When it's chilly outside, all you want to do is grab a heavy sweater and bundle up, right? But did you know that you can bundle up in a dress? Ok, so it's not exactly the same as a cozy wool pullover and jeans, but a dress can be a fashionable, stylish and viable item all year round. What's the secret? Layers!
Layers are how you can take a dress that you bought in the summer and make it winter-ready - which is precisely what I did for my client a few weeks back. We started with this short sleeve indigo knit dress from MM LaFleur (one of my favorite resources for a professional women's wardrobe), and mixed and matched it with things from her closet to create cold weather appropriate outfits - and then we did the same thing with a couple of other dresses, too.
I love a solid knit dress for its amazing versatility - you can dress it up and down as well as take it from summer warmth to winter chill. This is how my client wears her indigo dress in the heat of summer - pretty simply, with a belt and printed heels. And if she needs a layer, a basic cardigan or lightweight jacket fit the bill.
Transitioning her dress to moderate fall weather (or a temperate January) is relatively straightforward - I grabbed her chunky grey cardigan and black boots. And for a cool morning - a plaid scarf in tones similar to the dress is perfect!
When temperatures dip, your first instinct may be to grab your heaviest clothes - but intermediate layers are key to building warmth. Yes, my client's chunky cardigan is super cozy - but if she wants to get her sleeves into that coat, a thinner wool sweater is a better option. I finished off the look with the same printed scarf and boots, and she's ready to take on the day.
The same outfit principles apply to a black fit and flare sweater dress - I added her charcoal cashmere cardigan (with a beaded neckline for a hit of shine) and ivory wool coat for a look she can wear from desk to dinner with a quick change of shoes.
And while we're at it - how about a different coat?
Or a printed dress?
If you're looking for ways to expand your wardrobe possibilities, leave a question in the comments, or email me so we can spend some time in your closet!
