Swing dresses are one of those magical wardrobe pieces that are comfortable, forgiving, and easy to wear. But I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you thought they weren’t flattering.
I’m here to say that there are many ways to wear a swing dress, and you can break the rules or follow them.
Quote of the day: “Your response to a challenge defines you more than the challenge itself.” James Clear
I had the four of us work on options for “how to style” a swing dress. Instead of wearing them traditionally, each of us experimented with a different styling technique to show just how versatile they can be.
If you don’t already have a swing dress in your closet, you might need one.
Why?
Because the comfort is incredible, and trust me when I say they are cooler in the summer.
Need some other inspiration with dresses in the summer? I have you covered:
–Bold summer dress
–Casual summer dress
–How many dresses should I own?
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A swing dress is typically loose through the body and flares away from the hips. While that creates beautiful movement, it also gives you a blank canvas for styling.
The ideas we are sharing are more about your swing dress as the starting point. We added and created many different looks with the same type of dress.
And the best part? You can do this too if you go play in your closet.
BTW, the first option in the widget below is preloved: (and I almost bought that Banana Republic one…it’s so cute in the print–and if you want it longer, order the tall version)
One of the easiest ways to change the look of a swing dress is by adding something structured over it.
This can be especially helpful if you still worry about an item looking flattering.
(If you need another perspective, I’ve discussed that. Not everyone agrees, so I’m not looking for hate mail, just giving you a different way to think about something we’ve internalized for ages.)
Valerie layered a tailored blazer over her blue-and-white swing dress and finished it with a wide belt. The result completely transformed the silhouette.
Instead of emphasizing the flow of the dress, the blazer and belt created shape and definition.
It’s proof that a swing dress doesn’t have to be shapeless to be comfortable.
Details:
-It’s hard to see in the photos, but Valeries sandals are covered with sequins. They are the coolest thing ever.
-I Love how she added a dragonfly brooch on her jacket
-And look at all the decor on her purse…some bag charms as well as a scarf.
If there is one styling trick that always gets comments, it’s adding pants under a dress.
For my version, I wore printed pants underneath a neutral swing dress. The loose layers create movement while also adding interest where most people least expect it.
Many women think dresses and pants are an either-or choice. I say they’re even more fun together.
Details:
-That bracelet was made by my mom years and years ago. It’s a compliation of a bunch of different gold buttons. The elastic just gave out a while back, and I ordered more and restrung it.
-The scarf on my shoulder is a square scarf origamied into a flower as seen in this video. (It looks complicated, but really it’s super easy once you do it a couple of times…AND you can use the flower to decorate your belt, your purse or even your hair)
-I included these pants as part of my color recipe when I first bought them in 2020 and then the dress was worn to showcase popular colors combinations with gold.
Stylist tricks: I even created a video showing 4 different ways to change the silhouette of my swing dress.
Lesley took layering in a completely different direction by wearing a bright skirt underneath her floral swing dress.
The bright pink peeking out from the hem almost looks like it belongs as part of the dress. It’s almost like she lengthened her dress magically.
It’s one of those ideas that feels unexpected but incredibly wearable once you try it.
Details:
-You’ve seen Lesley wear this dress when we talked about accent colors.
-And here is the maxi skirt worn hiked up to be a midi skirt.
-I have to say that I’m proud of Lesley for wearing this dress because she is NOT a fan of the color green.
Charlotte showed that you don’t always need additional clothing pieces to transform a swing dress.
Instead, she added decorative clips, brooches, and pins to her blue swing dress. A couple of these pins pull the extra material in to create a different silhouette while others are for pure decoration.
I’ve always believed accessories are where the magic happens, and my mom proves that perfectly.
Details:
-My mom used 2 blue scissor earrings to hold the front panels together. They basically blend in, so you only notice them up close and personal.
-The cardigan pins near the side seams are made by a local woman here in Arizona and sold at Just Be Youtiful for only $8 for 2. There are similar ones available on Amazon.
-Mom wore this dress for our resort style article years ago.
Once you start thinking of a swing dress as a styling tool instead of a finished outfit, the possibilities multiply.
Since there were only 4 of us for our photo shoot, I could only show 4 different options for “how to style a swing dress”, but trust me, these ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.
Want some more ideas?
Most people automatically reach for sandals or simple flats.
Unexpected footwear instantly changes the personality of the dress, whether it’s an unmatching color or opposite vibe (think edgy sandals with a feminine dress).
This trick completely disguises the fact that you’re wearing a dress.
Simply layer a skirt over the swing dress so the dress becomes the top portion of your outfit.
I know, I know. Most of you think this can’t be done or would be super uncomfortable. I talk about those myths in this article.
This idea is similar to Valerie’s layered look, but with a bigger transformation.
Instead of allowing the top of the dress to show, add a sweater, sweatshirt, vest, or blouse over the swing dress so only the skirt portion remains visible.
Now the dress looks like a skirt.
This works with any dress and top, as we’ve shown a long, long time ago.
The secret isn’t finding the perfect swing dress.
Instead, it is realizing that a swing dress doesn’t have to be styled as a swing dress.
Add structure. Layer underneath. Layer over it. Decorate it. Change the proportions. Mix in unexpected pieces.
The more we experiment with our clothing, the more outfits we discover hiding in our closets.
And if there’s one thing our crew has learned over the years, it’s that style gets a lot more interesting when you stop following the rules and start playing with them instead.
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Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes, and women who love different styles.
The post How to Wear a Swing Dress: 4 Rule-Breaking Ideas appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
