How to Style Your Dungarees for 2023
I bloody love my dungarees! I jumped on the all-in-one band-wagon about 5 years ago, albeit with trepidation & a lot of nerves to begin with; I had been obsessed with them as my maternity go-to, could I really rock them in my everyday style? Now barely a week goes by without my denim ‘comfort blanket’ of my FatFace Lewes blue dungarees. They always go first into the case when packing for Norfolk (we go all year round & they get worn every time) as I like the feeling of being strapped into a utility piece of clothing; one where I don’t have to stress about flashing my tummy, or builders bum, whilst bent over exploring a rock pool with my 5 year old son.
I wear them for me, not to please anyone else and I LOVE that!
Source: Pinterest
I can bet at least 40% of readers will have switched off just by looking at the title of this blog, because dungarees split opinions more than most items of clothing ever will. So, if you are still here, welcome to my tribe!
I consider dungarees the younger, cooler sister of the jumpsuit, with the added bonus of my loyal jeans, with an extra tummy warmer. They’ve got all the convenience of a dress with the additional warmth of a pair of trousers. A bit like your buffet dress but for cold legs & maintaining your modesty! I also love their versatility, I wear mine more for smarter occasions now than casual, and have worn them to meet clients on several occasions.
Yet when I encourage clients to wear them, I feel a sense of fear washing over them; until I show how versatile, current, and most importantly comfortable these denim staples are so I want to share some of my tips & style boards on these denim “must haves” with you all:
Source: Pinterest
Unlike the styling of the classic 90s dungaree which were typically baggy & shapeless, worn with a plain tee underneath, in 2023 my advice would be to invest in a pair with a slim leg for smart ( yes I know it’s controversial that you can wear them out for the evening or to a lunch date), and a girlfriend/boyfriend leg for casual that can be rolled up to pop on with your leather sliders in summer, trainers the rest of the year.
Even for those of us petite or tall, dungarees shouldn't be daunting, on the contrary you just need to look at lines & proportion (I can advise on that). My other advice, go to the brands that are obsessive about proper fit & design - some might not be cheap, however investing in one that fits well, makes you feel great, even if the price is high, will work out longterm in your cost-per-wear. A pair that don’t fit well or aren’t the right leg shape could put you off wearing dungarees, and that won’t be good.
Source: Pinterest
From fashionistas Sienna Miller & Alexa Chung to Megan Markle & the street style of NYC , when it comes to styling your dungarees think of them as a perfect not-summer-not -autumn piece to reach for. Use your accessories to tweak their styling showing they still have the mileage as the seasons change. And style them as you would your jeans; a basic, styled to suit your personal taste.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
When needing to be smarter, go for slim fitting black ones, pair with a statement heel, with a blouse or sharp shirt, casually throwing over a blazer of course.
Try a pretty blouse underneath, it add that perfect feminine touch
Let the bib hang down, if you’re one of the cool kids
Team with a classic knit underneath, neck scarf & mule
Play with your footwear choices, you’ll be surprised how well dungarees work with: heels, trainers, sliders, block heels, boots, DM’s
Add a smart black blazer & heels will instantly add a sharpness
Roll the hems & add trainers & your leather jacket
Style simple with a checked shirt & some slingback for a cool fashionista vibe
Stripes stripes stripes - always a winner with a denim dungaree
Experiment with print mixing within your blazer, shirt & shoe combinations
Source: Pinterest
I hope this proves that wearing dungarees does not have to make you look either like Mr Tumble or a CBeebies presenter. I welcome you to join me in a world of comfort, safety & style; the perfect combination.
Top tip:
To save the worry of going to the loo in dungarees try this: keep the straps attached, just slip them over your shoulders then you don’t run the risk of them being dipped into the toilet, I also roll the straps into the trousers part for extra safety.
Did you know?
Did you know that Levi Strauss were the pioneers of making Dungarees? In fact the first pair of ‘jeans’ they invented back in the 1890s were not really the jeans we know today, they were actually ‘overalls’ (to use the US term), consisting of braces attached to denim trousers with buttons but with no top part with a bib.
Source: Pinterest