I don’t know about you, but I have had my fair share of bridesmaid dresses.  For a few years there it was almost getting out of hand. It seemed to be right about when everyone got settled after college/grad school, they needed to get hitched. I really am so grateful for all of my trips down the aisle, as it demonstrates that I have friends that love me. But did I always love the dress?  Hmmm…I can’t say I ever had an awful or unflattering dress to wear, but sometimes the material was just hard to pull off again.  EVERY bride will tell you that she wants you to wear the dress again, but really?  Can you really wear that silk taffeta dress again?  Well I am here to show you how.

I have included a photo of me above in a dress from my friend Mandy’s wedding last year.  It was from J.Crew and tailored to fit me just right, but with all the shiny greenness, it was just too formal for work.  So I decided to dress it down with accessories.  I pulled on a little pointelle sweater, black belt and spectator heels.  I think the dark, matte accessories help calm the shiny material and the more work appropriate shoes help pull the look together.  My co-workers were shocked when I told them the dress was a bridesmaid dress.  I have included some accessories below that may help you replicate this look with your closet full of pretty dresses.

Well according to Wikipedia, “Blouses were rarely part of the fashionable woman’s wardrobe until the 1890s. Before that time, they were occasionally popular for informal wear in styles that echoed peasant or traditional clothing…”  Now, I don’t know about you, but I am surely a fan of the blouse.  For those of you who know me–you will certainly recognize that the blouse makes up roughly 70% of my wardrobe.  I like the versatility, the comfort and the layering possibilities.  I wear short-sleeved blouses year round!  I took the liberty of doing a little search to find some blouses that are right up my alley.  I have them listed in order of expense, because obviously you can find loads of pricey numbers, but the “finds” are always the most gratifying.

First up is a little vintage number from my gal @VintageDaisyDeb–she is a poly/cotton blend.  This detail is crucial and all you vintage loving gals will understand that 100% poly blouses can be just plain bogus in the summer heat.  At $15–this is a steal!

Up next is a more modern take of the blouse demonstrated by Uniqlo.  I love this company–if you have had the opportunity to visit their stores you should understand my passion.  I mean the rows and rows of color-coated cashmere sweaters are enough to make you want to snuggle in a pile of them for hours, not to mention the pure OCD ecstasy I receive from seeing so many clothes categorized and properly folded in a very clean space (Is that TMI?) And at $39.99–still okay in my book.

Now the third is from my obvious resource Anthropologie.  This blouse has the clean, classic and crisp lines that I gravitate towards.  I could wear it with a skirt, jeans or under a jumper and you would find me equally cute in any of the aforementioned combinations.  But the sadness must begin somewhere–and the price tag on this beauty is just irritating.  Why must a cotton blouse be over $50 at anytime?  I don’t understand, it is still mass produced and sold in a chain store–can they not throw us a bone?  Boo!

Now my dear friend @kleah54 asked that I include some layering options.  This may seem like an odd request for those of you who do not have to experience the world of coporate office work.  The temperature usually levels around 65 degrees in the summer–which sounds fabulous until you have that cute summer dress on with some gross hoodie that you had crammed in your file cabinet.  Instead I suggest cashmere!  Oh yes, that’s right–no gal should be without a few 3/4 sleeve cashmere sweaters.  They simply make your life so much more livable.  Exaggeration? No!  I have been known to covet a little J.Crew cashmere, but in all honestly, I have not reached the point of weakness where a $160 sweater seems okay.  Instead I gravitate towards… super clearance.

I have never paid more than $20 for any cashmere sweater that I own.  Just to illustrate (but not condone) I have included an image and link for the style the I am referencing.

I also must give an apology for my lack of posts these past two Fridays.  I am really trying to post Mon-Fri each week, but as you can imagine sometimes life as a full-time employee, Wife and step-mom takes over.  Not to mention, I am just a baby blog (only 3 weeks old!) and I have been having some minor problems with links and images recently.  I think I have them sorted, but the issues have made a few “quick posts” turn into a 3 hour fiasco.  Bleh!  I will keep trying to bring daily workday goodness .