One of my favorite things about doing this series is showing how one piece can be worn in different environments. This week I challenged myself to see just how casual to dressy I could style one dress. Of course, it's impossible to style a dress that could be worn to do something as casual as going to the supermarket or the playground for a formal evening wedding. That would be hard for even the best stylists out there to do, but it is possible to come pretty close with the right accessories.
How to Take One Dress from Casual to Dressy
In this week's five fashionable ways post, I am taking this one simple navy dress and I am styling it five different ways for five different occasions to show how you can get more mileage from one basic dress.
Outfit #1- Daytime Casual
I am starting with a casual look, and given the style of this Girl Meets Glam Dress, this was about as casual as I could go. It's not a style that can be worn to a day at the park or on one of those super sweltering hot day running errands. However, it is a dress that can be styled for daytime casual with the right accessories.
I added a pair of flat espadrilles from Steve Madden, a straw circle handbag from Loeffler Randall and floral studs from Michael Kors.
Outfit #2- Business Casual
Next, I am styling this one dress for business casual and situations where a corporate look isn't necessary but being polished is. I styled the dress with beige suede flats from Sam Edelman, a simple layered necklace from Stella & Dot and finished the look with a red work tote from Botkier.
Outfit #3- Corporate
With the right components, this feminine dress can be styled for more corporate professional environments. To make a stronger statement, I layered this cropped BOSS Hugo Boss jacket over the dress. Finishing the look, I added these kelly green pumps from MICHAEL Michael Kors, a simple long necklace from Lagos and this navy tote from Marc Jacobs.
Outfit #4- Daytime Dressy
This dress is perfect for a daytime event, like a shower or daytime wedding. I added softer, more feminine accessories to play up the soft nature of the silhouette. I added the floral block heel strappy floral sandals in blush pink from Steve Madden, a soft blue convertible shoulder bag from Tory Burch and a statement necklace in shades of pink from Bauble Bar.
Outfit #5- Evening
Lastly, I styled this dress for evening. This style may not work for the most formal of events where gowns or dressy after-five attire is required, but it can work well for evening situations like cocktail parties, dinner parties, some weddings, and other similar situations. All it takes is the right accessories to take this one dress from casual to evening. I added these satin shoes and floral clutch from Ted Baker and finished the look with statement earrings and bracelet from Kendra Scott.
Before you go out and buy multiple dresses to wear for all the different parts of your life, take a look at how your accessories can change up what you already own. You may be surprised by how much wear one dress can get you when you have the right accessories and coordinating pieces on hand.
