STYLED let me be the first to admit to being a closet hoarder. I’ve been the victim of, “I don’t know what to wear,” and accumulated years’ worth of clothes due to impulsive shopping. But along the way, I’ve also picked up a useful solution to this chaos: two-timing outfits—one dress two ways, making it a day-to-night wardrobe. First, it gives your wallet a break. As much as I love buying something for every occasion, it wouldn’t hurt to look back at what’s already in my closet. Second, being creative when combining clothes is a way to make our brain juices flow. Last but not least, if you must buy, buy “investment” pieces like a white blazer or the classic LBD (little black dress). Enough chitchat. I’ll demonstrate. For my day outfit, I chose a trendy color-block strapless dress, basic and versatile. With a couple of changes in accessories and layers, it transitions with no problem from day to night. Because my day look is all about comfort, I paired leopard print loafers and a yellow messenger bag to make it effortless and fun. The chambray top hides the dress to disguise it as a skirt. Brain juice flowing! For the night look comes the adding and subtracting. Remove the chambray top; now add high heels—a must for a night of cocktails— and a necklace. A strapless dress pretty much lends itself to hang anything you want around the neck. And how about a pretty and shiny clutch to complete the look? Moving the accessories around and layering helps transform the outfit too, but don’t forget to keep them appropriate for the occasion.
Planning outfits ahead of time is always work in progress, but by spending a few minutes on the task, you avoid coming home to change. The key is to interchange and play with the pieces already owned and focus on one piece, like the dress here. It’s a strategy perfect for those on the move with no time between work and play. Might want to use all that saved time on makeup and primping that greasy hair. BY MICHELLE COOK GUTIÉRREZ
Michelle is a street fashion blogger living in Laredo, Texas. Follow her blog at nicethingsandstuff.blogspot.com