Loop Looks

Dress – The Limited (similar) | Cardigan – The Limited (similar) | Scarf – JF&A Show (similar) | Shoes – Nine West (similar)

It’s so cliché to say that a little black dress is a closet staple, but there’s a reason it gets said over and over again. A black sheath dress is incredibly easy to accessorize.  I’ve featured this dress three other times on my blog and it’s also the dress I’m wearing in my blog “logo”!

Wish you had a black sheath dress in your closet?  Here are a few that I think would fit the bill. Yes, the price on these might be sticker shock for some people, but if you think about the cost in terms of cost-per-wear you will get a lot of wear out of a dress like this if you work and it won’t go out of style. So it might be something you want to spend a bit more on. Still can’t stomach the price tag? Check out stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ross, Beal’s or Burlington Coat Factory.  All typically carry a large assortment of dresses and I bet you’ll find something!

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Coat – Calvin Klein (similar) | Shirt – Gap (similar) | Dress – The Limited (similar) | Boots – Cole Haan (similar) | Necklace – Gordman’s (similar)

Another Inspiration Monday is upon us and another inspiration photo that didn’t work with today’s plans of presenting to a graduate school class about the field of records management (trust me, it’s a scorcher!).  So I took the idea of a dress with boots and went with that.

Source

I also wanted to link-up with Kimmie at Blue Paper Lanterns and her “Oh, This Old Thing” link-up.  Can you guess what the oldest item in my closet is?  I’m wearing it in this outfit.

It’s the purple collared shirt!  I’ve had this shirt since high school, which means it’s at least 15 years old.  My dad gave it to me as a gift with a gray sweater.  The sweater is long gone but this shirt keeps on trucking.

What’s the oldest item in your closet?

Also, have you taken the first anniversary reader survey yet?  Results announced soon!

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Turtleneck – The Limited (similar)| Dress – The Limited (similar)| Tights -  Target (similar)| Boots – Cole Haan (similar)| Necklace – JF & A Show (similar)

You probably have a sleeveless dress in your closet, right?  Have you ever worn it in winter?  Sure, you could wear it over a button-down collared shirt but what about wearing it over a turtleneck?  I have no idea why it took me so long to pair these two items together, but now that I have I think I’ve opened up an entirely new area of my closet.  You mean I don’t have to buy long-sleeved dresses for the winter??

Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean every single dress can be worn with something underneath.  It probably works better with more tailored dresses.  Although, admittedly, I haven’t tried this pairing with any other dresses in my closet.

Still, I’m excited to find new ways to wear my “summer” dresses in the colder months of the year.

P.S.  Do you need somewhere to store your jewelry?  Well, I’m giving away a jewelry holder over at Frills for Thrills!  I actually own this one and find it to be super versatile.

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion.

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Jacket – Wilsons Leather | Blazer – Gibson via Nordstrom Rack | Scarf – H&M via Poshmark | Dress – The Limited | Boots – Cole Haan

Do you have a black dress in your closet?  One that can be dressed up or down?  If not, I highly recommend getting one.  I don’t really like to make lists of items that you HAVE to have in your closet because everyone’s lifestyle and favorite looks are different.  But a versatile black dress?  It’s pretty hard to find a woman who couldn’t benefit from having one.

Take this one for example.  I’ve also worn it two other ways since I started this blog.   Anything you can wear in both June and October just by switching up the accessories is a closet workhorse for sure.

Do you have a versatile black dress?  Would you want to own one?

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Dress – The Limited | Blazer – The Limited | Necklace – The Limited | Shoes – Anne Klein via Bergner’s

I had a busy day full of meetings so I didn’t get a chance to take my outfit pictures until after work.  Normally I do them in the morning when I take them outside.  In the morning there’s no one on our rooftop. In the afternoon, though, it’s more likely to have someone around.  Today’s photography witness asked me if I was a realtor.

I guess I was going for business professional and I must have succeeded.  This outfit isn’t particularly crazy considering it’s all grays and blacks, but I will say you can’t go wrong with a dress and a blazer.    It’s a pretty classic combination that doesn’t look too matchy-matchy but is dressed up and professional.  Plus it’s a great way to transition sleeveless dresses to cooler months.

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Dress – The Limited | Scarf -  Nordstrom | Necklace – gift | Shoes – TJ Maxx

The challenge for Friday was to choose a photo we wanted to interpret.  I have a TON of photos on my Pinterest board just waiting to be interpreted.  So, finding a photo wasn’t hard.  Choosing one, though, was difficult.

Until the scarf I ordered because Laura linked to it arrived and I knew I wanted to use it in my outfit.  So, I went with the photo that inspired me to order the scarf in the first place.

I thought this was the perfect way to make my black dress more casual.  It’s the same dress I wore a few weeks ago but different accessories change it up entirely.

Also, it’s windy on my roof.

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Dress – The Limited | Cardigan – The Limited | Necklace – The Limited | Belt – The Limited | Shoes – Nine West

This is absolutely one of my favorite dresses.  I can wear it with a cardigan or without.  I can wear it with strappy heels, flats, or boots.  I can change up the belt for a different look or leave it off entirely.

And it has pockets!

Seriously, I think everyone needs a black dress that can be worn for multiple occasions.  This might not be THE little black dress fashion mags always talk about, but it’s a pretty good facsimile for my life.   Unless anyone knows of some fancy cocktail parties I’m supposed to be at…..

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I’ve also worn this outfit this way in the past:

Cardigan, Top, Belt & Pants – The Limited

Shoes – Karen Scott/Macy’s

Necklace – Overstock.com/Race goodie bag

Today I skipped the belt and left the cardigan open.

Which way do you prefer?

Since I have no torso I prefer todays’ look.  It’s a little “sloppier” but I think it makes me look more proportional.

I have a bonus photo for you!

Dress: H&M

Necklace: JC Penney

Earrings: Gift

Hose: Walgreens

Boots – Liz Claiborne/DSW

Tuesday was my husband’s birthday and this is what I wore to go out to dinner.   We didn’t go to that fancy of a place but sometimes you’ve just got to get a little dressed up!  Especially when your husband bought you the dress for Christmas.

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