Dresses Over Leggings

Editor's Note: This post was updated in March 2013.

Yesterday, I was at the hair salon and took this snapshot of the owner (above). She looked adorable in the thin, black and white paisley print dress over black leggings. She left the top buttons open and wore a black camisole. It was a balmy 60 degrees yesterday, so her strappy sandals were perfect.

I love the short dress with leggings or skinny jeans. It's the perfect look for women over 50 built like me. My best feature is my torso--the area between my shoulders and my hips--and my worst feature is my legs, which are short and thick at the hips. The typical tunic is boxy and ends just below the bottom, concealing my best feature (my waist) and drawing attention to my worst one (my thighs). If like me, you want to accentuate your figure and hide your lousy legs, a structured short dress is perfect to wear over leggings or skinny jeans.

These days, so many of the dresses are too short to wear solo, but perfect with leggings or skinny jeans. I'm posting a sample below. Sorry about the skinny models, who are shaped nothing like my over 50 body! But the shape of the dresses are the kind I love over my skinny jeans. Click on any of the photos for more details or to shop.

I'll start with a threesome of well-priced dresses from Old Navy...





Old Navy Womens Printed Shift Dresses ($29.94) Sizes thru XXL.









Old Navy Womens Crepe Color Blocked Shirt Dresses (was $34.94, now $19.97), but only up to Size M.








Old Navy Womens Sleeved Floral Chiffon Dresses (was $29.94, now $25). Available in sizes up to XXL. Also available in trendy emerald green.



The first two dresses I bought to wear over skinny jeans were from Max Studio.  Here are two from that brand. I often wear my dresses with scarves or long thin sweaters...or both. I love the layered look.





DRESS W/ FRONT DETAIL-L-BLACK (was $148, now $68) in olive or black. Sizes up to XL.






STRIPED JERSEY DRESS-XL-CREAM GREY TWEED (was $88, now $38). Only size XL.


Michael Starr has some ultra soft dresses that I think would be very cozy with leggings or skinny jeans. For instance, this Michael Stars Justine Split Nck Drawstring Waist Dress ($148)








And here's one last Old Navy dress. I like to wear my khaki shirt dress over jeggings. Here's a comfortable looking Old Navy Womens Chambray Belted Shirt Dresses ($29.00)