Fall Must-Have: A Dress (Any Dress)

There's nothing better than throwing on a dress when you're rushing out the door because to me, you'll still look put together because the dress does all the work for you.  I believe you can never have too many dresses, which is the reason why I keep buying them.  My plan is to have enough dresses that I'll always have one on hand in my closet for that oh-crap-I-just-slept-in-and-have-to-leave-my-house-in-ten-minutes-to-catch-my-train-kinda-day (which is almost every day).  One might think a dress isn't as exciting as putting together an outfit, but with a dress you can be just as creative.  Belt it (or switch up the belt that comes with it), throw a scarf on (perfect for transitioning into fall), switch up the sweaters you wear with it, belt it over the sweater, throw a jacket over it, wear something under it (i.e., turtleneck, t-shirt, blouse), wear with different coloured tights (great for transitioning summer dresses into fall) and/or switch up the shoes you wear with it (i.e., heels, booties (with socks or tights) for fall, knee-high boots for winter).  Now, if only I would apply this to my own wardrobe and stop shopping so much.  Challenge accepted.

Now I may have to look in my closet and make sure I have at least one dress that falls in each of these categories.  If not, all bets are off.

Coloured 

Ella Moss Girl's Best Friend Dress:
shopbop.com

Soft Joie Lynn Ruffled-Skirt Dress: neimanmarcus.com

Love the turtleneck under this dress.  Add to "need" list: purple turtleneck to go under purple print dress I already own + gray tights.

Viscose Dress with "Small Flowers" Print:
chloe.com

Halston Heritage Three-Quarter Sleeve Dress: saks.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Michaela Silk Dress:
nordstrom.com

Shirtdress

This one's under $60!

Mango

Gazette Shirtdress: madewell.com

T.Babaton Lange Dress: aritzia.com

Letticia Shirt Dress with Belt:
aliceandolivia.com

Sweaterdress

Most of my dresses for fall would fall under this category.

Lynna Lurex Sequin Sweater Dress:
Guess by Marciano

Opening Ceremony Dropped Ruffled T-Shirt Dress:
saks.com

This would be a great dress to layer with.

Test Pattern Sweaterdress: anthropologie.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Viva Wool-Cashmere Dress:
bergdorfgoodman.com

Embroidered Argyle TNeck Dress:
millyny.com

I love the look of white in the winter.

Tibi 3/4 Sleeve Dress: shopbop.com

Cloud Leopard Dress: rebeccataylor.com

Black

This one's only $58!

Essential Knit Long-Sleeve Dress: bcbg.com

James Perse Dolman Easy Dress:
revolveclothing.com

Ponte Dress With Bow: juicycouture.com

Elsie Dress: dvf.com

Striped

Nola Dress: Guess

Michael Kors

Fulton Dress: rag-bone.com

Striped Dress: rebeccataylor.com

A perfect example of wearing a blouse underneath.  Add to "need" list: blouse with long sleeves.  (I believe I only own short or 3/4 sleeves.)

T by Alexander Wang Striped Ruched Knit Dress:
neimanmarcus.com

Did I mention how much I love this dress?

Marlo Striped Maxi Dress: bergdorfgoodman.com

Saved by Marc Jacobs (Marc by Marc Jacobs Dresses to be Exact)

Sometimes I wish my closet was just full of dresses.  They're so easy to throw on when you're rushing to get out the door, which I was doing every day this week.  If I had to choose which designer, it would be Marc Jacobs all the way.  I can't remember what started my Marc Jacobs obsession, but all I know is it started about 6 years ago and he's still my favourite designer to this day.  When I shop online, the first category I check is Marc by Marc Jacobs.  To date, I probably have about 5 pairs of shoes, 5 tops, 4 dresses (1 with hearts!), 3 bags, 2 blouses, 1 romper, 1 sweater (with hearts!), 1 scarf and a pair of sunglasses.  (I have a thing for hearts.  Juicy Couture made a dress with hearts and I couldn't resist.  Well played Juicy, well played.)  I even love the Marc Jacobs perfume, Daisy, and wear it every day.  My favourite item is a pair of purple and fuchsia pink open-toed pumps that I bought in Vegas at Neiman Marcus, which began my other obsession: neimanmarcus.com.  I haven't worn these in a while though.  The problem is that they're heels and I just don't wear heels that often anymore because (1) I have back pain at the ripe old age of 32 and (2) I don't dress up for work like I used to.  But they're too gorgeous to just sit in my closet.  So after next week's challenge of wearing the sandals that have been neglected all summer (one pair I haven't even worn yet, even though when I bought them earlier this summer I thought they were perfect because they're beige so they would match everything and they're wedges so super comfortable), I'll have to dedicate some time (maybe a week!) to those pumps because, before you know it, it's going to start snowing.  Ugh.

(Clearly my love for stripes didn't just start this year.  I also love a dress with pockets!)

Dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs; Shoes: Guess;
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

  

Dress: Marc by Marc Jacobs; Shoes: Charles by Charles
David; Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I have a feeling I will "need" these items for fall, along with the striped dress I posted earlier this week, which I'll post again because I'm kind of obsessed with it.

Marlo Striped Maxi Dress:
bergdorfgoodman.com

Adore this look!

Kristi Tie-Neck and 1970s Flared Jeans:
neimanmarcus.com

Magenta: a must-have colour for fall!

Koko Solid Sweater Dress: saks.com

Another gorgeous colour!

Runway Michaela Peter Pan Shirt:
revolveclothing.com

A sweater to replace the mustard yellow blouse I posted in one of my first posts.  Except there's a major problem: they have this sweater in bright pink too!

Uma Sweater: shopbop.com

Manic Monday - Saved by the (Striped) Dress

I've never used the snooze button.  I'm worried it's never going to go off again.  So when my alarm goes off, I turn it off then stay in bed for just... a... few... more... minutes. Then 20 minutes go by and I'm still in bed.  I realize I have to leave in 20 minutes to catch my train!  So I quickly shower (thankfully I washed my hair the day before).  Only 10 minutes left to get dressed.  But what to wear?  Wearing the same outfits over and over lately, you would think it wouldn't be that difficult to put an outfit together, but for some reason when the time is ticking I can't seem to think straight. Then I suddenly see a top I haven't worn yet and decide this is the day I want to wear it.  But, what to pair it with? Start to lose track of time.  Turn to the clock... 5 minutes left, crap.  Think!  I look at the back of my closet and thankfully a dress is hanging, clean and ironed.  Breathe a sigh of relief. Out the door with 1 minute to spare!  I get to work, no longer out of breath after a 45-minute train ride and I somewhat feel put together, thanks to the dress.  And, thankfully, there's hairspray in the office bathroom.

Dress: Mango; Shoes: Jessica Simpson;
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I realized lately I have a thing for stripes.  These would be great for fall.

DKNY Striped Crew Neck Sweater
Dress: shopbop.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs Marlo Striped
Maxi Dress: neimanmarcus.com