Day Look: Blazer. Dress. Necklace. Ring. Pumps. Tote (Similar Here).
Night Look: Jacket (Similar Here and Here). Dress. Necklace (Similar Here). Ring. Booties. Handbag.
James L. Jones Photography
First of all, let me just say this is easily one of the most flattering dresses you will find. My new favorite brand Kora Rae makes this dress with beautifully high-quality fabrics, and the black panels down the side slim and visually whittle waist and hips in half. The stretchy panels are forgiving but also hug curves and allow for comfortable movement throughout the day. This dress has become a favorite of mine… One that will be worn to everything from church and family events to weddings and special meetings.
Working primarily from home, my wardrobe is able to be much more flexible than it used to be (as in yoga pants). But during college and after law school I worked in traditional office settings that required me to be in professional clothes. The frustrating part was trying to figure out how I would transition my professional wardrobe to date nights, evening events, or happy hour/dinner with friends that occurred immediately after the workday… And how to make more conservative work dresses look appropriate for social events so I could double their wear potential.
By starting with the right basics and using a few strategic accessories to transition from day to night, you can easily look evening-appropriate without making a trip home first or packing an extra outfit.
Tips for making day-to-night work for you:
- Start with a knee-length dress: Embrace the fact that not all your date-night pieces will work for work. That dress you wear out dancing with the girls probably won’t double for meetings and presentations with your boss. Start with a knee-length dress like mine above… Bonus points for a conservative neckline.
- Top your dress with a sleek blazer: My favorite (that’s now on sale) is this all-black blazer in a year-round light wool fabric. It adds a professional feel to any dress or silky blouse, making many of your pieces more work-appropriate.
- Invest in a quality tote bag: Aside from being a carry-all for your work papers and laptop and a great travel tote, a quality tote bag will become a place to store your work accessories when you head out for the evening.
- Switch to a leather jacket: Make the switch to a leather jacket to add a bit of edge to your dress for evening. I’m wearing this one I’ve had for years but I really like the seam details on this one and the friendly price point on this one.
- Carry a handbag with detail: Carry a small-to-medium handbag with detail that transitions into evening well and adds interest to your outfit. If you have enough room, you can even tuck it into your tote bag during the day.
- Pair your dress with boots or booties: An easy way to make a dress look edgy and perfect for a night out is to add chic boots or booties. My favorites that would pair well with work dresses? Check here and here.
- Spice up your evening jewelry: Try adding a pop of color with a bright necklace or adding movement with some chain-detail earrings that accent your face and hair.
Look through my favorite day-to-night pieces by clicking through the arrows down below. When you see an image you like, click to shop. And be sure to enter our Chloé Marcie bag giveaway… We decided to extend it a week and the winner will be chosen this weekend!!
