Finding the Perfect Dress: the Power of Versatility

For a long time, I avoided dresses. My personal style tended to lean more androgynous in my early twenties. When presented with an upscale event that required an “Outfit,” my preference was always a suit and heels—I felt it made more of an impact. It took me years to embrace the femininity that I felt I needed to wear dresses and realize that dresses make a statement all their own. The sheer number of options available on the dress market was what finally swayed me.

Dress styles can range from daytime to evening, mini to maxi, pencil to trapeze, and the list goes on. Factors like length and fabric tend to provide the most versatility when considering ways to make dresses feel like they can serve different occasions. For example, a cotton or poly-blend maxi dress can work for a day at the beach, a casual outing, or even an evening event paired with heels and statement jewelry. Meanwhile, a short and fun form-fitting bodycon dress makes for an effortless date night look, but can also work for a day out shopping and lunching paired with a denim jacket and your favorite sneakers. Style Encore is a great place to shop in-store or online for dresses that suit every occasion, offering a variety of styles, lengths and fabrics to match your personal taste and needs.

Personally, my favorite style of dress has become a short-sleeve, mid-length dress that fits essentially like your favorite t-shirt, but in a silk or poly-blend material. It’s a casual enough silhouette to wear with a comfy flat or sandal, but the texture is elevated enough that it works flawlessly with a pair of heels and a more formal clutch for an evening dinner or event. With a handful of these hanging in my closet in colors ranging from solid, soft pastels to jazzy, multicolor prints, it’s safe to say my relationship with dresses has blossomed from avoidance to acceptance—and just in time for sundress season. 

Blog By: Chelsea Lankford | @truelane