I have of late become an advocate of Jersey dresses. I love them. They are easy to slip on, very comfortable and they feel great.
I used to hate them. I thought they would cling to my lumps and bumps, accentuate the worst bits of me and make me look like a mutton dressed up as lamb. I also thought (and perish the thought) that I’d have to suck my tummy in the whole time.
Although I’ve carefully positioned the text banner below over my tummy (force of habit to disguise it) you can see in the picture above that it’s actually neatly disguised by a clever material tuck.
Tip: Look out for this kind of style flattery.
A couple of years ago I was gifted a jersey dress from Verily. It was black. It skimmed over the contours of my body like a silken veil. From the moment I put it on I loved it and I’ve been buying Jersey dresses ever since.
The latest is a Leona Edmiston Designer Label – I paid $69 in the sale.
Woops, in typical me fashion I didn’t notice that bit of red-hanger-holder-fabric sticking out on my shoulder before I’d put the camera and tripod away and edited the picture. Darn 🙁 But the dress is gorgeous.
There are a whole lot more jersey dresses on the online site to choose from, and below some of the new season styles coming up which are lovely but more expensive.
So whats so great about Jersey dresses?
Well, they’re generally made from a cotton or silk knit blended with a synthetic material which makes them a little stretchy and super comfortable.
Jersey dresses are suitable for work and play – I’ve worn mine when giving blogging workshops teemed with smart hip length jackets in the daytime, out to lunch wearing little bolero cardigans and out at night draped with a colourful pashmina, and accessorised with colourful beads or jewellery.
Some people, me included, worry that they hug curves. In fact they are flattering exactly because they do hug your curves but normally they don’t cling to them like a tight t-shirt might for example. Whatever shape you’re in, as long as you follow a few simple rules, I promise you, you’ll love them. Do you already? Let me know your favourite store!
11 Tips for Jersey Dresses
- You’re going to like them best if you immediately slip into something that suits you. So have a think about different dress styles and consider a wrap-style dress, or one that cinches at the side, or ties behind, or flares out from the waist.
- Jersey Dresses should make you feel as if you’re covered with something soft and pliant. Not something tight and clingy that you have to tweak the whole time. So don’t go for a smaller dress size in jersey. The dress should cover the bits you want to hide, not highlight them.
- Me – I’d go for shapewear undergarments. Bring on the Spanx to nip and tuck my tummy bulge. Beware of the visible panty line though. Also don’t forget to wear your best fitting bra that lifts those ladies up. It will make such a difference to the way the dress looks on you.
- Empire waists are great if you’re bottom heavy and this is probably a good shape dress for you because it will, you’ve got it, accentuate your top half.
- If you are straight up and down then choose a style that is nipped in at the waist or ruched, so that it gives the idea of curves or choose an A-Line skirt which will add volume.
- If you are curvy – well Hello Marilyn Monroe! You’re going to look great in a Jersey Dress that’s got a V-Neck and a nipped in waist.
- Think about necklines. What neckline suits you? Round, High or V-Neck, you choose.
- I’ve found lots of jersey dresses with three quarter length sleeves, which is great if you don’t like your upper arms all that much like me.
- If you are curvaceous don’t go for a tent look. Over the years I’ve come to realise that styles (such as smock styles) which you think will hide your curves actually just end up making you look bigger and possibly pregnant. I was 40+ when someone asked me if I was pregnant (and embarassed me greatly) when I was wearing what I thought to be a particularly gorgeous Indian smock style dress.
- Choose shoes that you are comfortable in (so that you stand well) but consider the style of the dress. Thick chunky shoes won’t balance this style of dress, small wedges will, so too kitten heels and court shoes, oh and why not try a pair of cute ankle boots for winter time?
- If you want your legs to look longer then think about wearing nude coloured shoes, and silky flesh coloured tights, which can be worn with any colour dress, and I’m wearing nude wedges above with three dresses above. Think Kate Middleton, although you don’t have to go for shoes that are quite that high.
Anyway, what do I know, really! Here endeth the lesson – Lol! What do you think?
I hope some of it makes sense to you, and I’d love to see photos of you in your Jersey dresses. Email them to me, or add them on Facebook and I’ll compile a collage of you lovely lot because this blog isn’t meant to be all about me. Pics pretty please.
