How to Wear Dusters

Last Updated: January 31, 2023

Dusters are long coats that are loose-fitting, and they come in many different styles and materials. It's important to pick a duster that won't trail on the ground when you're walking, as well as one that will work with several different outfits. During warmer weather, you can wear a duster over cut-off shorts or a skirt to dress up your outfit. Put on a duster over jeans, work pants, or a nice dress for a put-together, chic look.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Finding the Right Duster

1
Select a style that fits with your needs. If you’re mainly going to wear the duster to work, you’ll want a more professional-looking duster jacket. Opt for a more fun, colorful shawl duster if you’re looking for something to wear at the beach. Decide the purpose of your duster so that you can narrow down your choices.
- If you want to wear your duster around the house or while you’re doing errands, a sweater duster is a great choice.
- A sleeveless duster is a good option for warmer days.
2
Choose a material appropriate for the season. You’re going to want a thicker, warmer fabric for colder weather than you would during warm spring or summer months. Select dusters made of wool or other warm materials if you’re looking for a warm jacket. For warmer seasons, silk and light knits are great fabric options.
- Polyester and fur are other good warm options, while linen and cotton are great for warmer weather.
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3
Make sure the duster isn’t too long when you try it on. If the duster is trailing on the ground when you’re wearing it, it’s too long and you either need to get it hemmed or look for a shorter one. Ideally, the duster should reach just below your knee, but it can be longer as long as it isn’t touching the ground.
- Wearing heels will help longer dusters seem shorter.
4
Look for dusters that are slightly fitted around the waistline. This will help accentuate your figure and show off curves. Many times a duster will come with a sash that you can tie around your waist, pulling in your duster so that it shows your waistline.
- If you’re not sure whether a duster is fitted or not, try it on to see if it emphasizes your body’s outline.
5
Buy a neutral-colored duster to wear with most outfits. If you’re looking for a jacket that you can throw over almost any color combination, it’s best to find a duster in a neutral color such as black, gray, or cream. This way you can wear it over other neutral colors as well as bolder colors, such as red, blue, or green.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating Casual Outfits

1
Cuff your jeans to wear with a casual duster. Roll the ends of your jeans up 2 or 3 times until they’re nicely cuffed. You can choose a T-shirt for a casual look, or a blouse to dress up the outfit. Wear a duster cardigan to complete the look—choose a black or gray duster for everyday wear, or wear a cardigan duster in a pale pink or blue to add color to your outfit.
- For example, wear light-washed cuffed jeans, black flats, a plain black T-shirt, and a light pink duster.
- Wear statement jewelry to dress up your outfit, such as a necklace or earrings.
2
Keep yourself warm by wearing a casual duster over a light dress. Dusters are great when you need a light sweater in cooler weather. If you're wearing a casual cotton or knit dress, pair it with a similarly-casual duster made from a cotton or knit fabric.^{[1]
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- Wear a blue sleeveless dress with a black or cream duster.
- You can wear nice sneakers, flip flops, or sandals with the outfit.
3
Layer a duster over cut-off shorts and sneakers during warm weather. During spring and summer, put on a pair of shorts with a tank top. Choose a duster made of linen, cotton, or a lightweight knit to add flair to your outfit. Wear sneakers or sandals to complete the casual look.
- Choose a sleeveless duster to ensure you stay cool.
- A cute outfit might consist of jean shorts, a green tank, a sheer duster, and embellished sneakers.
4
Wear a bright duster over neutral clothing to add color to your outfit. Whether you’re going to go to work, running errands, or getting a bite to eat, make your neutral-colored outfit unique by putting on a duster in a bright color, such as yellow, pink, or green. You can wear statement jewelry or a scarf in the same color as the duster for a colorful look.^{[2]
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- Black pants, a gray blouse, and black heels would look great with a pink wool duster.
- Wear a white dress with white sandals and a silky light green duster overtop. Add a green statement necklace to complete the outfit.
5
Pair a casual duster with leggings for a comfortable look. You can wear any type of top with the leggings—a tee will keep the look casual, while a nicer shirt or blouse will add style. Put on a duster cardigan, or a duster made of a light knit material, to complete the look.^{[3]
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- Wear flats, sneakers, or boots with the outfit.
- Black leggings, a gray tee, and patterned sneakers would look great with a light yellow duster cardigan.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Putting Together Dressier Looks

