I have this tiny obsession with making my fancy dresses "okay" for everyday wear. While I have it under control now, I used to buy dresses just because they were cute (and especially if they were at a great price). I never had buyer's remorse but I did end up with a couple closets filled with dresses that collected dust. I don't get to go to that many fancy outings these days so now I've just figured a way to make them more functional.
The easiest way to dress down a fancy piece is to add a more casual cardigan. This polka dot cardigan is a favorite of mine and at 25 dollars I bought it in a few colors. I'll admit, these shoes are not casual in any way, but if I wanted to make this dress a little more casual I would add some studded ballerina flats. I also wore a cute crystal wrap bracelet and cinched the dress with a pink belt.
How do you style your formal dresses for everyday? I know to some people this isn't casual, but I swear to you this would be for me!
I love this! It doesn't even look formal to me! I do the same thing I buy way too many formal dresses without thinking about where I'm going to wear them! I liked to dress them down with my converse high tops and a jean jacket!
Ashley I'm in love with this dress, it's amazzzzing on you!! And I love that you styled it more casually. I usually just add a denim jacket or flats to make things "less fancy" haha. But I am dying over your heels, amazing! xJennaD
You are so cute! I love this dress, and I know the problem of having dresses that are really fancy with nothing to wear them to. It's a struggle to wear most of mine, too. Ah well! I usually manage to dress things down with ankle boots. They make everything way more casual, unless they're heeled.
you are so right! I do that all the time... buy cute dresses and never find a fancy ocasion to wear them! thanks for the tip to make the look more casual. I read that you have two chihuahuas!!! I love chihuahuas, I have one that makes my life so much better :) actually she is the icon of my blog lol I'm following you on bloglovin, instagram, and facebook! I hope you follow me back XOXO
That is such a pretty and eye-catching dress, love the cute ruffles on it. So true about making it more functional and wearable. P.S Lurv your hair shade.
I love fancy frocks for everyday wear! they can always be dressed down too. Also I can't get the bunny skirt :( it is too big XO Ilana @ My Modern Vintage
I am totally the same. I bought heaps of pretty dresses with no formal occasions to go to. I'm incorporating them for everyday use too with flats and cardigans...and I definitely don't mind being a little overdressed. You look fabulous. Love your dress and the way you styled it.
That dress is so beautiful! I love the color and the scalloped edges and the ruffles. Everything about it is gorgeous, no wonder you bought it. I like how you made it more casual with the polka dot cardigan. I usually just wear a tee over a fancy dress since I don't have that many cardigans (although I wish I did!).
I actually haven't tried wearing a formal dress and turning it casual, but you look fantastic! I'm one to collect awesome pieces of clothing in different colors too. LOL
You are super good at making fancy dresses more casual. I love doing it too. I wish I had more places to wear a fancy dress! It's fun to go all out and dress up once in a while! This would be a perfect 4th of July outfit :) Oh, P.S. I'm sure you already got it (and probably already wore it too) but I forgot to send a note with my Eshakti dress. You can definitely iron it if you need to because I know it gets wrinkled so easily and probably didn't make the trip looking perfect. Jessi haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com
You're so cute it wouldn't matter WHAT you wore on the most casual of days. Unfortunately, I don't own enough dresses to have this problem but I'm trying to stock up!
Love this outfit -so perfect for spring! And I completely agree, adding cardigans and casual accessories are a great way to dress down something fancy.
holy toledo, your hair just keeps getting better and better every time I look at it. It's amazing how such a unusual color can go with everything you wear.
Hehe - I am definitely the same way! I usually throw a chambray blouse underneath them or like you, a cardi on top. Those shoes are utterly divine and so is that dress - gah, I just love your style Ashley! xo Marisa
Oh gosh, I do that all the time. My closet is SO full of fancy dresses that I rarely wear, all because they were inexpensive and too pretty to pass up. I love this outfit! And your hair is amazing. xo Kristina www.eccentricowl.com
I love how you made this dress more casual with the cozy cardigan. This outfit is so wonderfully colorful too! You can't go wrong with blue and red. Those shoes are pretty fantastic too!
I love how you look in pink. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteperfect <3 I love everything about this! x
ReplyDeleteiampolkadots.blogspot.co.uk
I love this dress on you and you do a wonderful job at dressing down fancy things. I need to take note.
ReplyDeleteOh girl , simply fell in love with these shoes :)
ReplyDeleteNoor @ Noor's Place
I have a bit of a problem styling my formal dresses for everyday, but you pulled it of! love this look :)
ReplyDeletehttp://chocolatefashioncoffee.blogspot.ro/
love the way you were able to style this fancy dress in a wearable way and i love your shoes
ReplyDeletekw ladies in navy
I love this! It doesn't even look formal to me! I do the same thing I buy way too many formal dresses without thinking about where I'm going to wear them! I liked to dress them down with my converse high tops and a jean jacket!
ReplyDeleteI love the way you dressed this down a bit!
ReplyDeleteAnd those shoes....they're incredible!
I find that my staple to dress down any dress or skirt is my favourite jean jacket. I just bought a denim vest for the same purpose.
xoxo Jackie
somethingaboutthatthing.blogspot.com
Amazing outfit! Just fabulous:)
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http://theprintedsea.blogspot.de/2013/05/firmoo-giveaway.html
Ashley I'm in love with this dress, it's amazzzzing on you!! And I love that you styled it more casually. I usually just add a denim jacket or flats to make things "less fancy" haha. But I am dying over your heels, amazing!
ReplyDeletexJennaD
Those shoes are amazing! Great tips on dressing down a fancy dress! Love the hair btw!
