Take it from a veteran: Focus your efforts on getting the most bang for your buck with pieces that you can collectively mix, match, and wear more than once-including during the other parts of your life too. At the end of the day, all eyes should be and will be on the bride, but vanilla is never the best option. Founded by Santa Barbara-based sisters Margaret and Katherine Kleveland in 2015, the pretty Cali export has been on Vogue editors’ radars for some time (at least three editors. Because it’s not necessarily always about the standout dress, but rather the way you style yourself. Spoiler alert: we’ve found the most quintessentially California dress brand, all dusky palettes, nature-infused prints and whimsical silhouettes. But as it turns out, if you get creative, it’s possible to find a head-to-toe statement look for half the price of a special, wear-once-and-bury-in-the-back-of-the-closet kind of gown. On the other hand, I refuse to spend more coin that I don’t have just to attempt at getting the award for best-dressed wedding guest. Brand: Doen Style name: Bijou Print: Octavia floral Size: XL Material: 100 Cotton Beautiful puff sleeve prairie style floral dress from the brand Doen. In fact, I’ve worn one black-tie look to three separate I-dos now, and suffice it to say, I’m over it. And while I’ve often been guilty of adhering to the semi-ridiculous rule that you can’t wear a formal dress more than once, I have officially hit a roadblock at this juncture in my never-ending wedding tour. Being invited to someone’s nuptials-especially in the summertime and especially somewhere far-flung like Greece or Antigua, as has sometimes been the case for me-is a beautiful thing, but it’s an expensive thing too. This year, I have another six on the schedule, and after spending paycheck after paycheck on flights, gifts, and bachelorette parties, I am tapped out. I don’t work in an office so I’m not too familiar with dress codes but I feel like this look would work in a casual office setting.Last year, I attended seven weddings in the span of seven months. My tip is to pair small prints with larger prints and try to stick with a complimentary color scheme when trying to print mix. The plaid print on the blazer is small and the color is a neutral grey/black which compliments the larger print black/white/green stripes on the shirtdress. If you like to dress a little outside the box then I always suggest mixed prints! My mom would probably tell me that this doesn’t match but I like the combination! The reason why I think these two prints work is because they are different sizes. James Chan Heels Option 3: Business Casual Mixed Prints I kept all the same accessories but you could switch out the bucket bag for a clutch to take this look into the evening! The nude heels help to elongate my legs and elevate the overall look. Since my jeans are more relaxed I didn’t want to appear “frumpy” with all the loose fabric from the dress and jeans. Cottagecore fashion has definitely taken off due to quarantine because I think everyone is looking for a little nostalgia and simplicity in their lives. You could also unbutton the dress all the way and wear it as a kimono over a tee and jeans. Cottagecore fashion is an aesthetic characterized by prairie style dresses, puff sleeves, baskets, straw hats, and anything that makes you feel like you are living an idealized life on a farm. For this look I chose to unbutton the dress up to my waist so I could wear a pair of jeans underneath. One of the reasons I love shirtdresses is because they can be buttoned and unbuttoned multiple ways. Mejuri Necklace (get 10% off your first order through this link!) Option 2: Unbuttoned with Jeans If you aren’t into big, chunky sneakers my go-to casual sneaker is a pair of converse. For some reason, I don’t mind the chunky sneakers with a shirtdress. The trend right now is those ugly, dad sneakers and while I don’t really like the trend I would consider styling this dress with these chunky sneakers. I’m wearing it with a pair of croc mules but this dress would totally work with a pair of sneakers. Doen Bijou Dress 318 at Doen 11/20 J.Crew Smocked Prairie Midi Dress 148 at Nordstrom Reformation 12/20 Reformation Marabella Dress 248 at Reformation Gotham 13/20 For an engagement. This dress comes with a tie belt but it could be removed if you want to wear it loose. I do have a 19 month old to chase around still! It’s easy and comfortable and I don’t have to think that much about it. I tend to just throw on my shirtdresses with a pair of flats for everyday wear. I styled it three different ways below but you could honestly style it many more ways! Three Ways to Style a Shirtdress Option 1: Casual with Flats or Sneakers I love it because it’s sooo affordable (under $35 and comes in multiple colors!). I have several in my closet but I just picked up this green striped shirtdress from H&M. They are comfortable, can be dressed up or down, and be worn in a variety of ways. A shirtdress is a closet staple, in my opinion.
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