Demand More from Your Wardrobe: 2 Dresses, 3 Ways

That dress you bought for your niece’s wedding was worn once. It feels too formal to wear out and about because you have that memory of wearing it to a wedding. So instead of waiting for another wedding with a different crowd to come around the corner, here are a few different ways to get longevity out of that dress. Recreate it in a way that you can make it a staple piece in your wardrobe.

Sure, it all depends on the dress. But starting to choose smarter pieces with this framework in mind will give you an overall more functional wardrobe. Why does it make sense to spend $300+ on a dress for one occasion? It doesn’t. We deserve to demand more from our wardrobe.

When I have these conversations with women in the shop, I notice how most of them aren’t trained to think like that. We think of specific occasions and shop for that, rather than looking at our closet and identifying how to mix and match these pieces.

I chose this simple silk dress by Repeat because it can function as so many things. This is a piece that you can really get some mileage out of, with a little creativity! This dress screams to be accessorized; it is a blank canvas. While I wouldn’t wear this dress to a black-tie wedding, it would be appropriate at a beautiful spring or summer wedding outdoors.

Pairing a dress with an additional layer, be it a blazer, denim jacket, or leather jacket, also gives it a whole new feel. Denim will make it more casual, leather will make it more edgy, and a blazer makes things more refined and sophisticated. Choose your layer to fit your venue.

Shoes and jewelry go hand in hand. Make sure you are accessorizing on the same level of dressiness. We wouldn’t wear a statement diamond necklace and flip flops together…and coordinate but don’t match.

The Nicole Miller dress shown here is versatile because of the print. It is a smaller print, so it works for most body types and isn’t as memorable as a large bold print. It’s color palette allows for it to be dressed up or down and worn from afternoon to evening. It all depends how you accessorize and layer. It would even be cute with a tee thrown over it, and worn as a pencil skirt. Get creative!

As always, if you have a piece you are trying to reinvent, bring it in, and we would be happy to help you re-imagine it in a way you can get more use out of it. If we don’t have the solution here, we will always help you find it.

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Sarah Felton

Kiskadee

703.549.0813

Sarah moved to Alexandria in 2013 with her then boyfriend, now husband, from New England. She has worked in a variety of retail settings, in addition to law firms, non-profits, and even as a government contractor. After briefly entertaining an idea of a career with the USDA, she decided to come back full time to her one true love, helping women find their voice and confidence through clothes. With a background in small boutiques, personal styling, and fashion merchandising, she brings honest opinions and creative apparel solutions for each individual person and shop she works with. She is officially back at her stomping ground, Kiskadee, where her venture into Alexandria retail all began.

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Looking for a killer cocktail number for the latest party? Shoes for running around town? Eye-catching separates for lunch at Cheesetique? Kiskadee has you covered. A favorite destination in the heart of Del Ray, shopping this boutique is akin to browsing your friend's lust-worthy closet. Kiskadee is fun, flirty and full of original designers,a ll presented to you with a focus on personal service. You will always be welcomed by a friendly face, eager to assist!

www.kiskadeeshop.com

2205 Mount Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301

703.549.0813