A shirt dress is a type of dress for women that is designed to appear similarly to a man's shirt. A shirt dress typically has a folded collar, buttons down the front, and short, cuffed sleeves. This type of dress is very popular for the office, because it looks professional and appropriate while still being stylish and feminine at the same time.
Typically, a shirt dress is made out of a stiffer fabric; cotton and silk are very common, as they are soft fabrics but are able to maintain a tailored look. Sometimes, a shirt dress is cut in at the waist to give a more defined, feminine shape to the look, but often this look is just created with a belt that is cinched around the waist. This type of dress generally features a fairly straight skirt; it is not tight and fitted like a pencil skirt, and not as flared as a traditional A-line skirt either.
This style of dress typically reaches to about the knees; though slightly shorter styles exist, it is rare to see this type of dress in a style that is longer than the knee. Because of the cut of a shirt dress, it can work well on a number of different body types, particularly because it can disguise a wider waist - simply choose a dress that does not have a seam at the waist, and do not wear a belt.
A shirt dress may be worn with heels or flats, but heels tend to give it a more dressy appearance. These dresses are available in many different colors and designs, and many people choose to wear a different shirt dress every day as a type of "uniform" for work. It is easy to make the dress appear more formal by adding accessories; changing shoes, makeup, and jewelry can make it possible to wear this dress for work during the day, and then for an evening out.
No matter which style of dress one chooses, the most important thing is to choose one that fits. Though some people are tempted to purchase clothing in too big or too small sizes to try to camouflage certain areas of the body, that will generally just make one look sloppy. Instead, choose shirt dresses that are tailored to the body and that fit well, without being too tight or too loose in any area; this will help one to look professional and stylish.