I like clothes that is versatile, can stay in my closet for more than a season, & are easy to care for. I do buy some trendy items every season, but have many pieces that have been with me for years. This dress was a gift from my sister-in-law & nieces (& my brother I guess ;)). I have been able to wear it on several occasions, including a few times to work (always with a jacket) and once to emcee a luncheon which was casual attire, during the summer. This dress is also useful for trips because it is easy to pack & does not wrinkle easily. It can be worn to dinner or for drinks if you put on heals, for a summer barbecue in sandals & a hat, or a casual occasion with a cardigan sweater. It is polyester, so I can wash it at home and lay it flat to dry. When I buy dresses, I try to visualize, “how many ways can I wear this dress?”….to work, on-air (TV), a business dinner with my husband & his clients, a baptism or semi-dressy occasion, lunch with the girls, or for a casual look with sandals…..will it be easy to care for and wash (or does it require dry cleaning). That is how my mind works, I tend to be practical even with clothes and want to maximize my wardrobe 🙂  In Spanish we call it, “sacarle jugo,” which means to get juice out of it, as in the most uses possible.

I wore this dress to work today with a white Ann Taylor short sleeve jacket & black wedges. I put on a thick black belt – also from Ann Taylor (it is probably my favorite belt, I seem to wear it at least once every week). I added some black accessories (black jade necklace & earrings, both gifts from my friend Lola), and a silver cuff bracelet (from Macy’s). I selected a few of the different ways I have worn the dress, to demonstrate its versatility. We can all maximize our dresses and wardrobe by mixing and matching to create new outfits.

Do you have any dresses that you mix and match so you can wear them to different types of events? When you are shopping, do you visualize the different ways you can wear an item?

Have fun wearing your dresses this summer….& next time you are out shopping for a dress, ask yourself, is it versatile?

Hugs,

Paola