Have you ever put on a dress and thought, “Is this cute or do I look like I just rolled out of bed?” 😂 That was exactly my reaction when I tried on this blue and white striped shirt dress. At first glance, I wasn’t quite sure it was a keeper… but after playing around with a few styling tricks, I just might be convinced to keep it. Let’s dive into what I loved, what I didn’t, and all the fun ways I found to make it work!
First Impressions: Like or Return?
The moment I slipped it on, I had mixed feelings. It was so comfortable and breezy—perfect for hot summer days in Italy. But…I couldn’t shake the thought that I looked like I might be heading to bed, not out on the town!
Let’s break it down:
What I LOVED:
- The lightweight, breathable fabric
- The soft feel—super comfy!
- Button-down front (so versatile!)
- The flattering length
- The cute collar and flowy silhouette
What I Didn’t Love:
- The drop shoulder made my already broad shoulders look even broader.
- It kind of screamed “nightshirt” at first glance.
But since I adored almost everything else about it, I decided to play dress-up and see if I could style it to flatter my shape and personality.
Trick #1: Draw the Eye Down with a Long Necklace
One of the easiest ways to balance out broader shoulders? A long necklace! It draws the eye down and creates a nice vertical line that elongates the body. I threw on a simple silver pendant and instantly felt more “put together.”
Trick #2: Tie a Denim Jacket Around the Shoulders of my blue and white shirt dress
A genius way to “break up” all that striped fabric across the chest and sleeves is to tie a denim jacket or a lightweight sweater around your shoulders. It softens the shoulder area and adds a cute, layered detail. You could also use a solid-colored sweatshirt—whatever gives you that casual-chic vibe.
Trick #3: Add Structure with a Cropped Jacket
Here’s where this dress really shines! I paired it with my fitted cropped denim jacket and wow—it made such a difference. Suddenly I had shape, structure, and style! It emphasized the waist, toned down the stripes, and gave me just enough polish to make it look like a true outfit, not sleepwear.
If you have followed me for any length of time you know that I love to wear a denim jacket. I styled it denim on denim here and with a flowy v-neck blouse here.
Daytime Look: Market Stroll Chic
I wore this look with my comfy white New Balance sneakers and a straw bag (or a crossbody works too!) and felt totally cute and casual—ideal for a warm day shopping the open-air markets in Italy or strolling around town with my grandkids.
Evening Look: From Casual to Polished in my blue and white striped shirt dress
When it was time for dinner, I swapped out the sneakers for some square-heeled ankle strap sandals and added a little straw bag. It instantly transformed the look! A simple shoe change made the whole outfit feel more feminine and sophisticated.
Here is another fun outfit with wide leg cropped pants and my denim jacket
Bonus Look: Worn Open Like a Duster
Another fun idea? Wear the dress open like a duster over a white tee and white or blue jeans. Just leave it unbuttoned and let it flow! This creates a long, lean line and adds a bit of flair to a basic outfit. Perfect for travel days when you need layers!
One More Reason to Love It: A Stylish Swim Cover-Up!
Let’s not forget this dress is also the perfect bathing suit cover-up! Toss it over your suit, add sandals and sunnies, and you’re beach or poolside ready. It’s like having multiple outfits in one, which is gold when packing light for summer getaways.
I will have to get a photo of it with my new red swim suit once it warms up!
Final Verdict: Keeper or Return this blue and white shirt dress?
Even though the shoulder detail isn’t my favorite, this dress totally won me over with its versatility and comfort. Plus—it’s under $30! 💙 That price point, paired with all the ways I can wear it, makes it a total keeper in my book.
But I’d love to hear from YOU—
What do you think? Would you keep it or return it?
Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram! I always love hearing your thoughts and how you’d style this look!
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I love your styles. I am 73, and am bit tired of seeing styling only for 19 year olds! I do admit though, I likely don’t fall into the fashionista stages anymore. Once quitting work, well, it seems too much trouble to get too dolled up. But I love your panache!
Arlene, I think classic fashion is always appropriate. I feel better when I put forth a little effort don’t you? I am home quite a bit these days myself and I do tend to be more casual but when I do wear even a simple outfit and a pair of earrings I feel ready for the day and can get out and about faster. Thanks so much for your lovely comments it means so much to me.
Hugs,
Karin
Keep the dress; you probably wear it a lot this summer. I have something similar and just love it.
Thank you Mieke! I decided to keep it and will continue to style it in fun ways. Thank you for sharing your opinion that means a lot. What color is yours and how do you wear it?]
Karin
You are sooo cute! I never would have thought of purchasing the striped oversized dress, but I love your styling ideas! I’m getting the pink one!
Hi Dawn! I know… this dress is surprisingly super cute styled in fun ways. Let me know how you like it! I think I need a pink one too!
Hugs,
Karin