ONE MIDI-DRESS, 3 WAYS

I like having a small but highly functional wardrobe. By highly functional I mean a wardrobe in which every piece gets worn, a lot. Whenever I buy something I try to think of a few ways I could wear it. That way you don’t have too many one-trick ponies in your closet. This “vest” is actually a midi-length sleeveless dress – a perfect example of something that can be styled several ways. I’m sharing 3 ways to style this piece though I unfortunately only had time to take pics of two.

LOOK 1

DRESS WORN AS VEST: TARGET x WHOWHATWEAR | JEANS: TOPSHOP similar HERE | TOP: OLD but love THIS | SHOES: OLD similar HERE

I liked this dress for its layering potential. It has a very simple but classic cut and a light material that’s perfect for the summer heat. It’s somewhat opaque but doesn’t need a lining or slip. For $25 you can’t really expect lining but in this case I prefer the airiness of it. In the Fall, a pretty silk slip will add some warmth to this and give it some texture.

For the first look I styled it as a vest. The light fabric is perfect for summer layering and the length gives the look a little drama. It has a self belt which I tied back to give the “vest” a little shape. This is easily worn over pretty much any jeans and top combo you like and is really flattering on anyone with curves. I went with a striped tee underneath the “vest” but for a more feminine or dressy look, this lacy tank layered under would be really cute, especially if you like to show off your arms.

My jeans are old but this pair is really similar minus the distressing. Mom jeans are now one of my favorite styles because they’re flattering to smaller waists and also super comfortable. I wore them at the start of this spring in this post.

LOOK 2

In this second look I wore it as a dress, as it was meant to be worn – outfit details are below. Adding a striking platform heel and a boater hat elevates the outfit and makes it more fashion-forward. A suede heeled sandal is one of my favorite ways to add some interest to a simple outfit.

The dress has a removable belt/tie which I kept on for the very muggy day but if you replaced the tie with a wider brown leather belt and added different accessories you could easily create a boho look.

I also like dresses or skirts that have buttons all the way down the front because you can control the amount of leg you show and make the dress more or less demure as you choose.

DRESS: TARGET x WHOWHATWEAR | HAT: AMERICAN EAGLE, also love THIS | SANDALS: VINCE CAMUTO last season, new season HERE | BAG: MARC JACOBS | NECKLACE: MADEWELL similar HERE from same brand

LOOK 3: You can wear this dress as a knotted top over jeans, shorts, or a skirt. Just button from the top down until you hit the spot where you want them hem of your “top” to hit and then tie the two shirt-tails into a knot. I tied mine to the side for an asymmetrical look. The beauty of this look is that you can control the length of the shirt as well as how stylized and dramatic it is.

For under $25 this dress is a major steal. It comes in two colors – the one I’m wearing (olive) and black.  It’s also easily styled with a longer blazer or cardigan for office-wear.

I’m starting to think ahead to the Fall now even though we’re in the middle of summer. It sneaks up on you. Although it might seem too early, this is actually a great time to start thinking about your Fall wardrobe especially since one of the best sales of the year is starting in just a few days. I’m talking about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which you might already have on your radar. I’ll have my top picks as well as my approach to seasonal wardrobe planning in my next post. If you check back on the weekend you might be able to snag some great pieces on sale before prices go back up on August 8.

SHOP MORE SLEEVELESS VESTS HERE:

Thanks for reading! xo