It’s only February, but a couple of 65-degree days in my area have me pumped for spring, summer, and all those days where you can run outside without bundling up. And of course, dreaming of all that time you can spend on the beach.
And then I saw some warm weather dresses. The great thing about dresses is how versatile they are—they’re not just formalwear. Because they’re cool and flowing, casual dresses are great as a beach wear!
Something like this tiered dress is a good example. Wear it while stretching your legs on the boardwalk or going out for dinner. It can be dressed up or down, too, depending on what the situation requires.
Another beachy option is a cool cover up dress like this one. Throw it on over your bathing suit or just wear it casually. The embellished neckline and trendy style make this one better than just another cover up.
And finally, maxi dresses are just about perfect for the beach. You can wear them as cover ups, but you can just wear them on their own, too. A boldly printed maxi dress like this one adds some style to your beach wear.
I write a lot about trends and trendy clothes on here, because of course trends are fun and everyone wants to be in style. But you can always choose classic pieces, too. Classic pieces never go out of style and can stay in your closet for years…they are a great investment. Today, I’ll talk a bit about classic dresses. Look for my next post when I'll be discussing some other kinds of “classics.”
Some classic dresses…
Sleeveless Shift Dress. A shift dress like this can go anywhere, anytime. In winter, pair with a cardigan and tights. In summer, just throw on a pair of sandals. You can’t go wrong with a shift dress—you can dress it up with jewelry or dress it down for a casual night out.
Tank Dress. A tank dress is just a simple, fun summer piece that you can wear almost anywhere. A cardigan adds modesty if you’re somewhere like a church, and warmth if you’re out on a cool summer evening. Keep this dress in your closet and you’ll always have something to wear.
Sheath Dress. Get a version of this dress in black and you’ll be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Everyone needs a classic black dress. You can wear this to work, but you can also throw on a hot pair of heels and be ready to hit the town for a spontaneous night out.
Ruffles have been a big hit in the last year, and they continue to be a hot trend in 2011. They bring fun feminine accents to almost any piece of clothing, so no wonder they’re so popular!
While you don’t want to go overboard with the ruffles, there are great pieces out there that help bring just the right amount of rufflage (my new word!) into your clothing options.
This layered ruffle blouse is perfect for a party or night-out. With fitted jeans or leggings, you get the feminine look of ruffles paired with a more simple pant.
Another great shirt to wear with leggings or fitted jeans is this pretty ruffle shirt, which you can dress up or down depending on the situation.
And this flattering ruffle sleeve dress gives you just a touch of flair without going ruffle-crazy. Plus the fabric and style make this dress great for travel—just throw it in your suitcase, pull it out at your destination and you’re on your way!
If you got (or are getting) cash as a holiday gift and are looking to buy yourself something nice, I have suggestions! I have been hunting up fun and useful things for myself and others, so here are some good things I’ve discovered:
Seamless boy shorts: Awesome plus size boy shorts that are seamless, which means they’re perfect for those fabrics that would normally show off your panty lines. Plus they offer a little bit of support and control, so if you ate a little more than you planned this Christmas, no worries!
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Seamless sports bra: Now that we’re heading into the new year, most people have exercise on their minds. This sports bra offers super support, while wicking away moisture and making your workout more comfortable.
Circle Scarf-Print dress: I love this a-line plus size dress, both the style and the fun geometric print. It’s great for every season—wear with sandals in the summer and pair with tights and tall boots in winter!
Now that you’ve spent time shopping for everyone else, go buy something for yourself!
So, now that you have your tall boots, how about finding a way to wear them? While sweater dresses and leggings can be fun, they aren’t always appropriate—plus of course you want to vary your look!
But, luckily for you (and me), you can pair your tall boots with dresses. They look good with long dresses especially.
This pintucked dress (which comes in a variety of prints and solid colors) is a great example of a dress to wear with tall boots. The pintucks give it a unique and pretty style, and the length is comfortable for winter, especially with tights underneath.
Another plus size dress is this one, made of comfortable, soft French terry. Pair this with tall boots in a fun color! (Black works, too.)
