I’ll admit that strapless dresses haven’t always been my go-to choice for summer dress options. It was something about being in my late 30s and not really sure if the style still worked for me. But, I fell back in love with this silhouette this spring and summer, and I encourage you to give strapless dresses a chance again too if you haven’t already. These dresses are actually a great addition to your closet no matter your age. They’re a fun way to show off your shoulders and neckline, or they can serve as a comfortable base that you put a simple button up over for comfort. There are so many ways to wear this style of dress, so let’s dive in!
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A Few Thoughts On How to Wear a Strapless Dress
What To Wear Under Strapless Dress
The solution to what you wear under a strapless dress is different for everyone. You can wear a strapless bra – I love everything by SKIMS (this strapless bra has tons of great reviews) – or check out NOOD for lots of braless options.
There are also so many strapless dresses that don’t even require a bra because the top of the dress is thicker than the rest of the dress to provide a little support. That is the case with the dress I’m wearing above.
How To Keep A Strapless Dress Up
The best tip here is an obvious one – just make sure your strapless dress has a snug fit at the top or you can create one by adding a strapless bra. I also look for strapless dresses that have an elastic band around the top, which is so helpful in keeping them in place and helps avoid a wardrobe malfunction! Some people opt for things like fashion tape, but I’ve never found that actually works.
How To Hide Bra Straps With A Strapless Dress
This is a tricky one, but if you really want to wear a regular bra with a strapless dress, it’s best to wear something over your dress. For a casual look, I love to style mine with a cropped button up or something else lightweight, such as a linen button up. You can also wear a strapless dress as a skirt if you decide to button up your shirt. I styled a few strapless dresses below with layers!
What Shoes To Wear With A Strapless Dress
Your shoe choice depends on the occasion. You can wear a strapless dress with casual options, including sneakers. Or, you can dress up a strapless dress for a wedding with high heels! I love to wear mine with ballet flats, slingbacks, and even loafers. Click here if you’re looking for more tips on what shoes to wear with dresses.
How to Style A Strapless Dress
Here are a bunch of outfit ideas for how to wear a strapless dress!
Muted Floral Strapless Dress Styled Casually
The cut of this dress is super flattering and comfortable, so it’s a win-win. The top feels double lined, so it’s thick enough to wear without a bra. Plus, the band at the top is nice and secure, and it doesn’t slip down as you wear it. If you love neutrals like me but don’t always want to wear a solid, this is the perfect option!
While I wore this dress casually for a family dinner, I also like to style this with raffia kitten heels for a dressier look. I love how this dress can be dressed up or down. If you’re looking for more women’s casual dresses, check out this blog post.
Yellow Strapless Dress With Flowers
The dress I’m wearing above also comes in this vibrant yellow with pink flowers, which is such a stunning option! I had a hard time returning it, but I knew I could only keep one. Just like the other color option, you can dress this up with sandals or wear it with espadrilles. This dress works for brunch, a day at a winery with friends, dinner, and lots of other fun summer activities!
Linen Blazer With A Strapless Dress
If you’ve ever read one of my blog posts or follow me on Instagram, you’ll know how much I love blazers. They’re one of the most reliable pieces in my closet! This linen blazer and other styles are perfect to wear over a strapless dress. I wore this outfit while on vacation in Maine, so the extra layer was necessary with New England temperatures and the breeze by the wter. My dress is old from Free People, but this type of look works with any strapless dress that has a slim cut.
Strapless Dress Wedding Guest For Spring and Summer
A strapless dress is a go-to option for a wedding guest dress no matter what season you’re shopping for. This soft blue dress is perfect for all seasons, and you can change up the look with your shoes and accessories. In the warmer months, this dress will look perfect with raffia or other neutral shoes and a clutch. I love all of the raffia shoes that Larroude makes, and I own a pair myself! I wear both silver and gold jewelry with raffia, and the shade of blue of this dress goes with either! This bag is gorgeous – I bought it for my mom for Mother’s Day, and she loves it.
Strapless Dress Wedding Guest For Fall and Winter
This is the same dress as above, and I styled it for a wedding in the colder months. In the fall and winter, this dress will look perfect with silver shoes and accessories. If you prefer to wear closed toe shoes with this, I love this pair.
Maxi Strapless Dress For Special Occasion or Dinner
This flowy, linen strapless dress is one of my favorites. I’ve been eyeing it forever. It also comes in green and black, and each option is stunning! I love the idea of wearing it as is for a super comfortable but chic look. You could also add a belt to it if you want to give it some more shape. I styled it here to feel more dressed up, whether you’re heading to dinner or getting dressed for a baby shower. But, it would also be perfect to style for a relaxed day with flat sandals.
Maxi Strapless Dress For Beach Vacation
This dress seems like it was made with vacation in mind! The print has a sun, some waves, and an umbrella on it.
How To Style A Strapless Dress Into Fall
A denim strapless dress is the perfect option for fall. This one has a little edge, which is a fun way to make your look feel more like fall too. You can wear a button up, a denim jacket, or a suede jacket over your dress. And, instead of wearing raffia accessories, you can go for accessories that feel more like fall – think suede, loafers, and earth tones in general.
How To Style A Strapless Dress Into Fall With A Sweater
You can tie this sweater around your waist or wear it over your shoulders – or just wear it! I don’t always love throwing a sweater over my shoulders because it doesn’t feel practical for life as a mom – like, what happens to the sweater when I pick up my toddler? It’s going to fall on the ground. But, this is such a cute look if it’s practical for you. And, if it’s not, tie it around your waist! Slingbacks in general are a go-to fall shoe – they’re perfect for transitional weather. I love the pair below, and I wear them all the time. You can see them on me here.
How To Style A Skirt And Top To Look Like A Strapless Dress
This is one of my favorite ways to get more out of the pieces you love in your wardrobe! If you have a tube top that you love, you can turn it into an outfit that looks like a strapless dress by wearing it with a skirt. I own this exact tube top and love it! You can see it on me below, and click here to shop this skirt and tube top outfit.
Did you find a way to style a strapless dress? Let me know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to sign up for my email list!
