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An off-the-shoulder shoulder dress is a refreshing, creative way to change up your look, whether you’re dressing for hot or cold weather. While traditionally designed for warm, breezy days, your dress can be repurposed for just about any occasion with the right styling and accessories. We’ve put together a few tips, tricks, and outfit ideas to help you make the most out of your garment.

1

Slip on a strapless bra.

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  1. Plus, there are lots of styles and varieties to choose from! Instead of battling traditional bra straps, try a classic strapless or bandeau bra instead. Adhesive and backless bras also offer a lot of flexibility and freedom.[1]
    • If your off-the-shoulder dress has a plunging neckline, a plunge or short line bra might be a good option.
    • Body tape is another handy choice if you’re in a pinch.
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2

Wear boots for both formal and casual looks.

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6

Hold your dress in place with safety pins and hair ties.

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  • Question
    How do I pick out a good strapless bra that's supportive?
    Katie Quinn
    Katie Quinn
    Image Consultant
    Katie Quinn is an Image Consultant, Personal Wardrobe Stylist and the Founder of Q the Stylist, an image consulting service based in New York City helping men and women understand their specific goals, improve their wardrobe, performance, and life. She has over 11 years of image consulting experience and has worked as a stylist for Trunk Club, Modewalk, and Moda Operandi. Her work has been featured in Vogue, InStyle, Martha Stewart Weddings, Sheridan Road, Slate, Newsy, Rue, and Thrillist.
    Katie Quinn
    Image Consultant
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you have your band size correct—that's where most of the support from your bra will come from. Try on strapless bras from a number of different brands, because the cut, the fabric, and the style of each will make a different in the fit. The best bras should feel like you have nothing on.
  • Question
    What jewelry do you wear with off-the-shoulder dress?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    If you're wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, you want most of the attention to be on the actual dress itself. So try to steer clear of super clunky, heavy jewelry. Instead, go with choker-style necklaces that add a more light, casual effect to your look. A thin chain or even a string of pearls can add subtle, but elegant style to your look. You can also choose a pendant-style necklace as a great decorative accent. The more distracting your jewelry, the less people will notice your dress!
  • Question
    How do you wear an off-the-shoulder dress in the winter?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    Off-the-shoulder dresses look fantastic, but they don't offer much in the way of warmth. If it's cold out, you definitely want to add some layers that will help keep you insulated. A sweatshirt and a coat should do the trick. Slip into your favorite off-the-shoulder dress, layering a long-sleeved sweatshirt on top. Then, pull a thick winter jacket on as a final touch. You could also go with tights and a turtleneck. Layers turn your dress into the perfect winter outfit. Slide into a pair of tights, along with a comfy turtleneck. Then, layer favorite off-the-shoulder dress overtop. You'll be able to brave the cold weather while still looking great in your off-the-shoulder dress.
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Tips

  • If you have the option, go for solid-colored colored dresses instead of printed ones. Patterned dresses tend to look busy, and might be a little harder to pull off.[15]
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About This Article

Katie Quinn
Co-authored by:
Image Consultant
This article was co-authored by Katie Quinn and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Katie Quinn is an Image Consultant, Personal Wardrobe Stylist and the Founder of Q the Stylist, an image consulting service based in New York City helping men and women understand their specific goals, improve their wardrobe, performance, and life. She has over 11 years of image consulting experience and has worked as a stylist for Trunk Club, Modewalk, and Moda Operandi. Her work has been featured in Vogue, InStyle, Martha Stewart Weddings, Sheridan Road, Slate, Newsy, Rue, and Thrillist. This article has been viewed 72,342 times.
6 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: November 12, 2024
Views: 72,342
Categories: Dresses and Skirts
Article SummaryX

Off-the-shoulder dresses are a great option for summer or anytime you want to show off a bit of skin. If you want to wear a bra, go with a strapless one, which should be invisible under your dress. Unless it’s super hot out, you might want to pair your dress with a jean jacket, blazer, or scarf wrap to keep you from getting cold. Sandals are a great shoe choice for strapless dresses, but you can also wear boots if it’s a bit chillier out. To accessorize your outfit, try wearing statement earrings, like earrings with tassels. You could also wear a choker necklace for a more dramatic look. To learn how to choose the right strapless dress, read on!

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