Two Ways: A Knotted Dress

Yesterday, we talked about how I’m not comfortable with my arms. But there are so many adorable sleeveless dresses for summer. Here are some options for styling an affordable sleeveless dress for work and weekend.

This knotted dress from Mango is so great.  It’s a great style if you need to conceal your mid-section, and the style flows seamlessly from work wear to casual wear.  I adore it.  

One.  This outfit is for work, whether it’s at the office or at home.  The jersey dress looks sleek and classic under this grey lady jacket from Abercrombie.  I love this style, and this sweater-jacket is an affordable option.  J.Crew also has this longer one which is a good option.  

For the shoes, I wanted a pop of color.  Once I saw these burnt orange slingbacks from The Fold, I could not get them out of my mind.  They’re spendy, but depending on your budget and needs, they may be very worth it.  Other options include these light blue Marc Fishers,  these inexpensive flat buckle mules in several colors, and these mulberry-hued pumps from Inez.

To finish off the look, I chose an of-the-moment hobo bag (<$80), a pair of cool sunglasses and a chic, affordable earring.  For styling, hair up with this will make it too conservative, so wear it down and loose with a little volumizing at the crown.  Add in a berry or rose lip color to liven up the neutral palette and some bronzer on the cheeks.

Two. This is an outfit that you could work from home in, run errands in, brunch in, play with a kid at a park in.  I need that versatility.  You need that versatility.  

To zhush up the J.Crew soft chambray shirt (a summer staple), I would tie it in front using this method that I learned from Jean at Extra Petite.  Looks great every time.  It’s also how I style this Gap gauze shirt that I love.  The goal of course is to tie the shirt at the same location as the knot on the dress.  If tied in front isn’t for you, just roll the sleeves the J.Crew way, and leave it open.

With that, I would wear these great New Balance sneakers.  The gray is a nice alternative to white for summer.  These are a men’s sneaker.  For a women’s option, try these.

Again, with these neutrals, I want a pop of color.  My mind is still thinking about this Mango bag in the summer’s hottest color, chartreuse.  It’s awesome with grey, white, navy or black.  

Finishing the look with a cool, light-colored sunglasses option, and adding these affordable ovate hoops.  For makeup, you want a lip color for this.  You could wear the hair in a ponytail or down, a bun would be a bit much.  I would also add a pop of rosy blush to the cheeks.  

One final note about this dress, it is jersey.  So you made need a short to wear under it to smooth things out.  This Yummie slip short comes highly recommended and isn’t too hot or uncomfortable in summer.

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