Love it: Hounds Tooth Dress

I love this dress because the hounds tooth print is a bit extreme. Extreme can be good and attention-grabbing. It may be a bit busy for most, but let me explain how I would wear this to work, then switch it up for evening.

For work (provided that the dress code is Business Casual, not Business Professional): I would layer a black mid-thigh length cardigan over the top of this dress and cinch the waist with a skinny black leather belt. I can see the belt being snack skin or some sort of texture to play against the hounds tooth. The solid black cardigan would calm down the hounds tooth print of the dress and make it seen not as dramatic as it is worn alone. Shoes? Something simple like an no-nonsense ankle boot (can you tell I LOVE ankle boots) or a simple round-toe black pump.

For evening: I would lose the cardigan and lose the matching belt that comes with the dress. I would wear a wide-width leather belt and keep the same shoes from the work day. The wide-width belt would break up the hounds tooth but wouldn't take away from the audacity of the hounds tooth the way the long cardigan does for the work day.

Covet Garden Dress for $33.00 @ Lulus.com

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Love it: Silk Chain-Link Printed Sheath Dress

Been a long time since I've posted. I know. I'm slacking. Doesn't mean I haven't been window shopping online for what I think are great additions to any wardrobe. I'll do better (hopefully) from here on out.

This is my #1 favorite item at Banana Republic at this moment (until new items arrive, of course). This dress is gorgeous in person and fits a variety of body-types (I've seen it on a few different people). It can easily be another one of that versatile pieces that can be worn to work with a cardigan and thick black belt, then at night without the cardigan.

Note: In the store, the dress isn't as short as it appears in this photo. I don't know why it's shown as short as it is on BananaRepublic.com but it really comes to right above the knee, not mid-thigh short as shown.

Silk Chain-Link Sheath Dress @ Banana Republic for $130.00 (in-store price)

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Love it: Green Printed Dress

Usually I am not a fan of anything with crazy prints, but this Newport Ruffle Dress at FredFlare.com is super cute. To break up the print a little, I'd place a black skinny belt around the waist and maybe a black or grey cardigan over the top... it's a little Liberian but that's a cute preppy look, especially for work.

Printed Newport Ruffle Dress for $70.00 @ Fred Flare

Mini Gathered Belt for $50.00 @ Banana Republic

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Love it: Shawl Collar Sweater Dress

Here's a great dress to add to your "Night" attire collection. The Tucking Sweater Dress can be found at Marciano's and it's definitely a dress that will add curves... and for those of us that are already curvy, this dress will definitely emphasize that fact. Like they say, if you've got it, flaunt it. The pleated detail at the waist draws attention. The flutter sleeve will widen the shoulders a bit. Altogether you'll have that Coke-bottle look a la Kim Kardashian in this dress for sure. Don't forget your Spanx (or equivalent) to keep things smooth and classy.

Tucking Sweater Dress for $128.00 at Marciano

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Love it: Best Shirt Dress

Here's another great dress that can easily go from day-to-night with the change of a shoe and jewelry. It's called "Sunday's Best Shirt Dress" at Lulu's. It looks a little on the short side, so I would suggest that if you are wearing this to work that you stick with a flat, like a ballet flat or the like. If you wear a heel with the shortness of the dress, it will look shorter than it actually is...which makes a heel a nice choice for going out to dinner or happy hour. *wink* Can you tell I'm a fan of happy hour? Half off drinks and professionals mingling...hello??? To me, it seems like the riff-raff comes out at night. Anyway, this is definitely one of those simple pieces that flexes and I, personally, love clothes that flex so I can get more bang for me money so to speak. Also from LuLu's, I've picked a flat for day and a heel for night that should look great with this dress. One-stop shopping is great especially since a lot of online stores offer free standard shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount. For instance, at Lulu's if you spend $75 or more you get free standard shipping.

Sunday's Best Shirt Dress for $32.50 @ Lulu's

Work look: Delicious Upgrade Grey Faux Suede Bejeweled Ballet Flat for $22.00 @ Lulu's

Night Look: Paprika Era Black Snake Studded Platform Cage Heel for $26.50 @ Lulu's (4.25" heel, faux leather)

Nexus Double Wrap Belt for $23.00 @ Lulu's (faux leather)

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Love it: Blouson Jersey Dress

How versatile is this dress? It's described at NewportNews.com as a blouson bodice jersey dress with a fitted skirt.

It's shown here with a gold tone chain belt. Depending on the dress code at your place of employment, this could be a great piece that could easily go from day-to-night with a change of a shoe. Maybe for work, wear it with an ankle boot, knee boot, classic pump, or ballet flat. Then when you punch out and head to happy hour, throw on your gladiator-type heels or strappy sandal and you're set. It comes in this silver color as well as navy (both THE colors for fall) and is only $29.00!

For work you can dress the look down if you wear a wide leather belt or no belt at all. Save the shiner chain belt of happy hour or going out. I would also suggest that if you go with the flashier sassier belt for your "go out" look, you definitely can keep your accessories light, simple hoops or studs and a thin bracelet or just your watch and your golden.

Oh! And this is a jersey material, so don't be afraid to put on your Spanx (or equivalent) to keep things smooth and classy. (Spanx are comfortable, y'all. If you haven't invested, do so).

Blouson Jersey Dress for $29.00 @ Newport News.com

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