Something I tend to personally overlook in my closet, are my dresses. I’m a fairly casual person, and I always gravitate towards my denim. But dresses are so comfortable, and can easily be dressed down for a casual and cool look too. They don’t have to be just for fancy occasions. Dresses can be for everyday wear. And you can even take your favorite dressier options and dress them down with a few essential styling tips and tricks.
I’m on a mission to wear more dresses for the comfort and ease of them, yet still feeling cool and casual, today’s post is all about how to dress down a dress and make it look more casual.
Style Tips To Dress Down A Dress
When dressing down your favorite dresses, one of the key things to think about are shoe choices. I think this can really be the area where you can go totally wrong. I like to think of dressing down a dress on a sliding scale. If your thinking about a scale of 1-10 on how dressy a dress is, you can really only move it a few notches down on the dressiness scale. One being the least dressy, 10 being super dressy.
If we’re starting with a formal dress, that’s a 10, so we will probably never get it down to 1. But we can maybe swap some items and add in some accessories that get it to a 5. Some dresses in your closet will be more versatile than others. And that’s also why I like to invest in versatile dresses that can really go both ways, dressy or super casual.
I wouldn’t pair a sneaker with a bridesmaid dress, that’s no way to dress down a bridesmaid dress. But you can probably wear a sneaker with a cocktail dress. For those dressier options, try something that’s still on the nicer side, but casual. Think ballet flat, loafer or a Chelsea boot. Not every dress is going to work with a sneaker. But it’s possible most will.
When in doubt, try a nicer shoe that’s still cool and casual.
But just feels like a level up from your favorite sneaker. If you’re going the sneaker route, we want to keep a couple of things in mind, and that’s choosing a fashion sneaker, and not your favorite running shoes.
A pop of color like a red Adidas Samba or suede fashion sneaker, or cool high-top can really make a dress feel cool and casual at the same time. Let’s leave the Hoka running shoes in the closet for this one.
How To Dress Down A Little Black Dress And How To Dress Down A Cocktail Dress
Slip Dresses With Chelsea Boots And Blazer Dresses With Loafers
Little black dresses come in all different styles. From slip dresses, to blazer dresses, or maxi dresses and really everything in-between. As you can see, these are both quite dressy dresses. One is a satin slip dress, the other a blazer dress. Instead of throwing on a sneaker, a chunky loafer with a cute sock is perfect to dress down the dress. Or a lug sole Chelsea boot which feels fashion forward and cool.
Adding layers like a blazer or socks, can really add some interest and help to break down the dressiness and make the outfit feel more cohesive. This is also a great way to dress down pieces so you can have more casual work outfits with your dresses. Perfect for business casual.
How To Dress Down A Shirt Dress
Shirt Dresses With Converse And Effortless Layers
Shirt dresses are so easy to dress down and make you feel instantly pulled together. I like to do a sneaker with them or cut sandal. And you can have some fun with layers. Add a sweater over your shoulders, or a trench coat. Here’s how to style a shirt dress a few different ways to find even more inspiration.
How To Dress Down A Lace Dress
Satin And Lace Dress With A Denim Jacket And Sandals
While I probably wouldn’t take a full head to toe lace dress and dress it down, if you do have a slip dress with some lace detailing, I think it’s just enough to dress down. I like to add a denim jacket, or any casual third piece, and a simple sandal. A coordinating bag pulls it all together too.
How To Dress Down A Floral Dress
Floral Dresses With A Boot Or Sneaker For Fall And Winter
Floral dresses are a great piece to have year round. Some work for fall and winter, others for spring and summer. You can see here how I like to dress them down with cool and comfortable shoe choices and everyday bags. In the fall and winter try a combat boot to dress down your dresses. Or a sneaker. A flat knee high boot is also a great way to instantly dress down a fancier piece.
Floral Dresses With A Converse Or Simple Sandal For Spring And Summer
For spring and summer I’m all about a Converse or sandal. You can do this with a lot of your favorite floral cocktail dresses too. Add a casual belt to add something else to the look that dresses it down even more while keeping things interesting.
How To Dress Down A Tweed Dress
Tweed Dress With Loafers And A Cropped Jacket
A tweed dress feels like a really nice dress to wear. It’s a staple in fall and winter and can feel dressy and really polished. I like to swap out a nice heel or knee high high heeled boot with a cool casual shoe like a loafer or Mary Jane. Add an edgy jacket and everyday bag and you are good to go.
How to Dress Down A Formal Dress
Formal Dress With A Leather Jacket
When it comes to dressing down a formal dress, I want to emphasize that you should NOT dress it down all the way to the ultimate level of casualness. Formal dresses can only be dressed down so much and that’s fine. And it’s really a matter of taking it out of its formal event vibe, and into a cooler one.
One of the best ways to do that is to add a very cool and edgy third piece. Add a leather jacket, or bomber jacket, something with edge and a serious cool factor to it. Maybe even a fringe leather jacket or something with lots of buckles and edge. You can swap out your satin shoes or rhinestone strappy heels for something a bit cooler like a black heel or even a pointed toe boot.
The same rules apply here when thinking about how to dress down a bridesmaid dress o rhow to dress down a sequin dress. You can really only go so far with how much you can dress it down. If you’re starting at a 10 on the dressiness scale, you can’t always get down to a 1. But you can take a few notches off with adding edgy and casual pieces in the right way.
SHOP THE POST
There’s no reason to put those dresses away for only the special occasions you have happening in your life. Take them out and get some new use out of them for a cool off-duty look. Try adding different shoe options to see what balances it out, and add third pieces to pull it all together.
Keep in mind that adding just one casual item can sometimes not be enough to balance it out. Try a shoe, plus a jacket or layer, and a bag that works with the look to help make your outfit feel intentionally dressed down and not like you mindlessly threw on a pair of sneakers.
