How to Make Use of Your Dresses All Year
Dresses make getting dressed easy. You can simply throw one on and go (adding in some footwear first, of course). We love wearing dresses for daytime and we love wearing dresses year-round. Even though they are a little more dressed up than jeans, they can be a really comfortable piece to run around in. We also love encouraging you to regularly utilize ALL of the pieces you have in your closet! By layering and re-styling your easy-to-wear dresses, you create a more versatile wardrobe. It may be that any dresses you have usually end up at the back of the closet until summer. So, to make those dresses seasonally versatile, let’s look at ways to add warmth and coverage to your legs and arms.
Dress + Topper:
Cardigans are simple pieces that can be added or removed easily in unpredictable weather. They are an obvious choice to quickly cover arms against a chill. Add a belt over the cardigan or under it to draw attention to your waist. A thin-knit cardigan will fit well under another type of topper for more serious layering. What about pairing a thin-knit drapey cardigan with your dress and topping the outfit with a tough-looking motorcycle jacket?
There are alternatives to the ubiquitous cardigan-over-dress look. A blazer that is fitted or even over-sized can make it so you wear more of your dresses year round. It may not be your first thought for layering with a dress, but a blazer can give a shoulder-baring dress some office clout. Alternatively, denim jackets are practically made to go with dresses. Utility jackets will add a little military influence to temper the sweetness of a dress for any season.
photo credit
Jessica Kane
photo credit
Merrick of merricksart.com
Tanesha Awasthi
Dress + Tights:
Tights can keep legs warm by providing extra coverage on a windy or frigid day. Reversible tights (such as tights that are black on one side, brown on the other) and fleece-lined tights are extra-thick. Cable-knit or ribbed tights can also keep the chill at bay and bring a textural element to your ensemble.
Tonya of themoptop.com
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Dress + Layer Underneath:
As another way to wear your dresses year-round, consider adding layers underneath. A long-sleeved T-shirt can add an extra dose of colour to your outfit. A button-up shirt is a great layering piece and its collar will add detail to the neck of your dress. Thin-knit turtlenecks look fresh and modern under a dress with straps thin or wide, sleeves short or long.
merricksart.com
Brennan Mari of chicstreetstyle.me
photo credit
Diane Keaton
Dress + Layer On Top
To increase the warmth and wearability of the dress, you can style it as if it were a skirt. Take your long-sleeved button-up shirt (denim, chambray or otherwise), tie its bottom and tuck it under so it stays. Try this without a belt or with as shown below (without sleeves):
Glamour
Dress Under a Skirt:
That great dress you have may be even more versatile if you use it like a top. Put a skirt over that dress. Try an A-line, pencil or even a full skirt. The bottom of the dress can be hidden with a longer full or A-line skirt that will add an extra layer for warmth. Create a layered look with a tube or stretchy pencil skirt that leaves the dress hem peeking out.
Diane Kruger
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Dress Over Pants:
Pants under your dress can solve the issue of cold legs when wearing summer dresses year-round. A dress that is straight cut with slits on the side would look right at home with cropped pants. An A-line or swing dress can really come to life with skinny jeans underneath.
Christine Reehorst of fash-n-chips.com
photo credit
Holly of hollydollydarling.com
A closet consultation with The Joy Of Style will show you how to use those seasonal dresses year-round. Ready for a closet refresher? Call to book your appointment today!
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