How to dress up a plain outfit

[nofashionflair]

Most of my clothes are basics - black or navy, plain trousers, t-shirts, crew neck jumpers, a few plain dresses. I often see reviews of clothes where it will say something like "perfect shift dress, can be worn with trainers for casual or dressed up for a party" and I honestly have no idea what they mean by 'dressed up' other than smarter shoes, not trainers. I'm not really bothered about my clothes looking boring, but am just curious to know how would you dress up a plain navy dress or plain black trousers and black t shirt? What would you add - scarf? Jewellery?

I think jewellery, yes. And 10 years ago I'd have said heels, but maybe not now.
Also make-up.

When a dress is advertised that way it means it's a weird compromise of a garment that is too overdressed for casual and not nice enough to have made an effort IMHO. I don't think any amount of statement jewelery disguises the fact you're wearing your work clothes on a night out.

I was thinking more of what happy buyers write in their reviews. Something like this dress from Toast https://www.toa.st/products/lydia-jersey-shift-dress-washed-black someone has put "Simple design, can dress up or down." My life is pretty casual, no dress code for work and I don't go anywhere fancy, so I'd wear something like this for everything from supermarket to work to a meal with friends. But I'd just wear the dress and either trainers or flat sandals, so I'm wondering what dressing it up would involve? I don't see anyone e.g. on my tube journeys to work, who I'd say had 'dressed up' their outfit, but I see lots of comments like the one about the Toast dress.

Accessories and shoes can make an outfit more casual or elevate it to being less basic.

Different jewellery, different style of shoe, different bag, different cardigan/jacket/scarf, different hair style, different make up...

This When a dress is advertised that way it means it's a weird compromise of a garment that is too overdressed for casual and not nice enough to have made an effort is simply not true - classic items are classic items and they can be extremely versatile.

That toast dress looks like a carrier bag! No idea how you could accessorise that to look remotely glamorous.

I have a few shift dresses which if you added a statement necklace and had hair up, heels and make up would work for a cocktail party but with less OTT accessories or none at all would be fine for the average day in the office. Not sure any of them would be hang out on the beach wearing trainers level of causalness though

They mean grooming, accessories, attitude.

So with the Toast dress: maybe you’ve been to the hairdressers or at the least taken more time with your hair. Used all your beauty products. Perfume. Thought about your choice of jewellery. Added a brooch or belt or whatever. Worn the shoes you rarely wear. And your most treasured bag. Left the house / office hoping people will notice you look … extra.

That makes sense @wildfirewonder that it's things that are different for an individual person. I was thinking of big colourful necklaces or strappy heels or fancy scarves, which I hardly ever see anyone wearing, but I probably do 'dress things up' in that I sometimes wear a bit of makeup or take a nicer bag than my work backpack.

They mean grooming, accessories, attitude

That toast dress looks like a carrier bag! No idea how you could accessorise that to look remotely glamorous

Ha, I think this is why I had no idea! The carrier bag look is probably what I aim for 😂and I don't have any treasured bags or statement anything or perfume. I think it must be a lifestyle thing and my lifestyle and workplace are very casual, so maybe dressing up an outfit is not for me! 😂

Thanks for the answers. I'm autistic so stuff like this sometimes puzzles me. I'll do a bit more careful people watching when I'm commuting next week.

Bear in mind none of these things are compulsory! Some people would wear the dress in exactly the same way to Tesco or a wedding reception - and no one would think anything of it. If that’s your style, do that.

It’s hard to tell how it’d look without trying it all on together but I’d dress up that toast dress with a belt, either black leather or metallic and smarter sandals, maybe with a block heel or a bit of a platform or metallic. And a layered necklace or slightly dangly earrings (not both). And a smarter/dressier bag. Actually you’d probably only need one or two of those accessories to make it look dressier.

so for example, depending on how smart, some combination of…
belt (but worn on waist) or belt
sandals or sandals
necklace
earrings
bag

I have a couple of patterned kimono jackets which instantly cheer up a dark dress/jumpsuit or black trousers / jeans and top

I have very plain clothes. I like plain. Though I wouldn't pay that price for that dress.

I add unusual jewellery, bright coloured sandals or bags, occ scarves, or a bright coat on top.

I don't think that particular Toast dress would be dress-uppable.

It's cotton jersey and has visible buttons. It's not a 'classic' LBD that could be dressed up to go virtually anywhere.

I'd wear it to a casual restaurant, maybe with a slouchy jacket over it, or even a denim jacket, and flats. But I don't think it would take me anywhere more upscale.

I have a lot of plain clothes too, but everything tends to be more classic (some would say boring and maybe they're right, up to a point) than that dress.

It’s not a dress I’d actively choose, (Toast is far too keen on the ‘Made in China’ tag these days, though they’re perhaps just more honest than other brands ) but if I found myself with no other dress and a last minute event I’d have no trouble dressing it up.

With a well cut white cotton shirt underneath, perhaps a tie, a great leather belt and boots … Maybe a big tweed jacket.

Or a diaphanous bright pink silk shirt with balloon sleeves, chain belt, embroidered velvet mules / Mary Jane shoes. Plus a silk or velvet bomber jacket.

It’s not so different to the sort of plain, versatile dress one might buy from Rick Owens, say - just less extreme.

@nofashionflair
I understand you. My life is very similar to yours - I also wear simple clothing, have a casual work environment and my social life is most definitely around pub dining rather than glamorous parties . For me, if I was wearing that dress for an evening out, I would wear silver jewellery and a metallic cross body bag . If I was going really posh I would wear fancy sandals too. If I was going shopping I would just stick on trainers and a jacket/cardigan . For work it would be a plain colour bag and sandals plus a cardigan to cover my arms/back and for keeping warm with the office aircon .

Definitely I'm more like @ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea than @Aixellency - I can't imagine being able to carry off the pink shirt, bomber jacket, etc, or my friends not laughing at me! But anyway, I'm finding this all an interesting insight into different attitudes to clothes and the different lives and social circles that must influence them.