A spaghetti strap dress is one of the most common pieces in a women’s wardrobes – especially back in the nineties. This particular item of clothing is not only dainty, but it offers functional versatility. It doesn’t matter if you have a mini, midi, maxi, slinky, or loose one, you can be sure to get great use out of it.
However, the reality is most women are nothing like the styling gurus on YouTube who can come up with 20 different styles for one particular clothing piece. A lot of them are too busy to think much about their clothes, or they suffer from what fashion-centred folks call plain creative deficiency.
If you are like such women, but you want to stop wearing the same dress in the same style over and over again, listed below are seven easy jazzing up tricks for that lovely spaghetti strap dress you have in your closet.
1. Change the shoes you pair with the dress.
This is perhaps the easiest way to switch up the appeal of a spaghetti strap dress. If you have always worn the dress in a romantic way with a pair of strappy high heels, give it an edgy appeal by wearing chunky boots instead. Doc Martens or Timberlands will take the outfit from cocktail to street fashion.
Or, invest in a pair of thigh-high, stiletto boots for that longer and sexier silhouette. Meanwhile, if you want to make the dress look more casual, opt for kicks, or platform sneakers which are all the rage for women’s fashion these days.
2. Wear a basic T-shirt underneath.
Hop into the ’90s fashion train by dressing up like Cher Horowitz (played by Alicia Silverstone) of the movie “Clueless.” Cher liked to wear a plain white tee under her spaghetti strap tops. You can do the same with your dress.
This simple styling tip will give fashionable mileage because you can switch up colours and even play with prints and patterns for the shirt, especially if your dress is a solid block of colour.
3. Wear pants.
Wearing pants with the dress is always a go, especially if the dress is a slinky and short one. For a seamless outfit, the best option for pants to pair with the dress is a wide-leg one. Palazzo pants are fantastic but also those masculine structure trousers. Such bottoms will effortlessly conceal any bunched up fabric of the dress.
Another way of wearing pants with the dress is to wear plain, flared trousers and stiletto mules with it – very late ’90s and on-trend nowadays.
4. Layer the dress with another skirt.
Turn your spaghetti strap dress into a sexy cami top by wearing a skirt with it. You cannot go wrong with an electric pleated midi-skirt for a sweet ensemble perfect for brunch or a casual meet-up with friends. And, if the dress fits your body like a glove, you should also try wearing it as a top for a pencil skirt.
Now, if you want a more unconventional or high-fashion approach, wear a sheer fabric (muslin, lace, or tulle) skirt with the dress. Another style you can create with this layering trick is to wear a short and high-waisted pencil skirt with the dress. The short skirt, which falls above the full length of your dress, can serve as a figure-flattering colour block for the entire outfit.
5. Layer the dress with an African-inspired denim jacket.
A denim jacket with a spaghetti strap dress always looks good. It can have this bohemian vibe or that funky eighties aesthetic, which is rather popular among young people.
An African-inspired denim jacket, particularly, makes for a stunning layering piece for single colour, plain strappy dresses.
6. Wear a cropped shirt over the dress.
You can opt for a true cropped shirt to turn the dress into a skirt, or a regular tee whose hem you tie in a knot. This style idea is another way to make the dress look more casual and also a bit modest.
Use this clothing tip for those lazy days when you just want something easy and breezy. Let the dress be the solid base for an outfit that you can wear to the beach or the mall.
7. Wear a tight-fitting long-sleeved shirt underneath the dress.
Swap the basic tee for a long-sleeved knit or fleece shirt to wear under the dress. This will create a more polished ensemble for a chilly day, especially if you opt for a shirt with a high neckline.
Glam up the outfit even more with chunky gold accessories, such a pair of big hoop earrings, layers of bracelets, and a big watch. And, if the day’s really nippy, throw on a head cover. A big floppy felt hat, a newsboy hat, and a beret are fantastic choices.
There you go, seven tips and tricks to help ensure fashion versatility for your spaghetti strap dress. It’s important to mention, however, that all of these styling ideas are not just applicable to spaghetti strap dresses, you can use them for the other breezy pieces in your closet as well.
Author Bio
Ethiopian-born and Dubai-based fashion designer Feiruza Mudessir discovered her curiosity to mix the traditional with contemporary at a young age, and this has become the trademark of her designs for Finchitua today. With her unique style standpoint, she served the VIP Color Forecast Panel 2017 for Al Jazeera Paints Company and VIP Color Forecast Panel 2019 for Asian Paints Berger. Ms Mudessir is a shortlisted nominee for the prestigious Fashion Scout London 2018.
