discomfort and lack of balance. It’s an intelligent way accentuate your legs in a more subtle approach, adding a couple of inches to your overall height with more innocence and less sexiness.
Think of a wedge as an upgraded sandal. They’re perfect for the spring and the summer, they show off your perfectly done pedicure, and they come in a fantastic range of styles, patterns, and materials. Whether you prefer a classic solid white or a floral design, you can pair your wedges with your shirt dress for a rock star look.
Chunky Heels
You may not think that heels are the most appropriate solution for a shirt dress – after all, heels say classy, fancy, or professional, and a shirt dress says cute and comfortable. However, the right kind of heel can certainly do the trick.
Rather than reaching for your sexiest pair of sky-high stiletto heels, go for a chunkier heel. The full size of the heel will lessen the effect of the shoe, making it appear more casual and less formal. While a thin heel is construed as sexy, a chunkier heel is fun and functional.
Consider a heeled mule to complete your shirt dress look.
Booties
Booties are a trendy type of women’s shoes. They’re adorable and comfortable to wear with so many different outfits, from jeans to skirts and dresses.
Booties are also functional across all seasons. You can rock them in the winter, or you can sport them during the spring. Whatever the season, you can always pair them with a shirt dress.
You can also find booties in a wedge-style heel or a chunky heel, so the options here are pretty much endless. Booties can be slip-on, zippered, or laced up for additional style options. You’re sure to steal the show with your well put together outfit when you match it with this shoe.
Cowboy Boots
Cowboy boots are an unexpected yet certainly pleasant surprise, delivering sensible and adorable taste in fashion with a look that not many people are bold enough to sport. Whether you consider yourself a southern girl or not, you can totally rock a pair of these boots with a shirt dress.
If you want to add a flirty touch to your shirt dress, try this country-style option and mix it up a bit. It might not be everyone’s first choice, but cowboy boots are guaranteed to capture everyone’s attention.
Women’s cowboy boots have a bit of a heel, so you’ll get the effect of some added height with an emphasis on your calf muscles. Plus, cowboy boots are known to be pretty comfortable, which is always a great bonus to any outfit.
Finally, cowboy boots come in so many different fun colors and designs. You can go with a classic brown boot, or find a pair that adds a touch of color, sequins, and swirls. Go for a bold pair of white cowboy boots to wear with a light blue shirt dress, and everyone will think you’re the cutest cowgirl on the town.
Read Also: What Shoes to Wear with a Denim Dress
Other Accessories
There are different ways to dress up a shirt dress besides your footwear. Various accessories can really liven up a plain shirt dress, transforming it from a piece of clothing to a whole new outfit.
After you have decided what shoes will vamp up your style and help you achieve the look you desire, you can dive into some of these accessory choices that will take your outfit to the next level.
Jackets
When you’re trying to boost your look in a shirt dress, one of the easiest things you can do is add a coat. Jackets add another layer to your outfit, giving it dimension and further appeal. While a shirt dress on its own may appear casual and bland, a jacket adds depth and style.
Nothing looks cuter or goes better with almost everything than a denim jacket. Denim will always be classic material, so you can’t go wrong when you choose to add it to an outfit. Try layering a short denim jacket over a light-colored shirt dress.
From there, you can add a cute wedge, a flirty cowboy boot, or a ballet flat to really pull the whole outfit together and tie it all up in one neat, fashionable outfit.
Along the same lines, you can also try adding a sweater or a cardigan on top of your shirt dress. Some pullover sweaters can achieve a look similar to a skirt and a sweater, but cardigans take the cake on this vote.
Find a comfy cardigan that complements the color of your dress. If you’re going for a sweet, demure look, you can try a white cardigan over a pale-colored shirt dress. Open cardigans and those with buttons both work. Try one that incorporates various lengths for a layering effect. You can wear a cardigan that stops at your waist, or you can try one that extends to floor length.
There’s a lot of room for playing around when it comes to cardigans, so don’t be afraid to branch out and try something you’ve never worn before.
Finally, you can also work with a wrap to add a little extra flair to your shirt dress. Wraps are similar to cardigans, but you can do more with them to switch up their style and create a new look.
Jewelry
When it comes to accessorizing, jewelry is an absolute must. Jewelry is an extensive term, as it includes things like necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, watches, anklets, and more. In fact, there’s so much jewelry in this world in various colors, styles, materials, and cultures that it can be quite overwhelming to think about.
Luckily, because shirt dresses are so simple, it makes picking jewelry less stressful.
One of the best pieces of jewelry to complement a shirt dress is a long, dangly necklace. Choose a necklace that hangs below your chest. You can pick one that has some kind of pendant, like a heart or a feather.
You can also go with a layered necklace or one that has several necklaces attached at different lengths. The shorts length should lay nicely at the base of your neck, while the longest length will extend beyond your chest. The various layers create an eye-catching effect without looking gaudy or bulky.
Of course, you can always keep your necklace simple. Something dainty, shiny, and sparkly always adds a nice extra touch without reaching over the top.
Don’t be afraid to play it up with bracelets and earrings, either. Because your shirt dress is simple, you have the option to keep the whole outfit simple or to play up the whole thing with all of your jewelry. Try some fun colors and different designs, like feather earrings or a chunky, bright-colored bracelet.
Whatever you do, make sure that your colors complement each other. Rose gold jewelry would look fantastic with a pink shirt dress, while silver is sure to be a lovely addition to a blue shirt dress. Try everything on and then try something else; you’ll never know how it looks until you wear it.
Hats
Hats and shirt dresses: it’s almost as if the two were made for each other. In most cases, we’re not talking about baseball caps here. Instead, we’re referring to hats like fedoras, boaters, and sun hats.
One of the favorites for the looks we’ve been constructing is the sun hat. Sun hats are often made of straw, or a synthetic material resembling straw. They cover your head and then some with their wide brims. Sometimes they are left unadorned, while other times, you can find them with a fun strip of fabric around the cap.
Sun hats look absolutely adorable with shirt dress – and other dresses, for that matter. While you may see people boasting them while reclining at the beach, they are also great for summer and spring outings and sunny days.
Fedoras and boaters are also great ways to add a creative and fashionable touch to your shirt dress. They deliver the same uniqueness as a sun hat while taking up less space. Even if you’re not a hat person, you should consider giving it a try. You might surprise yourself – and your friends.
Purses
What woman doesn’t own at least one bag? If you’re lucky, you have enough space to store more than one. From large handbags to small clutches, purses offer a functional aspect to outfits in that they hold our most prized and personal possessions.
However, purses are far from being simply functional. Purses have long become an accessory in the fashion industry. It’s not enough that they hold our belongings; we want them to look nice and, if possible, match our outfits.
The most practical and popular way to choose a purse is to match it to your shoes. I.e., if you are wearing black shoes, then you should use a black purse. In this instance, the choice is casual and classic. But you can also make a statement with this formula.
If you’re wearing a white shirt dress, try adding a pair of light blue shoes. Then, you can find yourself a purse in that same shade of blue to carry along with your outfit. Not only does adding the purse give your outfit just one more accessory, but the colors will really pop against your casual and comfortable shirt dress.
Experiment with different sized purses and color combinations to find the perfect match.
Shirt dresses are fabulous pieces of clothing. They can take you from casual to fashionable with just a few nips and tucks, and just like that, you’re ready for any occasion. Don’t underestimate the power of a quality shirt dress.