The New Shirt Dress

I always get nervous about clothing advertised to be something it shouldn't, because it often goes so terribly awry. Taylor Momsen and Lindsey Lohan, for example, took the shirt dress WAY too literally.  It's just awkward for everyone when they are wondering if you were so hungover/questionably still intoxicated  that you forgot to put on pants, or if you've just escaped from a bad one night stand and were forced to sacrifice your pants for the sake of freedom. Either way, when you go before the jury (whether it be a real one- lindsey- this is for you- or just the audience of innocent bystanders who you've just blinded with your unnecessary upper thigh while they were sipping their coffee), it's not helping your cause.

Now the shirt dress is nothing new, but the style this year is embracing a bit more of the safari theme and military chicness that's being worked into the skinny cargo pants that make it different. For all you literal shirt dress perpetrators, it might be a good option to add a little length to your typically saturday wardrobe, plus it looks pretty comfortable. Philip Lim put out the perfectly expensive inspiration for this dress, but there are a lot of good alternatives to his idea that range from sexy safari hunter to more casual.

Philip Lim "Open Back Safari Dress"
$525
sold at Bergdorff's 

Forever 21 "Linen-Blend Strapless Shirt Dress"
$24.80
www.forever21.com

Urban Outfitter's "Sparkle and Fade Shirt Dress"
$60
www.urbanoutfitters.com

BCBGeneration "Belted Shirt Dress"
$138
sold at www.bloomingdales.com

BCBGeneration "Wrap Front Dress"
on sale $82.60
www.bloomingdales.com

Armani Exchange "Belted Utility Dress"
$130
www.armaniexchange.com

Macy's "Charter Club Dress"
$79
www.macys.com

JCrew "Herringbone Cargo Dress"
$69.50
www.jcrew.com

Lauren Jeans "Margie Chino Shirt Dress"
$149
www.bloomingdales.com

Michael Kors "Drawstring Waist Shirtdress"
on sale $91
www.bloomingdales.com

Piperlime "Sanctuary Community Shirt Dress"
$130
www.piperlime.com

Madewell "Scenic Route Shirtdress"
$158
www.madewell.com

Armani Exchange "Snap Front Shirt Dress"
$79
www.armaniexchange.com

MinkPink "Slouchy Shirt Dress"
$116.55
www.asos.com 

Madwell "Snapshot Dress"
$145
www.madewell.com

Jcrew "Weekend Dress"
$88
www.jcrew.com

Express "Short Sleeved Military Shirt Dress"
$69.60
www.express.com