1
Pair your duster with black dress pants for an office outfit. A trench coat-style duster would look great with the dress pants, and you can wear a colorful blouse or opt for an all-black outfit. Wear a duster in a neutral or pale color to look more business-professional.
- Black heels are a great shoe choice for pulling the outfit together, but you can also opt for flats.
- A duster made of wool and/or polyester is also a good option for business attire.
2
Put on a duster and nice shoes to dress up jeans. If you’re wearing a T-shirt and skinny jeans and want to look a little fancier, wear a trench-style or silk duster with heels. For a put-together look wearing a tee and jeans, consider wearing a cardigan duster, booties, and a scarf or necklace.^{[4]
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- For example, a white tee, dark-wash jeans, and black booties would look great with a green duster cardigan and a matching skinny scarf.
- Wear a light purple tee, skinny jeans, black heels, and a black trench-style duster for a sophisticated look.
- If you’re wearing shoes that you want to show off, such as heels, make sure the jeans don’t go below your ankle.
3
Show off an eccentric duster over a black dress for a bold look. If you need a light duster to wear over a black dress, look for one made of silk or a light cotton material. Dusters with patterns, beads, or other embellishments will add flair to your outfit.^{[5]
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- A spaghetti strap black dress would look great with a black silky duster, embellished with patterns made of sequins or beads.
- A maxi dress would look good with a duster as well.
4
Use a silky duster to enhance a casual dress. If you need an outfit that can go from casual daytime errands to a night out on the town, pick out a duster made of silk. Choose a patterned or embellished one to wear over a solid-colored dress, or a solid-colored duster to wear over a casual dress with a design.
- For example, wear a silky pink duster with gold embellishments over a black dress.
- Wear a light blue duster over a floral-patterned dress.
- Wear wedges or sandals to complete the look.
5
Add style to your miniskirt outfit with a chic duster. If you want to show off some leg while also covering up a bit, tuck a nice top or blouse into a miniskirt and wear a silk or knit duster over the outfit. Wear sandals, wedges, or flats for comfort, or opt for heels to dress it up more.^{[6]
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- Wear a black miniskirt with a white or light purple blouse tucked in. Throw a gray duster over the outfit, either in a sheer or silky material.

Expert Q&A

Question

Is a duster coat warm?

Tannya Bernadette
Professional Stylist
Tannya Bernadette is the Founder of The Closet Edit, a Seattle-based personal styling service. She has been in the fashion industry for over 10 years and has been recognized as Ann Taylor’s LOFT brand ambassador and Seattle Southside’s official Rockstar Stylist. Tannya received her BA in Fashion Marketing and Business from The Art Institutes.

Tannya Bernadette

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

If you need your duster to keep you warm, look for a style that's fitted around the waist so you can wear it closed.
Question

How do you wear jeans with a duster?

Tannya Bernadette
Professional Stylist
Tannya Bernadette is the Founder of The Closet Edit, a Seattle-based personal styling service. She has been in the fashion industry for over 10 years and has been recognized as Ann Taylor’s LOFT brand ambassador and Seattle Southside’s official Rockstar Stylist. Tannya received her BA in Fashion Marketing and Business from The Art Institutes.

Tannya Bernadette

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

An open, loose duster coat looks really cool with rolled-up, light-colored denim and sneakers. It's a casual outfit, even if the duster is made of a dressier material. This is a great way to dress down a nice duster.
Question

What can I wear with a mint green duster to church?

Community Answer

Wear a black shirt, white paints, a nice necklace that matches the duster, and black shoes.