A great way to style your sweater dress for Fall especially in the South is with sneakers! To keep is sleek and chic I recommend going with a classic style in all white. Classic silhouettes are more structured than running shoes creating that sleek vibe. As far as the color white, I recommend white because it’s 1. on trend 2. they go with everything.
HOW TO STYLE A SWEATER DRESS FOR WINTER
An easy way to wear your sweater dresses for Winter is with boots! Regardless of the length of your dress booties, knee height boots and OTK boots are all really cute with sweater dresses. Throw on a full length coat and a hat and you are money honey!
If you want to instantly look chic and like you spent a few more dollars than you actually did I highly recommend wearing a monochromatic look. By wearing the same color head to toe you create a more streamlined look, with every piece being the same color you create a luxe vibe. Something about all one tone elevates any look, hello! Canadian Tuxedos!
SWEATER: I have to be honest, I wore this sweater for 5 minutes to take photos. Literally put it on as we snapped the first photo and took it off the second the last photo was taken.
WHY? First, I took these photos a month ago and it was 80 degrees. Second, I wasn’t sure if I liked it and after I took and saw photos I just didn’t love it.
I bought this sweater with the intent of it being very oversized to wear with these leggings once it gets really cold. It’s one of the looks I want to go-to when the weather is crazy cold. The images online show this sweater as being close to mid thigh length … on the model who’s probably 5’10” at least 5’7″. So, I ordered a size up for ultimate coziness and on my 5’4″ frame it doesn’t even cover my butt sooooo … I returned this and am still on the hunt for an oversized chunky sweater in black.
LEGGINGS: These are the Spanx Leather Leggings. I ordered a size up as recommended and they fit perfect. Keep in mind I was in between sizes when I purchased but as my weight goes down (very slowly) they continue to fit well. LENGTH: I was very surprised to find out after ordering the regular length they were wayyyy too long, I’m talking a few inches (2). I ended up with the PETITE option and I still have a little length. While I am 5’4″ I do have very short legs.
BOOTS: These are old and no longer available. The pair I linked for you guys is a pair I would 100% purchase if I didn’t already have these.
Not to brag but I’ve made some really good purchases this Fall, this dress is right at the top! It’s light weight enough to wear now and will work great layered with coats and boots in the Winter. While I love my neutrals I’m down for a bold color every now and then, this orangy-red color is one of my favorite colors so it was a no brainer. It’s bold yet subtle at the same time.
I say this dress fits TTS if you are between sizes going a size down is a safe bet. The quality of this dress is great for the price point. It’s a Medium weight rib knit. Someone asked if it’s see through at all and my black volleyball shorts that I am wearing underneath says NO!
HOW TO STYLE FOR WINTER
An over the knee boot with midi dresses is very chic, the slit on this dress allows you to show off the boot too! Pair this dress with an OTK boot, long wool overcoat and a wide brim hat for a chic look. If you want a funkier look pair your dress with a lace-up bootie, bomber jacket (or short fur coat!) and a baseball hat, a newsboy style hat is another option.
WHAT I WEAR UNDER DRESSES
I wear volleyball style shorts under all my dresses. I prefer the thick absorbent fabric over typical spanx style shapers. I have a post about how to prevent chub rub that includes a video of me shopping for undershorts and comparing the two styles. That’s HERE!
WHO ELSE HAS BOUGHT A NEW TOP BECAUSE YOU “LOVED IT SO MUCH” THEN MONTHS LATER IT STILL HASN’T BEEN WORN?
We’ve all been there! There has been a time in our life we’ve walked in our closet looking for something to wear only to be reminded of the items we purchased but still haven’t worn, tags still attached and all.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet of one offs that we only have one other item to wear with it, if even that.
When we make impulse purchases we end up with a closet full of clothes yet still have NOTHING to wear. WHY are we like this?!
In 2013, after losing 20lbs, purging 90% of my closet and only having a clothing budget of $150 a month I was in desperate need of a high functioning wardrobe. That is when, why and how I created my #1 shopping rule, The Rule of 5.
I knew in order to still buy quality pieces I loved I was going to have to get creative (and disciplined) and that’s exactly what I did. Every single purchase I made for the following year was well thought out and 100% intentional. I had no room for impulse purchases, the function of my wardrobe couldn’t afford it.
I bet you don’t like throwing your money away, do you?
We all deserve to hit our financial goals (and best wardrobes) and a great starting point is to become more intentional with what we spend our money on.
I want you to be great in everything you do so I wrote a 24 page book to fully share The Rule of 5 with you. There’s even worksheets for you to brainstorm your goal wardrobe!
