The dress is a woman’s greatest asset.
Sometimes this wonder is forgotten in our rush to wear the pants.
We take what we think is the easy way out, the comfortable route, and the familiar. Trousers fit into that mindset. Sometimes, trousers or jeans are the only solutions but often we wear them because we forget about the beauty and ease of the dress.
The habitual dressing is a trap.
Why?
It can be our ally.
Wearing a dress requires less thought; only one piece and some accessorizing complete the outfit.
There is something luxurious and superbly feminine about wearing a dress. When I am wearing even the simplest shift I feel as if I have made an added effort with my appearance. We feel feminine and have something of a secret advantage. A dress makes me feel more elegant, well-groomed, and better coordinated.
Dresses suit most women.
Friends tell me, “They don’t wear dresses” because they don’t “work for them”. The answer is to find the style and length that is suitable for an individual shape. Dresses can feel, “frightening” and hiding in pants is easier because they are well within our comfort.
Wearing a dress makes an individual statement.
The Right Dress?
Finding the “one” is like hitting the jackpot.
Buy a dress when you see it, not when you need it. I have never had luck in finding something for a special occasion; buying what you fall in love with, what feels comfortable and what flatters will find its time and place.
I have similar dresses in my wardrobe.
When a cut suits, duplicate it. There is nothing more advantageous than copying a successful shape. Run with it; there are so many variations in fabric and colour to play with.
The ease of waking up and putting on a dress is appealing; all that remains is the choice of shoes or boots to complement the look. There may be more planning in the buying, more experimenting and trying on but once found, it is very much a done deal.
Did we once think that dresses were only to be worn for the best?
They aren’t. They are for any day we choose to wear them. Footwear makes all the difference when it comes to accessorizing up or down. One dress can perform in many ways with a change of shoe.
And what about the dress worn with an overcoat? This combination was once well worn and a favourite ensemble of fashionable women.
The glimpse of hemline peeping out between the layers, the line of the body accentuated by the cut of the coat, and a beautiful pair of shoes is one of the most feminine ways we can enjoy fashion.
The dress is a wonder and our asset to work with. xv
this feature may contain affiliate links
images irving penn for vogue
