A belted shirt dress pulls from the structured simplicity of menswear tailoring and makes it feel polished without pretentious. The shirt silhouette means a collar and button front which immediately reads as put-together. Adding a belt at the waist creates definition and prevents the dress from reading as too utilitarian. Knee-length keeps it event-appropriate and the straight lines of the shirt construction mean this works for multiple body types. Cotton blends and structured cotton work best because they hold the shape. Neutral colors and subtle stripes feel smart casual in the best way. This is the dress that works for a baby shower and then works again for client meetings and weekend outings.