Just enter your email below for your FREE Rule of 5 guide to get started on your best wardrobe yet!
HAT: I bought this hat randomly 3 years ago at Wal-Mart for $3, they still have it but you have to go in store.
SWEATSHIRT: I swiftly bought this sweatshirt after I saw it on Emily Ann Gemma a month ago. I live in sweats and wanted a neon sweatshirt so it was a purchase no brainer. I’d say it fits TTS but because it is an oversized fit you can size up or down depending on how you want it to hang.
DENIM: Out of all the bottoms I own I get the most questions about this pair. These were an excellent purchase I made 2 years ago from Madewell. I have numerous pairs of jeans from Madewell and highly recommend them, they’re absolutely worth the money. This specific style was only available that Summer but they are a slim boyfriend jean if you want to keep your eye out for future styles or want to look for them on Poshmark.
This is a new knit set but I did not buy it to go with my UGG boots. I made sure it was Rule of 5 able though, okay I didn’t but I knew I’d wear TF out of it and while the high’s haven’t dropped below 89 I have worn it at least 5 times.
TOP: I’d say it fits TTS however, it is very cropped. I’m only 5’4″ and I pulled the top down as much as I can and my pants up as much as I could. lol If you want the top a little longer I recommend sizing up.
BOTTOMS: This is a jogger pant even if they look like leggings on me. Once again, order TTS, if you want them to fit like leggings size down. I’m in the process of losing weight so I ordered a size down (which is my normal TTS) so they’d fit as I lost weight.
STOP judging me!!! Both this hat and dress are new too *face palm* however, neither were purchased to pair with the boots and the dress was Rule of 5’d prior to purchasing.
HAT: I purchased this this season for $12 at H&M, I don’t tend to Rule of 5 seasonal accessories under $15. These are items I buy just to have fun and play with. I don’t go overboard and buy a ton, just a few pieces each season.
DRESS: This dress was something I’ve envisioned for years but I was unable to find one of good quality under $100. I saw this exact one last year but was $75 and that’s just wasn’t where I was at the time. Fast Forward to this July and I found this dress on clearance for $22 at Nordstrom Rack and it’s 100% Rule of 5-able
BOOKBAG: I got this bookbag 2 or 3 years ago from Madewell, it’s a good one. Durable and roomy, I recommend it that’s why I keep it in my arsenal.
Let’s just say I just updated my Fall/Winter wardrobe because everything I’m wearing is new. Every piece I’m wearing here was planned and Rule of 5’d prior to purchasing.
SWEATSHIRT: Last winter I reached for sweatshirts and leggings a few days a week. My #1 tip and trick to wearing sweatshirts and leggings is to buy sweatshirts from the men’s department, sizing up is recommended too. I lived in a white hoodie or black hoodie last year and wanted to update my “collection” with a black crewneck sweatshirt.
LEGGINGS: Last season I started wearing leggings for the first time but only had Adidas leggings. I kept wanting to pair sweaters and sweatshirts with leather leggings but didn’t have any so they were at the top of my Fall list this year. The weather hasn’t even dropped under 90 degrees and I’m already wearing these weekly (inside) so 100% worth it.
DRESS: Ahhhhh what The Rule of 5 is all about! This dress is 3-4 years old when the weather permits I wear it almost every week. It’s hands down one of my favorite and most worn purchases.
One of my first purchases for Fall was this sweater skirt set from H&M. As soon as I saw the skirt it was an immediate add to cart then I searched for a coordinating sweater and within 2 minutes I received an order confirmation email. That may sound impulsive but I imagined this set in my head last Fall but I didn’t find an affordable option so really this was planned. IJS
The skirt is TTS if you are in between sizes I say go a size down. For length reference I’m 5’4″ and my legs are very short, like 2 feet long short
Originally, I bought this sweater in my TTS but I didn’t like the fit so I exchanged it for a size up which is what I’m wearing here. I strongly prefer my sweaters oversized unless it’s a crop length, then I may go for my TTS or even down a size.
WHY I LOVE A SET
Sets are my favorite for 3 reasons …
I love a cohesive monochrome look, they’re always chic and look pulled together.
You don’t have to think about what to wear with it. You already have a matching top to your bottoms, and bottoms to your top.
If 2 fails you, you can break the top and bottom up and style it with other pieces that aren’t the coordinating piece.
HOW TO STYLE FOR COLDER TEMPS
This coordinating sweater set will look super chic this winter with some restyling and layering. I envision it with OTK or knee high boots (tucked under the skirt), a glorious wide rim felt hat and a stunning floor length wool coat.
Can you see it? Did my use of adjectives help you envision the look?
