Dresses! The Closet Chronicles Continue

After Yvonne and I plowed through piles of sweaters, we moved on to the dresses. I am a dress girl – I love their ease and their femininity. We quickly eliminated a few, including a black/white striped jersey dress that Yvonne says evoked images of Beetlejuice, and a pink/grey jersey BCBG skirt set that seemed too “pajama-like.” We lost the top and saved the simple grey jersey skirt, which has a lot of potential as a separate. Here are some of the other dresses we worked on, and some great styling ideas that you can use in your own closet.

 I just wore this Forever 21 babydoll dress to dinner with friends a few nights ago, and felt it was too short. The adorable plaid tights I bought add color and coverage. Shown: Forever 21 navy and cream lace tunic dress, Eloise for Anthropologie tights (hanging at top of dress)

 I wear this Ann Taylor Loft dress to church, and Yvonne suggested cinching it with a skinny cream belt (on my shopping list!) to make it a little less buttoned-up.

 This deep red BCBG dress has a great shape, but the self-belt did nothing for it. My new brown belt from Zara transforms it in an instant. I would wear this with black tights and black wedges.

 I love this simple, versatile Buffalo by David Bitton ruffled-top jersey dress, and this is a new way to wear it. Shown: Black jersey Buffalo dress, J. Crew silver lame cardigan, Coach black belt (with gold buckle – Y likes to mix gold and silver, and so do I!)

 I have always loved this silky, blousey dress. Yvonne suggested tying it in the back to play up the great shape. Unite for La Redoute dress.

 Yvonne loved this inexpensive, Chanel-inspried Kensie dress, as do I. She suggested adding a simple black blazer to create a new look.

 I love this hippie-chic embroidered dress, which is elasticized and gathered at the waist. The addition of a wide brown belt makes the dress that much more flattering. Shown: Chelsea & Violet dress, Zara belt

 Excuse the horrible picture! The front dress is a cotton, wrap-front Diane von Furstenberg that I love. Yvonne suggests bringing it into fall with the addition of a little black blazer (which I own, but is currently at the cleaners).

 Another fabulous Diane von Furstenberg dress, this one a black eyelet wrap. The Banana Republic pearls make it pop and make the whole look a little less serious.

I bought this Sweetees jersey maxi dress because I loved the comfy, slinky fabric and the over-the-top print, and only wore it once, to my 60s themed Christmas party almost three years ago. I was hugely pregnant and looked like a shiny, bright Christmas ornament. The print and length make it hard to wear, so Yvonne suggested having it shortened to make it more wearable, and turning the remaining fabric into a scarf (to wear with something else – not with the dress!)