How to style up a shirt dress

[SewingBees]

I should say that I'm not a particularly stylish person - I live in jeans basically - so I'm not knowledgeable about fashion. I am however good at knowing what suits my body shape.

In the past two years, due to health issues, my body shape has changed from a curvy hourglass to just curvy (though I am very tall). I also have short hair (thanks chemo). I'm going to a wedding in a few months time and the types of dresses I used to wear don't really suit me any more because I no longer have a defined waist. The thing I dislike most is my very rounded shoulders which used to be hidden under my thick long hair.

I'm thinking that a collared shirt dress would help hide the shoulder issue, as well as being long and slimming. But is it possible to 'dress up' a shirt dress to make it suitable for a wedding?

I could make it myself - I'm a good dressmaker - so could choose 'occasion' fabric.

Tips please from those far more stylish than me!

I would look to Bombshell and Dancing Leopard for inspiration on cut/fabric.

A hatinator or decorative headband, clutch bag and heeled sandals you can walk in.

And this is why I love mumsnet! Just looked up bombshell (a new name for me) and immediately found this www.bombshellhq.com/collections/wedding-guest-dresses/products/gold-gracetie-front-shirt-dress. I can definitely replicate that in non-bridal colours. You've given me hope and inspiration, thank you.

If you can sew, have a look at the I Am Patterns Irma shirt dress. I think that would give you the definition you need around the shoulders, but is an interesting shape and could be quite dressy for a wedding 🙂
Making shirt dresses is my thing!

Thanks @kiitos. I used that website to look at shirt dress patterns. Thanks to my ginormous boobs I don't suit high necklines, but I've ordered a simplicity style which I can add long sleeves to and possibly do as a colour block design.

Any hot tips for sewing shirt dresses? I've made shirts in the past but quite a long time ago as I don't often have the patience for more fiddly projects.

@SewingBees my main tip is to use a walking foot on your machine if you don’t already! It’s a game changer for plackets and collars etc 😊

Shoulder pads to help give you more definition. You can get them in haberdashers to put in the dress you make or buy

Watch Trinny Woodhall's YouTube channel in dressing your body shape - she has some really good advice (forget what she was like on that tv programme ages ago)

I would also take your time over the placket - cut the pieces out v carefully and use a good pen (frixxion pens come off with heat) to mark the stitching lines
Then fold and press before you sew to make sure the plackets are even

You could then do hidden buttons (buttons on the inside of the placket and buttonholes underneath - which could look smarter:cleaner if you have a plain fabric

Or go for a printed Challis fabric?

You can definitely style up a shirt dress! Especially if you’re going to make it so can go for a more drapey or interesting fabric than the standard ‘office shirt’ style. Depending on exactly when the wedding is (and what colour/material you go with) I’d probably go with raffia/straw accessories (similar to Meghan Markle’s look here) or a bolder, contrasting jewel coloured headband with metallic sandles.

One thing I would say (as somebody with a large bust and rounded shoulders) is that I personally find that a shirt dress emphasises that - but maybe being able to tailor it directly to you would fix that? Especially if there’s a harsh collar and pockets etc - something about the straight lines all over my bust makes my shoulders look even rounder. I think simpler or less structured styles round the bust work best.

A gorgeous belt and shoes will style up a shirt dress. I’d also wear big earrings and no necklace for a wedding