How to Wear a Shift Dress
Published September 22nd 2022
These days, shift dresses are all the rage, and you probably hear about them from everyone. But what exactly constitutes a shift dress – and how do you pair one with the rest of your stuff?
Don’t worry – we’ll get into all of it right here. After all, shift dresses are a great go-to piece for both work and play. Their comfortable, loose fit makes shift dresses an easy choice for all kinds of daily activities. And they’re also relatively easy to “class up” if you plan on going out in one.
So, we’ll get into all the different ways you can wear a shift dress – while also touching upon the exciting history of this stylish clothing piece. Read on, and find out how you can make this your next wardrobe staple regardless of your style, body type, or the current season!
Shift Dress 101
Before digging in deeper, what kind of dress is a shift dress anyway? Well, we’d say its defining trait is a pretty loose fit. That’s also one of the reasons why these dresses are alternatively referred to as “hanging dresses.” Most of them fall on your body without additional support. They’re cut to fall just above your knee; in most cases, the neck is a boat neck or a scoop neck.
Generally speaking, any garments with straight lines are considered “shift-style,” – meaning no seams or darts across the waistlines.
As you may know, different sleeveless shirt dresses have been popular for centuries – particularly gaining steam in North America during the Roaring Twenties. However, the legendary Coco Chanel designed the modern version of a shift dress.
In 1954, she decided that corseted dresses were the uncomfortable nightmare that they are and tried to design something better. Naturally, her superior design was an instant hit. The original shift dress spread throughout Europe like wildfire and quickly made its way to America – remaining popular on both continents to this very day.
The Origin Of The Name
So, considering all of the above – why do we call it a shift dress? Different explanations have popped up throughout the years, but most fashion historians (yes, it’s a real job) agree that the name simply stems from the fact that you can easily move in these dresses. Or, in other words: shift!
Also, don’t confuse sheath dresses with their shift counterparts – you can see how easy it is to make such a mistake, especially in conversation. However, a shift dress is supposed to hang from your shoulders – conversely, sheath dresses tend to have waists with darts. Yes, they’re more form-fitting and body-conscious because they’re designed to be.
How Do I Wear My Shift Dresses?
Now that we’ve gone over all the theoretical basics of shift dresses – let’s see how you can actually pair one of them with the rest of your wardrobe.
One of the most significant contributing factors to shift dress popularity is that it’s an easy choice for pretty much any occasion – including semi-formal office wear! You don’t have much to do here; even if you don’t add anything special to the shift dress beyond a nice belt, it’ll be chic and professional. A pair of pumps will do just fine too.
Also, in the winter or fall months, adding a blazer for some much-needed warmth is a great idea; the fact that it elevates your outfit’s professional vibe is a nice plus.
Of course, shift dresses aren’t just an excellent choice for your work apparel. They’re equally easy to pair for your next night out – especially if you’ve got a fun pair of shoes or a jacket, along with some statement jewelry.
On the other hand, shift dresses will do just fine if you want a casual look too – they’re incredibly easy to dress down with a pair of sandals or flats, along with a couple of your favorite casual accessories that bring your look to a new level of relaxation. Also, if the weather is freezing, you can always add a sweatshirt as an additional layer.
Naturally, the most logical time to wear a shift dress on any occasion is summertime – and how you’ll do that depends mainly on the particular style of the dress in question. For instance, a linen or cotton shift dress is ideal for summer. Both are easily pairable with ballet flats, strappy sandals, or a more urban choice like white sneakers.
If you’re thinking of going to the beach, make sure your dress of choice is made of a reasonably swimsuit-friendly material – chiffon or cotton voile come to mind. And that’s pretty much all the thinking you need to do! Get your nearest pair of flip-flops, and voila - you’ve got everything you need for a beach day!