Dress: Vanessa Bruno
Tee: Joie
Necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane
Belt: B-Low The Belt
Wedges: Via Spiga
I recently got in something of a funk thinking that my days to wear a strapless dress were over. I was in this funk because I saw the daughters both wearing casual strapless dresses, and I could not remember ever having one in-my-whole-entire-life. How did I miss out on this? A few days later I was cleaning out my closet and found an old Bebe blouse that had a faux cummerbund front over a long-sleeve white blouse. Hmmmm, could I do the same thing myself for a strapless? So off I went to hunt down the perfect strapless dress for layering. I originally thought of black but decided I didn't want it to come off as a formal dress with a tee underneath. This beige dress is the perfect daytime weight when paired with one of my all-time favorite tees from Joie. I know this tee is something of an investment, but Joie's tees are simply the softest, best tees you will ever own. The huge Kenneth Jay Lane statement necklace adds color and texture, and I love that the butterfly on the belt seems to be an extension of the necklace hitting at tassel level. The wedges keep it on the casual side. Any other shoe might be too dressy ruining the look, but you could wear it with a short brown boot to give it more edge.
This look from May's British Vogue is actually quite tame and easy to replicate. Now, I know the hair and lipstick may be pushing it over for you, but if you were to look away from the face and at the outfit, how great could that be for a creative work environment?
It's actually a very simple outfit with a lot of heavy silver jewelry. If you are feeling it, by all means spike your hair and go for it.
Blouse: Diane von Furstenberg
Pants: J. Crew
Socks: Forever 21
Loafers: Dolce Vita
Earrings: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Necklace: Bauble Bar
Bracelet: Ligia dias
Ring: Jules Smith
Top: Rebecca Taylor
Skirt: Catherine Malandrino
Pumps: C Wonder
Lip Gloss: Marc Jacobs
Necklace: JewelMint
I used to struggle with all white outfits feeling that they always came out looking too much like a nurse or an ice cream man. Then I discovered a few tricks: always use bold accessories and makeup and make sure there is texture. These pieces all of have really neat details that might not be noticeable on a quick glance. The top is actually a baseball tee made of crepe so that it's all grown up, and it's a great transition piece to go from the office to an evening out. From a distance, the skirt looks as though it is sequined, but the diamonds are actually patent leather, providing the texture to the outfit and a new take on the traditional leather skirt. The bright accessories start with the blue satin pumps, the red lip from the new Marc Jacobs' beauty line, and the bright floral statement necklace.
