Shirting The Issue

With plaid and ripped denim being big trends right now, it's clear that the 1990's grunge look is back in a big way. What else would fit in with the grunge trend? How about shirt dresses? A shirt dress is a button-down dress that will often have a collar, cuffed sleeves, and/or pockets as well. A lot of the styles of shirt dresses I've seen have a plaid or vertical stripe pattern. The more girly styles may have a polka dot print or other feminine details like ruffles. I've also found some shirt dresses with more modified details such cinching at the waist (to help define the waistline). I even managed to dig up some sleeveless shirt dresses that you can layer or wear on a warmer day. I like this trend because it is the perfect mix of femininity and menswear-inspired details. Plus, I love any throwback to the 90's since that's where all my childhood memories are. If you think this trend sounds like fun, take a look at some of my shirt dress finds below.

Swiss-Dot Shirt Dress, $19.99, shown in gold; also available in black and blue, sizes S-XXXL (black only available in M and blue only available in S), alloy.com

Acres-Of-Indigo Shirtdress, $49.95, shown in blue; also available in white, sizes S-L, anthropologie.com

Buffalo Plaid Shirt Dress, $28.99, available in sizes S and M, charlotterusse.com

Plaid Shirt Dress, $26.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Plaid Tie Dress, $28.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Plaid Tunic, $22.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Ruffle Shirt Dress, $26.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Striped Shirt Dress, $28.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Ruffle Front Shirtdress, $36.99, available in sizes M and L, mandee.com

Aimee Stripe Dress, $44.50, available in sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Alyssa Shirt Dress, $44.50, shown in dark blue; also available in natural, purple, and teal, sizes 00-13/14, delias.com

Chambray Shirtdress, $39.50, available in sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Anna Plaid Shirtdress, $44.50, shown in multi; also available in blue, sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Crystal Bias Plaid Dress, $44.50, available in sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Crystal Solid Dress, $44.50, shown in purple; also available in black and blue, sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Eileen Plaid Dress, $44.50, shown in blue; also available in black, sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Gracie Plaid Dress, $44.50, shown in white; also available in blue, grey, purple, red, teal, and yellow, sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Kirstie Plaid Dress, $44.50, shown in blue; also available in black, pink, purple, and red, sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Lexie Plaid Dress, $44.50, available in sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Marisa Plaid Dress, $44.50, available in sizes XS-Xl, delias.com

Melody Gingham Dress, $44.50, available in sizes S-L, delias.com

Mona Chambray Dress, $44.50, available in sizes XS-XL, delias.com

Voile Shirt Dress, $29.99, shown in rosedust; also available in mint green, sizes 0-12, frenchconnection.com

American Rag Shirtdress Belted Plaid Jersey, $45.00, sizes XS-L, macys.com

Apppropriate Behavior Ruffle Front Shirt Dress, $39.00, available in sizes 5/6-11/12, macys.com

Baby Phat Short-Sleeved Shirt Dress, $51.75, available in sizes M and L, macys.com

Fleurish Puffed-Sleeve Buffalo Plaid Shirtdress, $24.99, shown in purple; also available in red, sizes S-XL, macys.com

Grass Short-Sleeve Gingham Belted Shirtdress, $35.40, available in sizes 3-13, macys.com

Roxy Goodtimes Plaid Shirtdress, $32.70, available in sizes XS-XL ,macys.com

Fox Laney Dress, $44.50, available in sizes MED and LRG, pacsun.com

Lucy Love Cabana Blue Dress, $49.50, available in sizes XS-LRG, pacsun.com

Lucy Love Harper Dress, $42.50, shown in teal; also available in black, sizes XS-LRG, pacsun.com

Lucy Love Montana Dress, $49.50, shown in black; also available in taupe, sizes XS-LRG, pacsun.com

ROULETTE Twill Ruffle Cap Sleeve Shirt Dress, $39.99, available in sizes Small-Extra large, sears.com

Kimichi Blue Pintuch Shirtdress, $39.99, shown in cornrow; also available in white and obama blue, sizes x-small-large, urbanoutfitters.com

Buffalo Plaid Shirt Dress, $24.50, shown in pink; also available in white, black, and aqua, sizes XS-M, wetseal.com

Buffalo Yoke Dress, $12.99, shown in fuchsia; also available in red and green, sizes XS-L, wetseal.com

Button Front Halter Dress, $19.50, available in sizes XS-XL, wetseal.com

Rail Road Stripe Tunic, $19.50, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

To get a grunge-inspired look, wear one of the plaid shirt dresses with either a pair of ripped jeans or cutout leggings and some sneakers. You can also pair a plaid shirt dress with some distressed jeans, cowboy boots, a braided belt, and a cowboy hat for a westen-inspied look. For a menswear-inspired look, pair one of the vertical striped shirt dresses with some tailored pants, oxford shoes, a necktie, and a fedora hat. Provide contrast with a dotted shirt dress by pairing it with some argyle tights. You can also get this contrast with a gingham shirt dress and a pair of floral print tights. For the office, wear a long or short-sleeved solid colored shirt dress with some tailored pants and stiletto shoes. For a vintage vibe, wear a ruffled or frilly shirt dress with a pair of lace tights, a bow headband, a pearl bracelet, and some ballet flats. When it gets really cold, you can layer one of the sleeveless shirt dresses over a sweater like you would with a jumper. Pair the sweater and sleeveless shirt dress with some thick tights and slouch boots. If you plan on lounging around at an indoor pool this fall, any of these shirt dresses can be used as a stylish swimsuit cover-up. For a fun fall style, wear any shirt dress with a pair of denim legggings or skinny jeans and some peep-toe booties. To look like you just rolled out of bed and threw on your boyfriend's (or fiance's or husband's) clothes, wear a plaid, vertical striped, or solid shirt dress (without any girly details) with a pair of boyfriend jeans and sneakers. You can also style your hair in a loose ponytail or messy bun to follow suit. If you get a shirt dress that isn't already cinched at the waist, you may wish to add a belt to it. If you have any of your own ideas for styling a shirt dress, let me know.

