Fashion designers are always looking for different ways to reinvent pieces and make them look fresh and stylish. One example is how they play with different versions of suits and coats, just like their latest take on the classic blazer. Unlike the perfectly fitted pieces with large shoulder pads that populated workwear fashion, modern cuts feature a more relaxed fit and longer hemlines that cover the thighs, or sometimes up to the knees. While they’ve maintained their boxy structure, women’s blazers often have a tapered waist that makes the overall look more feminine. This new silhouette is often flattering enough to wear on its own, hence the growing popularity of the blazer dress.

Taking inspiration from the traditional men’s coat, blazer dresses use many of the same features. It can be single-breasted, which means it has one column of buttons and a narrow overlap of the fabric in front. It can also be double-breasted by having a wider overlap and two rows of buttons. While this maintains the professional polish that blazers are known for, the blazer dress is versatile and can be worn for many different occasions. As such, many women are finding different ways to wear it to the office or to a post-work event.

Fortunately, it isn’t so difficult to style the blazer dresses and pull off a trendy look. If you want to learn more about how to look great in this dress, try out these five style tips.

Wear the Blazer Dress with Tights

The easiest way you can dress up your blazer dress is to wear black tights under it. This is a great way to wear the garment and keep your legs covered. It’s also a good solution if you want to rock your blazer dress during the colder months.

If you plan to wear the blazer dress to work, you can wear opaque tights with it for a professional look. On the other hand, a pair of sheer tights with fun patterns can make the dress look cute for a night out. Try subtle designs like small dark dots to add a fun detail to your outfit.

Explore Different Styles of Blazer Dresses

These days, oversized blazers are in vogue. However, you don’t need to feel limited by just wearing these styles. Instead, explore other cuts and designs.

You can get dresses with a cinch-waist feature to help accentuate the smallest part of your body. You can also get a fitted style that hugs your hips from the waist to the hemline for a more figure-flattering look. Additionally, you may want to get a blazer dress that features interesting cutouts on the sides or back to show a bit of skin and make your outfit look less like office wear.

Choose the Right Shoes

To make your blazer dress look more appropriate for the occasion, let your footwear take the lead. The right shoes can change the tone of your entire outfit, allowing you to dress it up or down as needed. If you want to wear the garment as part of your street-style outfit, wear your blazer dress with sneakers. While you can’t go wrong with white sneakers, try other styles and colors too. Black high-top canvas sneakers look good with oversized blazer dresses.

In a business casual environment, pairing the blazer dress with a pair of loafers keeps your look polished but relaxed. The chunky look of loafers creates a good visual balance when worn with an oversized blazer dress. Complete the trendy look by wearing socks that go a bit higher on the ankle.

For a night out, heeled sandals go well with blazer dresses. Since these garments typically have hemlines above the knees, you can show off your legs and make your shoes the focal point by wearing wraparound straps that go up your ankles.

Accessorize

The accessories you wear with the blazer dress can help you transform the garment from day to night wear. For a corporate look, wear minimal accessories, like a pair of stud earrings and a pendant necklace. If you want to add a bracelet, stick to a slim bangle or small chain bracelet. Then get a leather tote bag, and you’re ready for work.

If you want to dress up for a night out with friends, go for accessories that are more striking. Wear a pair of big hoops, dangling sparkly earrings, or a statement necklace. Also, swap your tote bag for a clutch. Make the outfit more fun by getting a small purse with sparkly or feathery details.

Wear a Garment Underneath

Although a blazer dress looks great on its own, wearing a top underneath can help elevate your style. Get your tailored blazer dress and wear a crisp white collared shirt underneath. Then, wear tall, chunky black boots, and you’re all set to go from day to night.

Styling blazer dresses doesn’t have to be complicated. You can think of it as styling another versatile garment in your closet. This means you can pair it with different shoes and update it with various accessories. As long as you feel comfortable and like your look, there really aren’t any hard rules on how you can enjoy wearing your blazer dress. Go ahead and get creative with how you can make yourself look stylish in this great piece.