Most of us have a favorite color (mine’s pink!).

And most of us, have a color (or several) that we never wear.

For years when I was a dermatologist, I shopped only twice a year at Mark Shale in Oakbrook. I had a terrific saleswoman, Claire Newman, who occasionally tried to get me to branch out in my clothing selections.

Here I am in an olive dress with a jean jacket, layered necklace and a fun hat.

I distinctly remember her trying to get me to wear olive clothing.

Sometimes, it was a little jacket.

Or a shirt.

And every time, I violently shook my head, “no”, and she would take the offender away.

Fast forward.

Now, I pay attention to new things.

As an influencer, I am more open-minded to trying a trend.

Imagine my surprise when I purchased this Quince dress in none other than olive!

Knock me over with a feather!

I love it!

In this post...

Why I Bought This Olive Dress

The dress is a flattering fit and flare style which is flattering to many body types. A fit and flare style has a fitted bodice, often hugging the waist and upper torso. Then the dress skirt flares out from the waist, creating a design that allows for movement and adds a touch of femininity.

Fit and flare dresses are like the chameleons of the fashion world—they adapt beautifully to various body types! The skirt skims over a pear-shaped body’s wider hips while giving the illusion of curves to a rectangular-shaped figure. I have an apple-shaped body (as I tend to carry weight around my middle). The scoop neckline is flattering as it elongates my torso by showing my upper chest skin. Lastly, fit and flare dresses also work on an hourglass figure! They emphasize your curves and create an elegant silhouette. Who knew?

The darling olive dress is made of Tencel, a fiber derived from a sustainably grown wood. It is soft and light and moves with me as I walk.

Oh, and did I mention that it has pockets? Yes! I like pockets, especially on a flowy dress like this one. I am that person who always has a new piece of Kleenex in my pocket for some grandson’s runny nose! I love the fun of popping my hands in my pockets and swinging my dress when I walk!

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Why Is Olive a Great Color?

I now realize an olive dress is a great basic for my wardrobe.

Olive is considered a neutral color like black, white, khaki, denim, and navy which means it pairs well with many other colors. Think of olive as a great background color (like a white shirt or a jean jacket). This olive dress as noted above, has many wonderful features. The color allows you to mix it with various accessories to create distinctive and different looks. As an influencer, I always like to create multiple ways to wear an item before I recommend it to you. Let’s get to the outfits to see how to wear an olive dress:

Outfit #1 Olive Dress, Jean Jacket, Layered Necklace, and a Fun Hat

I paired the olive dress with a medium-wash jean jacket. It looks great with ANY color jean jacket. This look works because the olive dress is a muted shade and so is the jacket. My sandals are nude flat ones that extend my leg line. I added hammered gold hoop earrings, a gold watch, a gold bangle, and a layered olive beaded necklace (terrific buy).

Lastly, I added a fun hat. This hat is soft enough to pack easily and it provides excellent sun protection.

Outfit #2 Olive Dress with Silver Jewelry

Here is the olive scoop-neck dress with a layered silver necklace, silver earrings and silver bracelets.

Many of my followers are over 50 and typically, unhappy with the look of their arms. I wanted, however, to show the lines of the dress without a jacket for those of you who still wear sleeveless items. I love the scoop neckline as it (like a V-neck) helps middle-aged necks more attractive. Seeing a bit of upper chest and neck makes the wrinkles less obvious. It also makes a large bust, less noticeable.

Here is the olive scoop-neck dress with a layered silver necklace, silver earrings and silver bracelets. This is a closeup of my earrings and jewelry.

I am a fan of these layered necklaces as they are so feminine. They also fill in the neckline a bit in a subtle way. These silver bracelets are a terrific buy! I love wearing them with my Ebel watch for a “high-low” look. I added very pretty silver earrings that are fun knock-offs of a famous brand. They are classic in their lines, but the price is fabulous. They also come in gold. Again, I wore the nude flat sandal.

Outfit #3 Olive Dress with a White Blazer

Here is the olive dress with a white blazer, olive scarf, canvas belt and a great wicker handbag,

This more formal look would be perfect for many workplaces on a warm summer day. I took the olive dress, and white blazer (on sale), and added a canvas belt (great value), nude suede block-heeled sandals, and a pretty gold pendant necklace. Over the necklace, I draped an olive print scarf. Pro-tip: I love layering a scarf over a necklace. If you get warm, remove the scarf and drape it around the handle of your purse. And your outfit will still look put-together.

The blazer would be perfect for air conditioning. I also like wearing this blazer over my shoulders on a date night. I think it looks so classic and crisp worn that way. Adding the heels also dresses up the dress.

My wicker purse has been discontinued, but here is a similar one. I wore my gold watch, a gold bangle, and “diamond” stud earrings.

Outfit # 4 Olive Dress with a Grey Cardigan, Bandana, and Grey Sneakers

In this look, I am wearing an olive dress with a grey cardigan and a red print bandana. My bag is tan as are my flat sandals.

I think this is my favorite outfit! I paired the olive dress with a grey cotton cardigan. For a bit of zhoosh, I added my favorite bandana of all time! Truly, this bandana goes with so many looks from this slip dress and red blazer to this denim dress post.

Then I added grey Taos sneakers. These sneakers are extremely comfortable as they have awesome arch support. They also have a fun zipper making them so easy to pop on and off. Again I wore my stainless steel watch and silver bracelets.

What Color Shoes Go with an Olive Dress?

What color shoes to wear with an olive dress is a frequently asked topic online. As I mentioned earlier, olive is a neutral color, therefore, any color will work with it. Really! I did another olive dress post (here) that shows white sneakers, nude sandals, and mustard boots. They all look so great. So pick shoes that feel great on your feet and don’t worry about the color!

Want More Olive Items for Your Closet?

Have I convinced you to try a bit of olive in your wardrobe? Or were you already a fan? Either way, I’ve curated several items for you to consider, below. Click on the photo, to be directed to the item’s website for more details.

Happy Weekend!

XO,

Dr.

Julie

PS Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:

Easiest Appetizer Ever

20 Gifts I Actually WANT for Mother’s Day This Year!

How to Wear a Slip Dress Seven Different Ways!

The Best Lotion for Crepey Skin on Arms and Legs

Spring Capsule Wardrobe

6 Comments

Colleen on April 23, 2024 at 11:59 am

Great looks Julie!
- drjulie on April 23, 2024 at 6:00 pm
  
  Thanks, Col! Have you tried Quince where the dress is from?
Molly on April 23, 2024 at 12:13 pm

Wow, so many snappy ways to wear this, as you’ve shown! Love it, Julie.
- drjulie on April 23, 2024 at 6:01 pm
  
  Thanks Mol!
  I’m glad you think I’m snappy!
Joanie on April 25, 2024 at 7:39 pm

I’m not much of a fan for olive but with the bright scarf I can see how it can work. Good transitional color for the fall.
- drjulie on April 26, 2024 at 12:36 am
  
  That’s what I used to think! Who Knew I could enjoy olive so much!