[vc_row padding_setting=”1″ desktop_padding=”no-padding-tb”][vc_column][vc_column_text]When it comes to dresses, we’re totally spoiled for choice. Sheer dresses, long dresses, patterned dresses, cocktail dresses, work dresses, and of course, brunch dresses call out to me from every shop window. But believe it or not, you don’t actually need to own a dress for every occasion. As long as you have these five staple pieces, you can dress them up or down and wear them to pretty much any occasion you can think of.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
the everyday dress
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]This is the staple dress that you can wear to just about anything. It’s long enough to be wearable at a nice restaurant but short enough to still feel fun. You can dress it up with a blazer and heels for work, pair it with sandals for the beach, or wear it to a night on the town with some jewelry.
For this sort of dress, I think a natural fiber without any elastic material works best. A cotton or linen dress transitions between events with more grace than a stretchy material would, and natural fibers breathe better to keep you cool. Aim for just above the knee.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
the maxi
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The maxi dress is a trend that stuck around, and man am I thrilled about it. Long and breezy, maxi dresses look formal without feeling stuffy or getting too hot. I love a maxi dress for cool summer evenings and casual events where I still want to feel well-dressed. Plus, you don’t have to bother with shaving your legs. Just sayin.
Maxi dresses give you a little flexibility in terms of patterns since the cut is usually fairly simple. Don’t be afraid to play with color![/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
the bold dress
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Every woman needs a bold dress in their arsenal for those events where you have something to prove or an eye to catch. Take advantage of a dramatic color, fun print, or striking silhouette to wow any and all onlookers. I love unusual materials, extravagant prints, and bright colors in my bold dresses. And if you need to really pull out all the stops? Go floor-length.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
the strapless
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Strapless dresses aren’t just beach cover-ups and bridesmaid dresses, people! Strapless garments are sweet, classic, and lightweight, and they don’t give you a weird tan line if you’ll be outside for a long time. For a casual look, go for a stretchy, lightweight material that moves with you. A structured dress in a thicker material looks more formal, but you’ll probably need to wear a sticky or strapless bra just in case.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]
the two piece
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Okay, fine, technically this isn’t a dress, but a matching skirt and top function as a dress, and they look fantastic. It’s one of the coolest trends of the past few years because it looks classy without being stuffy. Even better? You can remix the pieces into other outfits. If you bring a two-piece dress on vacation you can get three outfits out of it, which is a pretty great use of your luggage space.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]What are your summer essentials? Let me know in the comments![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]