The Style Problem: What to Layer Over a Dress

Featuring Your Biz Squad (Style) Professional, Stephanie Grabow

In the Midwest, some fall afternoons still feel like summer. When it’s 82 degrees at 3 pm, no one is thinking about tartan plaids and suede boots.

So, let’s talk about the topic that got the biggest response from the regular readers of my weekly email. (If you want to get on the list, you can sign up here.)

“Style Warning: Throwing your old denim jacket over your cute lightweight dress is killing your look. It weighs the outfit down, changes the character and dates your look solidly in 2015.”

I dropped that nugget in last week’s email, and I heard from three different people that I left them in a puzzle with no way out. Oops! 

The problem: It’s hotter than Hades outside and inside, the air conditioner is so cold your fingers are turning blue. Add fluctuating hormones to the mix, and you don’t know what to wear to cover all of the possible temperature configurations you’re going to encounter in your day.

And yet, you still want your look to feel modern and fresh.

So what should you wear instead? And why am I sooooo anti-your-old-denim-jacket -layered-over-dresses?

3 Reasons to Not Wear Your Denim Jacket Over Your Dress

1. The look feels outdated. Think about the first time you wore a denim jacket over a dress. Was it more than five years ago? More than 15 years ago? More than 25 years ago? Yep. We’ve been rocking that style for decades, and she is tired. Let her get some rest.
2. If you’ve been wearing the same denim jacket for five years, you may not recognize that silhouettes have changed, and your 2019 jacket feels dated. 2024 jackets range from short and shrunken to boxy work jackets, but they don’t look like they did even three years ago.
3. When you layer anything over your dress, you change the line and proportions of your outfit. If the silhouette of your jacket doesn’t complement the lines of your dress, then it all starts to look frumpy. And no one is doing frumpy on my watch.🙅

 

What to Wear Instead of Your Denim Jacket

1. A Top Coat—A top coat can be a trench coat, a duster, or a faux leather long coat. All of these options give sophistication and movement to your outfit while making the lines of your outfit feel longer and making you look taller. And, a top coat works over mini, midi, and maxi-length dresses.
2. Sweater or knit blazer—Think of this as a step above an old white cardigan. Knit blazers provide structure without feeling constraining or stuffy. When choosing a sweater, think about linen, cotton, or lightweight cashmere to complement your outfit. Plus, when you don’t want to wear it, you can drape it over your shoulders for a chic, relaxed flair.
3. Wraps—A beautiful wrap is the easiest way to keep a lightweight layer with you at all times. You can swaddle yourself in one if you’re cold, or roll it up and tuck it into your bag when you’re warm. They take up very little space and are so easy to manage. Plus, they come in a range of fabrics, including sheer linens, elegant cashmere, and metallics for eveningwear.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by too many options, choose one piece and wear it several times to figure out how it works for you. Then, when you’re ready, you can add another to your collection. Soon, you’ll have an array of great outfit finishers that you feel confident and comfortable wearing. 

And you can save your denim jacket to wear with your Canadian tuxedo, or what the style watchers are now calling Denim x Denim.

You will rock that look!

Always cheering you on-

Stephanie

Stephanie Grabow is the Founder and CEO of Stephanie Grabow Style+ and SG Style Collective. She is a style coach for female entrepreneurs and leaders, a speaker and a curator of beautiful things. It is her goal to make nailing your look the easiest 10 minutes of your day. Follow her at stephaniegcabowstyle.com.