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x
You are so cute! I love this dress, and I know the problem of having dresses that are really fancy with nothing to wear them to. It's a struggle to wear most of mine, too. Ah well! I usually manage to dress things down with ankle boots. They make everything way more casual, unless they're heeled.
ReplyDeletexo
Sue
you are so right! I do that all the time... buy cute dresses and never find a fancy ocasion to wear them! thanks for the tip to make the look more casual.
ReplyDeleteI read that you have two chihuahuas!!! I love chihuahuas, I have one that makes my life so much better :) actually she is the icon of my blog lol
I'm following you on bloglovin, instagram, and facebook!
I hope you follow me back
XOXO
hellolupi.blogspot.com
You have a great collection of colorful dresses! Love this hot pink one! x, Kat
ReplyDeleteLove and Ace
The scallops are adorable! I feel like your colorful hair is the perfect accessory to all the dresses you wear!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar problem. I just loooove fancy dresses! Haha. I like your dressing down tips though...they will sure help me out : )
ReplyDeleteFlounces & Hubbub
That is such a pretty and eye-catching dress, love the cute ruffles on it. So true about making it more functional and wearable. P.S Lurv your hair shade.
ReplyDeleteVery 4th of July your look today ;)
ReplyDeleteI love fancy frocks for everyday wear! they can always be dressed down too. Also I can't get the bunny skirt :( it is too big
ReplyDeleteXO Ilana @ My Modern Vintage
I am totally the same. I bought heaps of pretty dresses with no formal occasions to go to. I'm incorporating them for everyday use too with flats and cardigans...and I definitely don't mind being a little overdressed. You look fabulous. Love your dress and the way you styled it.
ReplyDeleteso lovely!!!
ReplyDelete-issa
wewearthings.com
That dress is so beautiful! I love the color and the scalloped edges and the ruffles. Everything about it is gorgeous, no wonder you bought it. I like how you made it more casual with the polka dot cardigan. I usually just wear a tee over a fancy dress since I don't have that many cardigans (although I wish I did!).
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful, I can not get enough of how colourful your outfits always are!
ReplyDeletegreat dress!
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www.aroundlucia.com
Love your shoes, they are awesome!
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Fashioncontainer Facebook page
I actually haven't tried wearing a formal dress and turning it casual, but you look fantastic! I'm one to collect awesome pieces of clothing in different colors too. LOL
ReplyDeleteAbi
http://thebelatedbloomer.blogspot.com
twitter and instagram: @BelatedBloomer
Wow you look fabulous. Love the dress and the heels are killer <3
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xx
glamdevils
Wow! I totally love this look! What a stunning dress! Hugs from other SoCal bloggers! xx The Golden Girls
ReplyDeleteLove how you dressed it down! The scallops are so cute!
ReplyDelete-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
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Love your dress and cardigan!
ReplyDeletewhat a very lovely outfit <3 i adore your pink dress and its color. great mix of fashion pieces. much love xx
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What a pretty dress! The whole look is very colorful!
ReplyDeleteBest to you! x http://chictrends.co.uk/
Ditto on the everyday dress obsession! You pull it off fabulously!
ReplyDeleteI love that dress! It's such a pretty color!
ReplyDeleteYou did such a great job of making this casual! I love putting cardigans over fancy things and this one is too cute.
ReplyDeleteI've just been catching up on your posts and I hope things are starting to calm down and are a little less exhausting!
The texture and colour of your dress is fantastic! And those shoes are so amazing!
ReplyDeleteNatasha ~ TashaDelrae.com
You are super good at making fancy dresses more casual. I love doing it too. I wish I had more places to wear a fancy dress! It's fun to go all out and dress up once in a while! This would be a perfect 4th of July outfit :)
ReplyDeleteOh, P.S. I'm sure you already got it (and probably already wore it too) but I forgot to send a note with my Eshakti dress. You can definitely iron it if you need to because I know it gets wrinkled so easily and probably didn't make the trip looking perfect.
Jessi
haircutandgeneralattitude.blogspot.com
You're so cute it wouldn't matter WHAT you wore on the most casual of days. Unfortunately, I don't own enough dresses to have this problem but I'm trying to stock up!
ReplyDeletexo Ashley
thetineistfirecracker.com
Love this outfit -so perfect for spring! And I completely agree, adding cardigans and casual accessories are a great way to dress down something fancy.
ReplyDeleteOh really beautiful dress.
ReplyDeleteOh your hair now is purple looks really cute!
xoxo
holy toledo, your hair just keeps getting better and better every time I look at it. It's amazing how such a unusual color can go with everything you wear.
ReplyDeleteThe shoes are darling. I love the chunky heel!
love,
a
www.missdecaf.blogspot.com
Wowza.....you are looking quirkier by the minute Ash....love everything esp, THOSE SHOES!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
love the matching shoes and cardigan! very cute look
ReplyDeleteDelightful Ideas
Omg! I so love your style! Would you like to follow each other? Let me know. ♥
ReplyDeletexx, Edda
Join my giveaway here: http://eddaiglesia.blogspot.com/2013/05/oasap-giveaway.html
Hehe - I am definitely the same way! I usually throw a chambray blouse underneath them or like you, a cardi on top. Those shoes are utterly divine and so is that dress - gah, I just love your style Ashley! xo Marisa
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I do that all the time. My closet is SO full of fancy dresses that I rarely wear, all because they were inexpensive and too pretty to pass up.
ReplyDeleteI love this outfit! And your hair is amazing.
xo
Kristina
www.eccentricowl.com
You look so pretty, love the shoes!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI love how you made this dress more casual with the cozy cardigan. This outfit is so wonderfully colorful too! You can't go wrong with blue and red. Those shoes are pretty fantastic too!
ReplyDelete