I love buying party dresses and pieces to help make an event special. But, I get a little bummed out that they often have limited use after the event or holidays. So, I decided to keep wearing mine.
It really wasn’t that difficult to find plenty of ways to reuse these pieces. T-shirts, sweaters, and boots help to dress down a more formal piece and make it work for a day or casual night look.
The first outfit is a fun sequin skirt. I have paired this with dressy, sheer blouses and cashmere sweaters for a more formal look. But, I love this skirt for a party with friends, weekend errands, and even work with more casual pairings. To give a lot of contrast, I’ve added an oversized sweatshirt and over-the-knee boots for running errands or lunch on the weekend. For this post, I paired it with a basic black t-shirt and a vintage-inspired vest. Black knee socks, a funky fur crossbody bag and moto-style boots finish out the look. It’s comfortable, fresh and unexpected.
Chunky sweaters are the staples of this year’s winter wardrobe. This off white version also has gold metallic thread sewn in, which gives it some added sparkle. Paired with a leather skirt and large statement earrings, it is quite dressy. I’m giving it another purpose by pairing it with distressed jeans and black ankle boots. Vintage bracelets and a ring, along with gold chandelier earrings, bring the outfit together. This would be a great outfit for work or for a casual night out for drinks with your friends.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions in the past about repurposing a dress that is formal and being able to use it for a more casual purpose. Here I’ve taken a gold and black metallic dress which I originally purchased for both a wedding and a fundraising event, and made it work-appropriate. For this post, I layered a black cropped cardigan over the dress so it appears as more of a skirt. A cozy scarf and high black boots were added to finish out the outfit. This could be worn with tights as well for added warmth. I have also paired this dress with a black t-shirt when a sweater isn’t needed. Black teardrop earrings, a vintage bracelet, and deep red clutch complete the look.
So don’t leave your “fancy” dresses and skirts in the closet. Get them out and mix them with your everyday staples!
Please follow me at Life’s a Brooch as well. www.lifesabrooch.com
Try these local shops for featured or similar pieces:
Taupe: Black teardrop earrings, party dresses and sweaters
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TAUPE/396465223824212
Hinesite: Vintage jewelry
http://www.hinesitevintage.com/
Sophie Stargazer: Sequin skirt and dresses, Level 99 Jeans (similar to the pair featured here)
http://www.sophiestargazer.com/
DSW: Tall black boots
http://www.dsw.com/?cm_mmc=paid-_-google-_-NB-Boots%20Only_P-_-Test_Boots
Rag & Bone: Black ankle boots
