Printed dresses are always fun; I have some pretty wacky ones that I like despite their wackiness, but for the office you’ll need something a little more sedate.
Again, as with #5, there exist certain caveats to this ensemble.
JM Collection Floral Print Sleeveless Linen Wrap Dress (SALE) ………. $55.30
Satin Design Front Heel (white) ………. $18
Merona Satchel (white) ………. $24.99
This was difficult to rig together due to the cost constraint, and it’s why I left a few things out that you’ll need. This will look a lot similar to the caveats listed in #5, but they bear repeating to avoid embarrassment.
1. Sleeves. Grab a cardigan or a shrug or a cropped blazer, yeah? White, black, even gray will look darling. Don’t pick red, or you’ll look like a real estate agent/broker, one of the two people we’re taught in law school not to trust. (The other people we’re not to trust? Doctors. Kind of funny that my BFF is in medical school while I’m in law school, right? Or so we tell ourselves…)
2. Legs. Stockings, ladies! Bare legs at the office are a no-no. And remember, it won’t hurt to keep an extra pair in your dress drawer should you need them. Better safe than sorry.
Moving on, I’m just in love with this little wrap dress from Macy’s. I’m a big fan of wrap dresses in general, and I like the print. The big pattern combined with the small pattern somehow saves it from looking too busy. Besides, we’re not going crazy with shoes or bags or cardigans here; it’s fine to have a busier dress if you’re keeping everything else solid and understated. This one has a decent neckline and is, of course, knee-length. Totally appropriate.
The shoes are…interesting. Honestly, I just didn’t want to have to deal with black. :-P For some reason, white feels less matchy-matchy than black, which makes no sense, I know, especially since the purse is white. But white just feels a little more…unexpected? And less boring. I’m a fan of less boring. And it’s still tasteful; it’s not like you’re showing up wearing white stilettos or anything. Oh, God, the horror.
And the bag, possibly my favorite part, which is saying quite a lot given how smitten I am with this dress. (Honestly, is black&white an unflattering combination on anyone?) It’s a big ol’ white satchel that offsets this dainty, girly dress and satiny shoes, but it’s just a wee bit structured, with the nice dark detailing and the handle that I just love.
I do love clutches, but I’m also a big fan of oversized totes/satchels. There’s no middle ground for me; I like the extremes. In most things, really. ;-) Clutches are sweet and dainty, and go with super girly dresses and all that. But I’m rather petite, so I look better when I dress in tailored clothes and cropped blazers or sweaters, with large bags. Apparently that look suits our body type, my teeny-tiny friends.
So, yeah, I’d definitely go for the bag. I have a black leather one that’s kind of like it, but more of a tote than a satchel, with silver studs and a cute buckle. Sometimes, bigger bags just work.
And that’s about it for this installment. :) Hope you found something you liked – the bag, if not the dress, or the dress, if not the shoes. No one says you have to leap for the whole outfit: the key idea is just to update what you already have. Maybe you have the shoes and the bags, but you need more dresses and this one just works for you. Pick and choose, friends.
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