styling tips to avoid fashion faux pas when pairing a coat with a dress

We love dresses in summer and coats in winter: so why not combine these two pieces for the autumn season? When the leaves fall and the temperatures drop in October, a coat is a welcome styling upgrade in terms of warmth. But which coat goes with which dress? We have the stylish answers!

How to combine a coat with a dress

We celebrate diversity in the fashion world – which doesn’t necessarily make styling any easier, however. Duffle coat, down, wool or fake fur coat: the list is long, and not just for coats; the fate of diversity also befalls dresses. Don’t worry, with just a few styling rules you can create a dress and coat outfit :

Can the coat be shorter than the dress?

Good question, after all, dresses and jackets can also be styled. The key factor here is the so-called “hem step”; in other words: the coat should end at the hem of the skirt or can be a little shorter – but not more than one step. Otherwise, it becomes a fashion faux pas! Longer, on the other hand, always works.

The great thing about short dresses: any coat length is allowed. Model Romee Strijd wears an elegant A-line midi coat with black mini, black boots, and a chic bag. A-lines are a clever choice, especially for shorter dresses and coats – add (over-the-knee) boots and the look is perfect.

Which coat goes with long dresses?

A long turtleneck dress made of fine knit is a clever choice, especially in the colder seasons – both in terms of styling and warmth. Influencer Victoria Magrath opts for a figure-hugging version in black and a loose-fitting wool coat of the same length.

Creator Cherifa Akili shows how to create an hourglass silhouette with a closed coat: a ribbon tied in a bow at the waist replaces the belt.

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Tip: If you wear the coat open, a maxi dress combined with a belt creates a great silhouette. A down or quilted coat also goes well with the long dress; more on this in our style ideas.

Which coat can be worn over a midi-length dress?

With the midi dress, you can choose between a medium or long coat – the main thing is that the jacket alternative is not much shorter than the skirt. Fashion influencer Tamara Kalinic goes for the long version in the layering look: over her midi blouse dress, she wears a cable knit sweater and a quilted coat over it. She combines it with flat boots in a biker look.

Wearing a dress with a coat: 4 style ideas and tips for every occasion

Okay, admittedly, short, long, and medium are not enough, because it is often a question of the occasion. A down coat with an evening dress? No way! You can now read which coat is suitable for which occasion and which trend models fashion lovers currently cannot do without.

1. What to wear in an evening dress? Layer the dress elegantly with a coat

The next event is just around the corner and with it the big question of what to wear. This isn’t so easy in colder temperatures – after all, you want to enjoy celebrations like weddings and not spend them shivering. But what options do you have other than a blazer with an elegant dress? Coat models made of wool, fake fur, or even satin are a stylish answer.

2. What to wear over a summer dress? Combine the right coat with a dress in autumn and winter

Wool coats always work. But what about warmer coat models such as the down coat? The voluminous puffer coat provides an exciting contrast to the feminine summer dress, which works very well – as influencer Anna Wolfers proves.

Tip for the coat-dress combination in winter: To keep warm when visiting the Christmas market, you can simply wear a quilted vest under the coat.

3. Office outfit: Style the dress with a coat in a casual chic way

The outfit is ready, but the jacket isn’t: Hardly any coat goes better with office chic than a wool coat. In spring, a trench coat also works – classic in grey, brown, or black.

4. How do I wear the coat with the dress in everyday life?

In autumn we love leather-look coats – both short and long versions. But it is no longer the only one at the top of our autumn must-haves: we can’t get past the denim coat either at the moment and we don’t want to. A short sweater dress underneath, boots, and our new favorite autumn outfit are ready.