The humble shirtdress is exactly as its name spells out: A dress with a touch of shirt detailing. Some are more tailored, inspired by the classic oxford, while others offer a bit of whimsy thanks to details like embroidery and draping. They also come in a range of materials — denim for fall, linen for summer, and poplin for year-round. Yet, they’re all highly versatile and easy to style. Known for the polished appearance they provide, shirtdresses can just as easily be worn to the office with a pair of flats as they can for a weekend day with sneakers. But for a style that feels so essential to a well-rounded wardrobe, finding the right one can be challenging. As one of the Strategist’s resident experts on clothing basics, I sifted through our archives and tapped my colleagues for their picks. Then I consulted stylists, content creators, authors, and more to bring you the shirtdresses hanging in their closets. Below are their recommendations, from functional button-down favorites to billowy nightgown-inspired numbers.
Update on October 23, 2024: Swapped the By Malene Birger Perros Organic Cotton Dress to the in-stock “Dark Sand” colorway; updated prices and checked stock for all other products.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the shirtdress, here’s one that’s oversize, striped, and Strategist-approved. Strategist contributor Kiki Aranita first saw it on Katie Lee Biegel’s Instagram post, where Biegel said it was the only thing she wore while vacationing in Italy. Aranita now wears hers three to four times a week. “It’s a little embarrassing how often it shows up in Zoom and in photos with me wearing it,” Aranita says, adding that she’s worn it to the pool as a swimsuit cover-up and also styled it with a black blazer and heels to moderate a conference. Aranita admits she was apprehensive about purchasing clothes from Amazon and says she tends to shy away from fast fashion “unless it’s an item I’m clearly wearing hundreds of time.”
For something more classic, try this shorter number from Frank & Eileen. “I like a shirtdress that really does read like a shirt,” says Hannah Selinger, author of the forthcoming memoir Cellar Rat: My Life in the Restaurant Underbelly. Selinger finds that most designers offer longer hemlines these days, which is why she prefers the shorter Mary from Frank & Eileen, which “wears like a true oxford,” she says. While Selinger is a “classic blue-stripe gal,” she appreciates the many patterns and fabrics available, like denim and linen. “It’s a more expensive piece, but this is a dress with longevity,” Selinger notes. “It will live out trends in your closet for years.”
Another short and striped option is this dress from Alex Mill. Our senior editor Hilary Reid received a sample at the beginning of the summer, and she says it became one of her most worn pieces from May until early September. “It basically looks like a long button-down shirt, which I love because it evades the stuffiness that can come with a belted shirtdress,” Reid explains, adding that the cotton material is crisp but not starchy. She notes that the fit is oversize without being too boxy. “It has all the comfort of a sack dress without actually looking like a sack,” she says.
“I swear angels sing every time Caron Callahan drops a new collection,” says freelance fashion editor Megan McCarty, who describes the Jones Shirtdress as an absolute head-turner. “Only Caron can combine utilitarian wardrobe must-haves with a whimsical mind-set, and this shirtdress showcases both along with her design prowess,” McCarty told me. The double-layered front-button placket allows it to be worn multiple ways, including buttoned asymmetrically, which allows, as McCarty puts it, “cinching the waist and honoring your inner kindergartener who misaligned her buttons.” She loves that it can also be worn open as a light fall layer. At $440, it’s certainly an investment piece, but McCarty insists you’ll wear it again and again for years to come.
This Xirena style, which is part shirtdress, part wrap dress, is another one of McCarty’s picks. She told me it “rides the line between casual and cool,” so it’s ideal if you want to feel put together but not overly dressy. The midweight cotton fabric means it’s year-round appropriate, while the tie waist provides a custom fit. It’s also available in black and a rich brown.
Content creator Clara Perlmutter, who’s known as tinyjewishgirl online, was gifted this Damson Madder dress and “totally fell in love with it.” Perlmutter describes the Mimi Mini as playful and timeless and says it reminds her of the early days of Copenhagen-based brand Ganni. “When I put it on, I feel special,” Perlmutter says. “I could wear this to a family gathering, or a date, but also just to casually walk down the street feeling like a total cutie pie.”
[Editor’s note: Damson Madder lists its prices in pounds, so this is an approximation to dollars.]
New York–based creative and stylist Alexis Badiyi is a big fan of By Malene Birger and says many of the Danish brand’s pieces feel “so wearable yet luxurious.” The Perros dress, which features a maxi length and relaxed shoulders, is no different. Made from organic cotton, it also has front pockets and long sleeves with extra-wide cuffs. With a button-down front, Badiyi says it’s “the perfect coverall for all seasons.” Along with the black colorway shown, it’s also available in a khaki shade.
Should you prefer linen over cotton, this airy mini-shirtdress is a style I tried from Aritzia. I love the clean lines and the texture of the linen fabric, which make it easy to dress up or down by simply switching up my accessories. The wide sleeves and tie waist also provide some comfort, whether I’m going to be sitting for a long period or moving around. So far, it’s my go-to for running errands around my neighborhood because it doesn’t crease or cling. If you’d like a longer version, it’s also available in maxi and midi lengths.
I also tested this silky shirtdress from Aritzia’s house brand, Babaton. Though I’ve only worn it a few times this fall, I love the V-neck shape and twisted detailing at the waist. It fits true to size even despite my broad shoulders, and an invisible side zipper means this one has no buttons. It’s made with 100 percent recycled polyester, which is lightweight and has a satin-like finish. I went with the plum shade called Noble because I’m trying to add more color to my wardrobe this season. It’s also available in a deep green and black.
For Jane Birkin–esque styles at a mid-tier price point, look to Sézane, says Joy Asibey-Gabriel, founder of the styling company Black Lady of Leisure. “Hands down, I’m in love with the all-denim, retro, ’70s-inspired silhouette of this dress,” she says of this button-front number. The denim fabric is made from 100 percent cotton, which means it’s breathable and comfortable for transitional fall weather. Plus, Asibey-Gabriel notes that the long sleeves and midi length are ideal for when we enter the coolest months of the season. “I would style this dress with chocolate-toned suede knee-high boots, stacks of gold chains, and sleeves rolled up to reveal more stacks of gold bracelets and rings,” Asibey-Gabriel adds.
Another denim option is this shirtdress from New York City–based brand Pari Passu, which is the current favorite of stylist and fashion creative Hina “Heensie” Low. Low says the brand “maintains an incredible commitment to thoughtful design, with a really unique sizing system that accommodates plus-size bodies of varying proportions.” She appreciates that it not only design for plus-size bodies but acknowledges that plus-sized people represent a diversity of shapes and body types. The Oli Denim shirtdress is made of a blend of airy hemp and cotton, which gives it a lightweight feel. It also has an adjustable belt, wide sleeves, and mother-of-pearl buttons. Although it’s on the pricier side, as Low points out, the brand’s unique fit system specifically caters to mid and plus sizes. There are seven sizes, along with three shape options to choose from; plus, if you fall outside the sizes offered, you can contact the brand to create the piece you want at no extra charge.
If you’re trying to stick to a budget, Low also recommends this iteration, which is more affordable. Made from a semi-stretchy blend of polyester, rayon, and polyurethane, it features a fall-ready plaid pattern and a high-low hemline.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