And finally, this button-front embroidered dress is so pretty and so perfect with a pair of tall black boots. An outfit like this is a great option for holiday church going or other formal events.
Purple is making a comeback as one of the hot colors this winter. Plum, grape and all the shades in between are showing up on runways and in fashion magazines as designers rediscover the fun and pop of purple!
There are tons of ways to work this color into your wardrobe. One easy way is to simply choose clothing that’s purple—this print trim dress, for example. This is a comfortable plus-size dress that you can pair with tights and boots for a great winter look.
Another way to enjoy purple is shoes—like these microsuede scrunch boots or these jewel wedges in purple.
And then, of course, accessories! This floral stretchy bracelet makes a fun, dramatic statement. And the stone in this beautiful sterling silver ring is an eye-catching purple that will stand out on your finger.
How do you plan to bring color into your winter wardrobe?
Ruffles are definitely a fall trend this year—they’ve been showing up on runways and are now making their way into everyday fashion. Sometimes when people hear ruffles they think way-too-frilly girly outfits. But that doesn’t need to be the case at all.
There are tons of ways to incorporate ruffles into your wardrobe.
In bags! Check out this fun ruffle snake bag that’s uber-fashionable. It’s also very exotic, and has pockets for all your goodies and a convenient snap closure.
In shoes! These ruffle booties add a great little flair to your outfit and are a wonderful way to incorporate a trend without going overboard.
In shirts! This ruffle-trim flannel shirt mixes boyfriend comfort with feminine fall style—so pretty much everything you could want in a shirt. And this dot ruffle blouse is also a great option.
In sleeves! Check out this ruffle-sleeved blouse or this ruffle-sleeved dress for another way to add some feminine flair to your outfit.
Okay, so maybe you don’t want to turn your maxi dress into a fall dress. That’s okay, because there are TONS of plus size fall dresses out there that are cute and fun and will still keep you warm.
This wrap dress is so flattering and pretty. It comes in a bunch of different prints, and you can pair it with tall boots for an awesome fall look. Also, it’s actually a faux wrap style, so no worries about gaping or tying—you get all of the benefits without any of the problems.
The design on this medallion shift dress is very slimming, because it draws the eyes down a narrow column. It’s a soft jersey knit and it has a boat neckline (which are my favorite kind of necklines). So flattering!
Plaids are in right now, and this pleated plaid georgette dress is really fun for work or a night on the town. Pair it with a pretty cardigan and matching pumps and you’re ready to go!
So you’ve still got all those summer pieces, but the weather’s getting cooler and you think you have to put them away? The good news is: you don’t! You can keep using some of your summer pieces for fall with just a few small additions.
Take the maxi dress. Most of these are sleeveless and so they scream summer. But there’s nothing wrong with adding a short jacket or sweater to your maxi dress. You can also wear something on top that cinches at the waist to make your maxi dress go even further.
Another trendy look is to wear a long-sleeved shirt or turtleneck under your summer dresses, to give your arms some coverage. This is a look that takes some confidence, but hey, it can work.
And don’t forget about simply adding boots for leg coverage and cardigans for your arms. These two staples can help take a lot of your summery pieces straight through the fall.
So you’ve heard of the maxi dress (it’s a great option for summer), but have you heard of the shirt dress? It’s another awesome option.
Shirt dresses are a nice mix of casual and formal. The collars and button-up style are professional without being fussy. You can wear them to the office, and then out for a casual drink afterward. And cuff bracelets are a perfect pairing with this style.
Two amazing plus-size shirt dresses: 1) this wrinkle-resistant tailored cotton dress comes in raspberry or French blue stripe. It’s washable and easy fitting, but still fitted enough to be flattering and give a nice shape. 2) This printed cotton voile plus-size shirt dress. It’s also tailored and fitted, and the print is a fun way to mix it up. If you want to go extra casual, you can throw on a pair of leggings underneath.
When you’re looking for a new addition to your wardrobe, these plus-size shirt dresses are a stylish and trendy choice, but still really classic. Check ‘em out!