You might also like: How to Dress Well if You’re Short
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I just found your article from a Google search about Jersey dresses. I just wanted to leave you a message letting you know that even at 43 yrs old I found your info helpful. I also really like how you kept your mistakes in the photos and talked about them, showing us all that it’s ok to make mistakes. I found that very likable and endearing. Also I like how you wrote your bio in the first person. So many people try to pretend it’s someone else talking about who they are and what they do and it comes across a little odd but yours was very personable. You seem like a cool Aunt so don’t let anyone make you feel like a Granny. (Not that there’s anything wrong with Grannies, but you know what I mean) Great Blog:)
Thank you Mary 🙂 That’s so lovely of you to say. I’m really glad you enjoyed this post, and I hope you’ll keep reading and maybe consider signing up for the newsletter too x I love that you might consider me a ‘cool Aunt!’
I’ve just found your blog and find your articles helpful and the looks you feature very achievable. I have just turned 60 but feel your advice is still pertinent. Kate 🙂
Hello Kate, Thank you! I’m so glad about that … any hints and tips I give are meant for ladies over fifty, not just in their fifties, so I’m happy that you can relate 🙂
Just bought one myself this week, for a wedding next week! I’m amazed at how nice it looks on, despite my concerns about it showing my lumpy bits. All of the dresses you feature look so lovely on you Jo, particularly the green print.
Thanks Jo – Oh I’d love to see a pic of you and your new jersey dress at the wedding. I’ve also been wondering if I can wear one to a wedding in England.
I have to agree that a jersey dress in a lovely (not too clingy) fabric and design, works wonders with a not so young and slender figure (sigh) Leona Edmistone is fabulous, I have a couple and stalk the sale pages for new additions.
Great for packing and generally easy care….here’s to looking great (which you do) and feeling our best! Thanks for the tips
Thanks Lesley. Like you I’ve begun stalking Leona Edmiston sale dresses!
You have certainly given me something to think about Jo. Next time I am shopping for a dress I am going to look for a jersey dress! thanks Jo for the wonderful fashion tips. They are a fabulous help.
Hi Jill, I am very glad that the tips are a little bit helpful. I think a jersey dress in a side-wrap style in a great fabric would probably help steer you from your aversion to dresses.
It depends on the fabric – if it’s a decent weight jersey I love them! There are some cheap versions that cling in all the wrong places though. Oh, and no ironing is always a bonus! You look great in all the pics 🙂
PS I had a dress EXACTLY like that Leona Edmiston in 1989, only in black, and felt a million bucks in it.
Hi Janet, time to get another one, me thinks? They do feel and look lovely if you get the right cut for your body shape.
Thank you Janet! Yes, no ironing is Ace! I know I have had a couple of clingy versions – it’s all in the fabric as you say 🙂
Jo, can I ask a dumb question. While shapewear knickers keeps anything below the belly-button nice and neat and smooth, it just seems to make above the navel look worse. Am I just wearing the wrong shapewear? I adore that red dress – that faux wrap look is beautiful on you. I’ve actually got a similar dress (from Tarjay, no less) with a black swirly patten. I adore it cos the pattern hides everything (I hope). Lovely, helpful blog, thank you.
Hi Cheryl, there are no dumb questions around here. Thanks for asking. I bet other people have wondered the same thing. I do know what you mean though and I’m not an expert but I’ve often thought about wearing shapewear like Spanx that comes up higher than waist high although wonder how constricting it might be – anyone? Here’s a link I just found that might give us some more ideas.
http://www.health.com/health/m/gallery/0,,20673786,00.html
Let me know how you go 🙂 In the meantime I’ll do more investigating.
I bought something similar recently to wear under my Spanish dance leotard, but I found it kept rolling down to lump around my waist and then it did feel constricting.
Oh dear Jill! That doesn’t sound good 😉 More research required 😉
I love this pattern and style of jersey dress.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m with Rae, I love that green print jersey dress on you. You really do wear a dress well Jo. I think you would look fabuous in anything. I am also a bit of a dress girl, so I will have to give the jersey dress a try.
Thank you Kathy, I do enjoy wearing them. I can remember you in that little black dress in a guest post on Lifestyle Fifty – you looked like a movie star in that.
I just love that green on you Jo. I love a Jersey dress to, easy to wear, doesn’t crease much and generally you feel like you have nothing on and it flows with you . I am shopping on Friday for one x
Oh enjoy your spree Rae! And thank you x
I remember wearing Jersey Maxi Dresses as a teenager. It is so comfortable to wear!
It is hey Jan! I think as a teenager they were not as forgiving as they are now as I remember lumps and bumps … or maybe I was always trying to fit into dress sizes 2 x smaller than I was!