For fall and winter 2021, sweater dresses will top the lists of fashion trends. Many women will celebrate this great news. After all, this cute-and-cozy closet staple is incredibly versatile, appropriate for parties, date nights, office days and more. 

Still, a sweatshirt dress can create a bulky silhouette. That’s why picking the right dress style—and accessories—is crucial to pulling off a flattering sweater dress outfit. Not sure where to start? Check out these seven styling tips for every day and night situation that sweatshirt dresses may face. 

Much like the beloved cardigan, sweater dresses work in professional settings as well as they do for parties. They can skew formal, casual, business casual and more, depending on the fit, material, hemline, color and styling choices.  A fitted red sweater dress for date night? Yes, please! But not necessarily for a lunch meeting in the conference room.

Even better? Thanks to finds from Nordstrom and Amazon fashion, it’s easy to score stylish pieces at a range of price points. Now, a word on styling for the upcoming seasons. The fashion world has taken a turn for the casual, so a sweatshirt dress can easily work for settings such as cocktail parties. Still, even COVID didn’t banish all rules of formality, so consider black sweater dresses for more formal settings. And, as the weather turns colder, color will be in play to brighten up short days. Just don’t be afraid to throw out some fashion conventions, since winter white sweater dresses like this tie-waisted Merokeety piece are certainly on trend for 2021.  

After experimenting with color, silhouette and shoe choice can make the most of any sweater dress. So check out these 7 outfits that place a whole new spin on sweater weather styling.

For a long day running errands or at the office, pairing sweater dresses with flats can be an unexpected style win. The key to pulling off this pairing is hem length—midi dresses are best, since shorter lengths and miles of legs could lend the impression of incomplete styling. 

With that longer hem line, bare legs and flat sandals work for casual settings. Or, for a more formal dress code—and a sexier esthetic—choose a side-slitted style such as the Nathalie Wrap Front from Nordstrom, a sweet kitten heel, and long loose waves for the ultimate evening look.

Sweater dresses certainly work as stand-alone pieces. When temperatures drop, however, or dress materials are thin, layering with a stylish trench coat is always a win. Now, not every dress will work beneath a coat. Choose a material that’s too thick, and all that extra bulk will never be flattering. Instead, choose a thinner knit. This Eliza J dress is ideal, especially since it also boasts a waist-defining bow sash for a look that’s chic without being stiff or shapeless. 

A fresh take on sweatshirt dress styling means pairing formal accessories with dressed-down silhouettes. Try mixing the playful prints and distressed hemline of this Meenew Women’s Furry Crewneck dress with sky-high stilettos and a sparkly headband for the upcoming season of holiday parties or even a special Netflix-and-chill night in. While too risqué for an office event, this fresh take on a beloved style staple takes sweater dresses miles away from grandma territory.   

Covered up and business casual is the key to rocking sweater dresses for work. Shallow vee-necks like the one on this Grace Karin style are usually fine, but more conservative settings may require turtleneck styles like this Exlura pullover dress. 

Accessories will make all the difference when styling for the office. A simple pump or ankle boot is the best shoe choice. Add a delicate chain and a statement watch, and the mix will be elegant and appropriate, but never bland or forgettable.

In street-style cities like New York and Chicago, a sweater-dress, over-the-knee-boot combo adds up to fall fashion magic. Since no dress codes or formality rules are in play, this is the moment to get experimental. Go micro-mini on the hemline and sky-high on the boot height, leaving just an inch or two of skin between both pieces. This Endless Rose white sweater dress offers the perfect mid-thigh length.

Once the right proportions are in place, get ready to play with color and texture. Suede boots add an element of luxury to any look, while leather brings edginess and knit boots offer head-to-toe coziness that’s like a hug for that OOTD.

With hectic work week schedules, packing seven days of fun into a two-day weekend is oh-so-2021. Especially after over a year of lockdowns, where couch surfing replaced extra-special weekend plans. Fortunately, a sweatshirt dress is the perfect piece to throw on after morning spin class. It can run from a Sunday soccer match to bottomless brunch, and straight to the afternoon grocery run, even carrying through weekly meal prep. 

Of course, a weekend on the go demands comfort-based styling. So to take a sweater dress all over town, choose an easy silhouette that makes movement a breeze. This Calbetty casual pullover dress is perfect, especially since it has pockets! Then throw on pretty walking kicks, and pull hair into a low loose ponytail, and the look will last all day long.

The 90s may be back (hello, high-waisted mom jeans), but the 70s never really went away. Now, that’s great news since a boxy sweater dress, thigh-high boots and a jaunty fedora send up major boho vibes. Want a fresh spin that’s ready for this millennium? Keep the wide-brimmed hat, but swap in a figure skimming, off-the-shoulder silhouette like this Atergens knit dress for a sexier spin on this classic combination. 

From formal to casual and everywhere in between, a sweater dress is the perfect piece for almost every setting. Follow the styling tips above, or come up with a new combination that just won’t quit, and be sure to share the winning mix in the comments below!