The Perfect Dress!

I value items that can be worn in several ways, so there are only a few dresses in my closet.

This very versatile dress from J.Jill is one that I can wear alone or layered for different looks.

On this windy day, I wore the dress with black Spanx tights and long boots from Vince Camuto. Next, I added a necklace from Chico's a couple of years ago and a long faux leather-trimmed vest from Chico's.

This J.Jill's dress can also be worn with leggings and short boots, as it is shown on their site.

Wearing A Dress!

I attended church with my family and Mr. Mickey on Sunday.

I wore a knit dress from Chico's last year and my favorite IC Collection faux suede trench from My Fair Lady. 

Dresses are outside my comfort zone, but I pair them with nude pointed toe heels to visually lengthen my legs when I do wear them. This is about the shortest I would ever go unless I am wearing a straight black skirt or dress with opaque black tights and black boots.

I am wearing the most fabulous pantyhose, a gift from a reader while she was visiting the Monoprix in Paris. (Thank you, Marty!) If you can find 5 or 7 denier ultra-sheer stockings, you will love them. They make your legs look like silk, but it feels like you aren't even wearing stockings!

The necklace is also old from Chico's. The bag was made in Italy, and I found it at T.J.Maxx last year. The nude pumps are by Steve Madden.

Predictable?

Never let it be said that my look is predictable.

You don't often see me in a dress, but today I am showing you a versatile one. It can take you through three seasons and can be worn in a variety of ways.

We had high humidity and heat on Sunday, so I surrendered and let my hair air dry on its own without the aid of a blow dryer and large round brush. I also wore an easy-breezy soft, lightweight chambray dress from Foxcroft.

I will wear this comfortable and cool dress with sandals and minimal jewelry in the hot summer months.

When the temperatures drop, I will layer the dress with a slim-fitting black tank, leggings, boots, and a low slung belt for a bit of spice. These leggings are actually Calvin Klein yoga style pants for workouts. They have three little gold buttons at the back. I appreciate clothing that can serve more than one purpose.

I wear two sizes larger on the top half of my body, so when I buy a dress to fit my shoulders and bust, the rest of the dress is quite billowy. This is the main reason you often see me wearing a tank, pants, and jacket or cardigan combo.

I have several favorite pieces from Foxcroft that have served me well for several years. This dress will be part of my wardrobe for a long while, not only because of the high quality but also because of the classic, versatile style.

The Black Dress

If you only own one dress, it should probably be a dark color, such as black.

I found this mesh sleeve dress with ruching at the waistline at Chico's earlier this year. This might be my go-to party dress for awhile. I do not wear skimpy cocktail dresses to parties (or anywhere for that matter!), so the hint of skin showing through the mesh is just sexy enough for me.

STYLING TIPS: Balance the top and the bottom. If you are wearing a sleeveless dress, do not wear dark hose. When you do wear dark hose, always wear dark shoes. When I see someone wearing gold shoes with black hose, I always think of Minnie Mouse.

I wore the dress out to dinner on Saturday night for the first time. Mr. Mickey loved it!

I topped it off with a black faux leather-trimmed ruana from Carlisle Per Se and old silver and crystal necklaces. The suede heels are from Saks. The gray clutch is old by Kenneth Cole Reaction.