How to Wear Denim Overalls (Without Looking Like You’re 5 Years Old)

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

You can’t scroll through your Instagram feed these days without seeing at least one of your most fashionable friends wearing, yes I’ll say it…denim overalls.

If you think overalls will only make you nostalgic for kindergarten class, you’re in for a surprise. Because today’s overalls leave no room for Oshkosh B’Gosh.

There are tons of styles to choose from, and different straps, distressing, and other details that make these way more grown up than kid friendly.

Keep reading to see my top tips on how to wear overalls without looking like you’re 5 years old.

FIT

The key to making sure your overalls give off a fashionable adult vibe is the fit. You must get the fit right in order to pull this look off properly, in my opinion.

Whether it’s a skinny leg overall or a more relaxed boyfriend fit, make sure they aren’t too baggy or loose. In particular, make sure the waist, hips and butt fit well. This prevents the outfit from looking messy and unpolished. If the pants are a bit long at the bottom, try cuffing them up instead of letting them bunch up, which presents a neater look.

SHOES

Now, when you’re rolling around town in an outfit similar to what a 1st grader would wear, you should always wear a killer shoe to compliment your look. I would skip the flip flops or other casual shoes that could be mistaken for a more “juvenile” look.

You want the rest of your outfit to be polished and clean, so as not to confuse anyone that your look was not absolutely planned to perfection. A high heel strappy sandal, a statement bootie (as I’ve worn), or even an open-toed mule would work well with this look.

KEEP IT RIGHT & TIGHT

Wear tighter fitting pieces underneath the overalls to complement the more casual nature of the look. For example, try pairing your overalls with a tight fitting bell sleeve top or an off the shoulder top for a super stylish look. If you’re more daring and not afraid to show some skin, you could wear a tight fitting crop top underneath for an extra bit of grown-up-ness. Girl, you growwwn.

DISTRESSING, FABRIC & STYLING

Fabric and distressing also play a big part in making overalls seem “adult”. I love love love wearing my overalls with distressing/ripping on the legs, it adds a bit of edge to what could easily be a basic look.

You can also mix up the color of denim you choose. There are tons of different washes nowadays, from whitewash to dark denim, and vintage blue to rich black denim.

Another great styling tip is the one-shoulder look, when you only buckle one strap and let the other one dangle. Wear it this way when you have a cool graphic tee underneath that you want to show off!

ACCESSORIES & BOLD PATTERNS

Unless your name is Snooki, I highly doubt you were wearing leopard print when you were 5 years old. Try pairing your overalls with bold prints and statement pieces such as funky shoes & jewelry to give it a more grown up feel.

I’ve chosen to pair my look with a boater hat (that also pulls double-duty as a pop of color) and a few simple necklaces. All of these accessories demonstrate that you actually put a lot of thought and detail into styling your look.

HAIR & MAKEUP

I always recommend actually doing your hair & makeup when rocking overalls. Again, this just adds to the polished factor, and taking time to do your hair and makeup will further demonstrate your look was, indeed, well thought out. No need to go extra heavy on the makeup or hair, a natural everyday look will be perfect.

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

OVERALLS / STRIPED TOP / LEOPARD BOOTS (similar)

My overalls can be found by clicking here, and they’re UNDER $25! I am wearing a size Small, but they do run a bit snug in the hip area, so if you’re in between sizes I would advise to size up.

And, here are a few more pairs of my favorite overalls, plus a few more pairs you can shop directly below.

how to wear overalls

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

How to Wear Overalls - Quartz & Leisure

So, do you have any other tips to style a pair of overalls like an adult? Let me know if there’s anything else I missed in the comments section below!

Shop the Overalls Look

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1 Comment

  1. Nice article! There is nice guidance about to wear overalls. I want to wear overalls and I can take great ideas from your blog. Thanks and keep sharing.