Color Block Party

I recently wrote an article about 2-fer tank dresses. Many of the dresses I featured were in colorblock and two tone patterns. A two tone pattern is when there are two different colors (eg: black and white) combined on to one garment. A colorblock pattern is usually a mix of more than two colors. Two tone and colorblock styles are perfect for the fall because they are an appropriate representation of the leaves changing colors. Take a look at some of my finds below.

Boundless Loop Headband, $38.00, anthropologie.com

Large Beaded Teardrop Earring, $24.00, ardenb.com

Two Tone Flower Anywhere Pin, $14.00, shown in chocolate; also availble in olive, ardenb.com

Belted Two-Tone Top, $19.99, available in sizes S and L, charlotterusse.com

Satin Colorblock Pumps, $26.99, shown in teal; also available in red and gray, sizes 6-10, charlotterusse.com

Tiered Colorblock Platforms, $26.99, shown in black; also available in blue, sizes 7-10 (black only available in 8), charlotterusse.com

Two-Tone Belted Corset, $21.99, available S-L, charlotterusse.com

Two-Tone Dress, $28.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Two-Tone Over-The-Knee Socks, $6.99, charlotterusse.com

People's Liberation Two-Tone Tunic, $37.99, available in sizes XS-L, charlotterusse.com

Two-Tone Ruffle Halter, $19.99, available in sizes S-L, charlotterusse.com

Banded Colorblock Top, $19.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Colorblock Padded Top, $17.80, available in sizes XS-L, forever21.com

Colorblock Ruffle Dress, $24.80, available in sizes Small-Large, forever21.com

Colorblock Top, $.8.80, shown in royal; also available in cream, jade, and cocoa, sizes Small-Large (small not available in royal and jade), forever21.com

Lace Trim Colorblock Dress, $17.80, availble in sizes X-Small-Large, forever21.com

Metallic Bust Colorblock Top, $14.80, available in sizes Medium and Large, forever21.com

Shoulder Bow Dress, $36.00, shown in black/wine; also available in green/grey, sizes X-Small and Medium, forever21.com

Strapless Tier Colorblock Dress, $22.80, available in sizes Medium and Large, forever21.com

Diagonal Bangle, $19.99, shown in ivory/black; also available in turquoise/coral and ivory/navy, frenchconnection.com

Sunshine Clutch, $29.99, shown in emma pink; also available in navy, frenchconnection.com

Candie's Two-Tone Multistrand Pearl Necklace, $10.72, kohls.com

6 Degrees Sleeeveless Ruffled Color-Block Dress, $24.99, available in sizes S-L, macys.com

American Rag Color-Block Drawstring Dress, $27.00, available in sizes XS-L, macys.com

American Rag Color-Blocked Smocked Tube Dress, $21.00, available in sizes S-L, macys.com

American Rag Color-Blocked T-Back Knit Maxi Dress. $29.40, available in sizes S-L, macys.com

American Rag Sleeveless Color-Blocked Racerback Knit Dress, $27.00, available in sizes XS-L, macys.com

Appropriate Behavior Color Blocked Dress, $33.99, available in sizes S-L, macys.com

Miss Chievous Dress Color Blocked Tube With Pockets, $39.00, available in sizes S-XL, macys.com

One Clothing Dress Knit Two-Tone Sleeveless, $27.99, shown in dusty blue; also available in dark blue and black, sizes S-L, macys.com

Trixxi Two-Tone Strapless Dress with Tullle, $61.99, avaiable in sizes 3-13, macys.com

Hot Temper Colorblock Maxi, $14.99, available in sizes Small-X-large, sears.com

La Belle Colorblock Rouched Dress, $29.99, available in sizes Small-Extra large, sears.com

80's Two-Tone Sunglasses, $10.00, shown in bluegreen; also available in pinkblue and greenyellow, urbanoutfitters.com

Colorblock Kanga Top, $14.50, available in sizes XS-XL, wetseal.com

Colorblock Cross Back Top, $17.50, available in sizes M and L, wetseal.com

Contrast O Ring Top, $16.50, available in sizes M-XL (cobalt only available in L), wetseal.com

Surplice Colorblock Dress, $24.50, available in sizes M and L, wetsseal.com

Tiered Colorblock Skirt, $10.99, shown in blk/blue; also available in black/white, sizes S-L, wetseal.com

One Shoulder Dress, $29.50, available in sizes S-L, wetseal.com

As you can see from this and other recent posts, contrast is what's in style right now. You will definitely see people doing a lot more mixing than matching when it comes to styling their outfits this season. You can join in on this fun trend too. Try pairing a two-tone or colorblock piece with another color that is not in the item you're wearing. You can also wear two-tone or colorblock patterns with fun prints such as plaid, polka dots, stripes, houndstooth, tribal prints, and animal prints. You can even pair these colors with floral and butterfly prints. Sure, spring may be long gone by now, but that doesn't mean the spirit of spring can't still remain in your heart and style. Besides, wearing a spring pattern may make the chilly fall days feel just a little warmer. If you have any more suggestions on how to wear two-tone or colorblock shades, let me know.