Dresses to Wear to Work and on the Weekend

Hello, hello! Thanks so much for stopping by today. I recently put up a question box on my Instagram, and one of you lovely gals replied about styling dresses for work and weekend. One of the things I always talk about is versatility in clothes, and there’s really nothing better than a dress you can wear to work and on the weekend! So, that’s what today’s post is about.

Dresses to Wear to Work and on the Weekend

The A-Line Linen Dress

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The great thing about a-line dresses is that they come in all different fabrics throughout the year, so you can style different a-line dresses in the same ways I have below for seasons to come. For spring and summer casual wear, I would pair this type of dress with this linen t-shirt like I did below. Of course, I also love this style of dress by itself! You definitely don’t need a t-shirt if you don’t want it.

My exact dress is sold out, but I love this gorgeous linen dress, and it’s under $65!

For the weekend, you could also add a baseball cap to the outfit above if you want to hide your hair in a ponytail or bun (which is what I often do)! This one is linen, and it’s my favorite for spring and summer.

For work, I love to layer, whether that’s with a button down like I’m wearing in the photo below, or with a cardigan, blazer, denim jacket, or lady jacket when it’s colder outside. It all depends on the season, what you are comfortable in, and the formality of your office! I’ve worn this look to work in all different types of offices – from casual to formal.

See below for work outfit inspo for this type of dress! I love this type of look for work. It’s put together, you will be comfortable all day, and you can wear it with flats or heels.

Related: A Work Wardrobe Refresh

Pros of the a-line dress: super versatile, can dress way up or way down

Cons of the a-line dress: You guys!! I can’t think of many!! I will say that some of the a-line dresses I’ve tried in the past haven’t always made me feel the most confident, especially after having just had a baby! But, the fit of this specific a-line dress really worked for me.

Linen Shirtdress

Okay, next is the shirtdress. The shirtdress is perfect for work and so many things you’d do during the day on the weekend. Since summer is around the corner, I’m sharing my favorite linen shirtdress. However, shirt dresses are available from most anywhere year-round, and I feel like styling them is pretty straightforward. I typically just add a belt and wear ballet flats or slingbacks when I want to wear this dress to work! In the winter, you can pair a shirtdress with boots.

Okay, I have this specific shirtdress in navy and the neutral color below. There are several other colors. Everlane also makes one that is a little looser fitting. I basically live in these linen button down dresses during the height of hot summer days.

Pros of the linen shirtdress: perfect length for work, wear with most shoes, easy to wear for the weekend, pregnancy friendly! I am late in my second or early in my third trimester here!

Cons of the linen shirtdress: Not office appropriate for formal dress codes

Midi Linen Dress

This linen midi dress, which also comes in black, is another perfect example of a dress for work and for casual outfits. I’m wearing it below for a super casual look on a surprisingly warm spring morning!

I actually put together an entire reel on different ways to style my dress because it’s so versatile. I love it with this button up under it for work. (The button up was gifted to me. I paid for the dress)! I also love how the dress looks with a leather jacket for spring and fall.

Click here to read an entire blog post on how to style a midi dress for summer.

Pros of my linen midi dress: love the slightly loose fit so it doesn’t cling to me around my stomach area, perfect length for work, wear with most shoes, easy to wear for the weekend

Cons of my linen midi dress: I don’t have anything bad to say about this dress!

High Neck Linen Midi Dress In Black Or White

At first glance, this dress does not look like something you might consider for work. But, if you wear it with a lady jacket or a blazer, I think it would be office appropriate! I recently bought this summer weight lady jacket with short sleeves (I bought it in tan). It’s really soft and lightweight. I bought size small but I probably could’ve done a medium as well. I think it’s perfect to make this look office friendly.

This dress is obviously a stunning weekend option in either color. You can wear this with sneakers to walk around a new city on a summer vacation, pair it with heeled sandals for a wedding, or wear it to your own bridal shower or bachelorette party if you pick white!

Pros of a linen high neck dress: Just a stunning dress all around, nice coverage for work with a layer and just ditch your layer for your after work or weekend plans

Cons of a linen high neck dress: I can’t think of any! I love these dresses! I will say, at 5’4, this dress has the potential to not be for us shorter gals, but I’m still willing to give it a try!

$70 Neutral Midi Shirtdress With Tie Waist

Most types of midi dresses are perfect for work. And, if you have a little one to chase after like I do, you can appreciate the length of a midi dress for anything you might do after work or on a weekend!

I put together an outfit idea below of how to style this neutral shirtdress for work and also for a casual look. This dress is $70 and it’s gorgeous! I love the raffia bag for both looks, but I linked a couple of beautiful leather bags that would also be good options. I noticed this one in store because of the beautiful woven detailing.

This dress also comes in a beautiful bright red that I just love. It’s perfectly on trend, but red is also a classic option. Okay, one last option that I love is this black dress from Mango, which comes in at $80. It’s a shirtdress that also has a really nice tie feature at the waist, which is perfect for helping mask any insecurities about that area (I know I have some).

Pros of this exact midi shirtdress: Easy to style – just throw it on and go! The tie waist should provide a nice shape

Cons of this exact midi shirtdress: Not for layering

Bright Shirtdress

A bright shirtdress is a good closet essential because you can get a lot of wear out of it. Whether you’re going to work, brunch, running errands, or taking it with you on vacation, it works for all of these places! PS – not all of these are bright, but most of them are.

Pros of a shirtdress: Easy to style – just throw it on and go!

Cons of a shirtdress: Not for layering, a bright dress can be difficult to rewear frequently if that is something you consider with your wardrobe!

Sweater Dress

If you’re looking for a dress for fall and winter, a sweater dress should be on your list. There are so many different types of sweater dresses, which means there are plenty that are work appropriate that you can also wear casually. You can see how I styled this one for family photos, but this dress is also a nice option for work. If you’re wondering if your sweater dress is work appropriate, here are a few things to keep in mind!

• Avoid a sweater dress that’s super form fitting (or form fitting in a way that’s inappropriate for work)
• Opt for a work appropriate material like wool, a wool-blend, or cashmere
• Go for a length that’s okay for the office, so mostly a midi or even maxi length. If you aren’t sure if your dress length is work appropriate, sit down in it at home or in the store to see if you would feel comfortable wearing it while you’re sitting in a meeting or interview!

Wrap Dress

A wrap dress is another option that you can wear to work or dress down for the weekend. This style of dress pairs well with a low heel or boots for work, but also looks really cute with sneakers or your casual shoe of choice.

Pros of the wrap dress: Comfortable, work appropriate for most offices, doesn’t require much styling – just pair with shoes and your accessories

Cons of the wrap dress: Some wrap dresses can be tricky with fit depending on your bust size

Polka Dot Dress

Polka dots are such a fun pattern for anything you might do! They go with just about any type of shoe you might need, which makes this pattern versatile for day to night.

Linen Sheath Dress For Work

A sheath dress is a pretty fail proof work dress. You can wear it by itself, with a blazer, another type of jacket, a cardigan, a turtleneck, or a button up! The options feel endless. When I was going into an office every day, I wore a lot of sheath dresses because of how versatile and season-less they are. Okay, I just said season-less, but I am highlighting a linen dress here so this one does have a seasonal expiration! However, there are lots of wool or cotton blend options that don’t!

Pros of a linen sheath dress: Polished, tailored look perfect for the office

Cons of a linen sheath dress: Lacks versatility that some other options have, as it’s mostly a look you’d choose for the office

Okay, I hope this post is helpful for some outfit ideas for work and the weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by today!