The long and short of shirt dressing

I am a jeans girl. I love them and live in them 90% of the year, but right now, when the sun is shining, that is the last thing I want to put on. No, a dress is the order of the day. And not any old dress, but a shirt dress because this is the dress that can take you from the school run, to the office, to dinner and drinks and even on holiday. Smart enough but not too smart – practically perfect. Here’s where to get yours.

Marks and Sparks scores pretty highly on the shirt dress front with it’s Pure Cotton Long Sleeved Shirt Dress £65 by Autograph in ink. Love the sandals with these too which irritatingly I cannot find and the closest available are sold out in every size except a 7.5. The ochre with the navy is super sophisticated.

As well as white.

And stone.

Cos is also a good bet for a sharp tailored option like this Belted Shirt Dress £69 which comes in dusty blue or navy.

Or this Long Shirt Dress £69.

For a slick stripey option try Zara’s Striped Shirt Style Tunic £39.99.  Can’t say I like these boots but who knows by winter, the sock boot may have crept into the psyche so as to seem normal.

Alternatively this Striped Shirt Style Tunic £29.99 may be better for those of us with a bit less height on our side.

For something a bit more casual M&S’s Linen Rich Shirt Midi Dress with belt £39.50 which also comes in Petite and Plus sizing would do the trick.

I also rather like the stripey Linen Rich Dipped Hem Shirt Dress with Belt £39.50. You could dress both of these down over a bikini for by the pool with some sliders or pompom sandals. Or you could add a mule/ block heeled sandal and be set for the evening with some statement earrings…

Hush has a goodie with it’s Soho Striped Tunic £75 – already out of stock in sizes 12 upwards. Styled casually here, but you could easily upscale with some block heels or wedge espadrilles.

Or for a softer, more feminine feel, there is the Azalea dress £65 which is new in this Fleur print. This is much more casual but while it will work perfectly with sandals now, it would also look great with ankle boots for the autumn. In short a great investment that will see you through the seasons.

Zara has it’s Shirt Dress with Frill £29.99 which is a similarly girly look and also comes in a chambray and khaki. The pink would be the fashion choice, particularly when paired with a fierce red lip. The key to styling these softer styles, is to make sure your footwear isn’t dainty. Give your look an edge with some chunkier sandals like these below.

The way retailers set up their websites and categorize their product tells you a lot about what is on trend, and the fact that most retailers have a dedicated shirt dress section tells you they are a thing. And that thing is here to stay.