How to Wear a One-Shoulder Dress:

Sooo, it’s Sunday night and if you happen to be on the same schedule as the rest of us in the States, you too are savoring your final Sunday night moments. Mine just happen to be filled with posting pics of this week’s looks.
I decided to get a little more personal on here posting less of my ‘wish-list,’ and more of what I’m actually working with from in closet, something I can actually use in my everyday life.
The advantage is, instead of sitting, tea in hand, in my closet just staring up and waiting for something to pop out at me at seven in the morning, I’m now planning ensembles ahead. I’m fully aware that, by Thursday, I may have no interest in the look I pulled. So it’s fashionably flexible, a work in progress.

What I’m wearing:
A one-shoulder, lace inset black dress that is relatively body conscious, but long enough for the office. Layer on a cropped black blazer from Theory, my all-time favorite black patent Bayswater bag, and a platform pump from BCBG that is so beyond a basic, and there you have it. Top it off with my new obsession, a super saturated orange-red Chanel lipstick, a gift from a friend with fabulous perks.

What I’m doing in it:
Monday will be pretty low key outside of a few major meetings. That said, the red lips and platform heels are needed to add a little something to what could be unbearably predictable. Nothing major, just playing around and adding a little color to mine, and the rest of the people in the building’s (whether they like it or not) day.

The soundtrack:
This took a little bit to come up with but Annie Lennox seemed to be an old-school stand out for me with the Eurythmics ‘Would I Lie to You.” Check out the video at the end to take you back…

The dress is from Laundry and something I happened to grab out of my mother’s closet (I know right? The woman can dress) a while back so I’ll give a couple of comparable pieces out there for you to choose from since this guy is definitely no longer on the market.
The diagonal seaming happens to be incredibly flattering b/c it draws the eye-line across the body and towards the curves (not the ones you’re trying to hide, the ones that should be celebrated).
The one shoulder is still having it’s moment and works for daytime simply with the addition of the blazer. There are no zippers or mechanics when getting into this dress and I love that. The fabric gives where it needs to, so the fit is amazing:

Just me having fun taking close-ups with the new camera, oh and a good detail shot is never a bad thing:

I swear to you, it is only a basic black platform pump, but every time I wear it, I get compliments. It could be the flattering pitch of the heel (the more angled, the more flattering it tends to look), or the patent piping around the foot on the top. Either way, these BCBG Paris pumps were a last ditch attempt to get something to wear out to dinner on my last trip home. Sometimes the less thought you put into a decision, the better the outcome. P.s. I’m not running a marathon in these, BUT, they actually are comfortable and I manage to get around just fine. If a shoe has you walking at a glacial pace as a result of your intense fear that you’ll either topple over or it will fall right off, do, not, buy, it. Not worth it:

Ugh (a good ugh)…gorgeous no? And look at the heel. I’ve had these for well over six months and usually I’d have wrecked them by now. Not only are they great looking pumps, they hold up:

Ah, yes. From my buying office days…One of the perks just happened to be getting your hands on bags you had no business buying at retail. Hence, the Mulberry ‘Bayswater’ in a black patent, or really more of a waxed leather. I tell myself I earned this, and trust me, I did. War-stories aside, a classic black bag would work well here. Something with a bit more structure is what I’m seeing. The slickness of the waxed leather makes it slightly more modern, adding a little edge:

Finally, the lipstick. I’m honestly not sure if this is an exact match. Mine is currently sitting on my desk at work so I don’t have full details. But, my good friend who is at Chanel got the full scoop, aka, testimonial from me after my first time wearing this hue.  Done and done. A little unexpected pop of color that happens to throw on-lookers off can actually be extremely fun in the middle of the work week. I highly suggest trying it, just remember, if you have a strong lip, go with a soft eye, and vice versa. Less Madonna True Blue, more balanced out.

Now, enjoy Annie. Note the irony on how, if she were to walk down the street in the same ensemble she has on in the video today, she would not only NOT look out of place, the woman would be on trend in more ways than one. Iconic.

The look is one from my closet which I know you don’t have direct access to, so, this time it’s all about a little inspiration. That said, there’s plenty of my favorite fashion picks out there when it comes to dresses. See more of my best of the best in dresses and how to wear them.

All photos (except the lipstick) courtesy of me and my new camera.