So, I'm going to let you in on a little secret ... There is a reason the black dress is so darn popular. It is one of the most versatile pieces you can buy - you can dress it up with some expensive jewelry and heels or keep it simple with colored tights and boots. It's one of those pieces that, if you buy the right one, you can wear it once a week and no one will know it's the same dress (unless you, say, spill food on it and then, ahem, forget to wash it ... although no one we know would do something like that).
The best part is you can buy your black dress for your Valentine's date, guilt-free. Yep, you heard right. There is 0% guilt involved because you are going to wear it so darn much. Don't believe me? Check out the cold, hard proof below.
I've put together a couple of idea boards so you can see different ways to wear the same black dress. I found this very simple, black dress at Target, which I like for several reasons: it has a waist, which makes 99% of us look smaller and more feminine; it hits at a neutral place - not too short but not that weird length that makes your legs look fat; and it has three-quarter length sleeves, which are very fashionable right now, but not so trendy that people will notice.
I've tried to use a minimal amount of stores that everyone has heard of and, with only an exception or two, everything is under $50.
Option 1: Rowr! Ready for a night on the town. Love this because it's sexy, yet also a bit elegant. I kept the necklace and purse in the same color family so it's fun, but not too matchy-matchy. A turquoise necklace would also work or leave off the necklace altogether and just add some big earrings.
Option 2: A comfortable (yet still very cute) evening. Maybe you're hitting a movie with the gals and you don't want to go too over-the-top... The boots are flat and comfortable to walk in (a slight aside: I actually own them and the number of compliments I've had on them has actually made my head 1.25" bigger) while the accessories bring the look together through color (and the one pair has hearts! I am so good ... ).
Option 3: Shop into spring. See I told you it was versatile! You can even wear it year-round! And, how much do you love these little flats
from Old Navy of all places? With the
addition of the scarf (a cheap way to stay on-trend that works for all age
groups), you look casual, yet pulled together.
Option 4: Wear it to work the next morning. The trick to wearing a dress like this to work is to keep everything simple with one (and only one) accessory that pops. Another option for this look would be to carry a black bag and then buy the shoes in red or yellow.
So, there you go. You have no more excuses. I expect each of you to run out and buy a black dress for Valentine's Day, even if you'll just be sitting on the couch (that jersey material is very comfy ... ). As for me, gotta run - I have a date with Target.