You can never go wrong with a simple black dress. Whether it’s dressy or casual, a black dress can always swoop in and save the day. Today, I’m sharing seven ways to style this Amazon dress. Note: It also comes in grey.
A knit dress is a great piece for the Summer — it’s easy, it’s comfy, it’s versatile. I love having those throw on and go pieces, especially in the Summer. When you don’t want to think about your outfit, it’s nice to just throw on a dress or a jumpsuit. You can wear this dress all on its own or add to it. Style this dress however you want to. Dress it up or dress it down. The options are endless. Think of the dress as a blank canvas…you get to come in and add your own touch to it.
Look 1:
Feeling a little vintage with this look. Inspired by the fabulous Audrey Hepburn and the amazing hair turbans that she wore.
You can never go wrong with adding leopard and red to a black dress. Maybe the hair turban isn’t for you. That’s ok…there are plenty of other ways to add leopard to your look. Go for a headband, a scarf, a hat (this one is fabulous) or maybe a simple bag like this one from Amazon.
- Shoes: Old H&M. I did just pick up these from H&M because the heel height was much lower. (P.S. They passed the 5.5 hours on your feet test.)
- Turban: Amazon – Leopard hair turban
- Earrings: Express – Resin Circle Drop Earrings
Look 2:
Everyone needs a denim jacket in their closet. I’ve had this one forever. Go with a classic style and it’ll be a piece that you can have forever. A true closet staple in my opinion. (This is totally random but every time I say IN MY OPINION I think of that show The Good Wife. There was this judge that wanted the lawyers to say In My Opinion after everything that they said. It was hilarious. That’s a really great show if you haven’t seen it.)
While a blazer can elevate an outfit, a denim jacket can also change the overall look of an outfit. A denim jacket can elevate some looks but generally it gives a relaxed casual feel to an outfit. Denim jackets are great to throw over a dress or a jumpsuit. Or wear a cute pair of printed pants, a graphic tee and throw on a denim jacket to finish the look. They also look great over rompers and with shorts if that’s more your style.
Here’s a classic style from Amazon. Add a pop of color & denim with this option from J.Crew Factory. This one from Evereve isn’t currently available but it’s on my wishlist…I’m in love with the red zippers on the side. Don’t really need another denim jacket but there’s something special about this one.
- Jacket: J.Crew (Old). Here’s there Eco denim jacket. On sale at the moment.
- Shoes: Amazon – Nike Cortez Sneakers
Look 3:
Another piece that I think everyone should have in their closet is a good olive green utility-style jacket. There are so many options out there so you can find one that matches your style the best. This is just such a versatile piece. Confession: This is my third olive green utility jacket but all three are totally different. But this one is fast becoming my favorite. It’s more of a shirt style jacket. It is longer in the back. But I’m obsessed with the lightweight stretchy fabric.
And now for the best part…YOU CAN USE THE POCKETS. My other two you can not so that’s one of the reasons this one is the new front runner. I put it on three times last week. (It helped that it got down to the 50s in Austin.) All three were totally different looks but this jacket added so much to the end look.
I’m a firm believer in you can be comfy and relaxed but still look pulled together. This outfit is a perfect example. This dress is basically like pajamas and this jacket is so soft and comfy and I’m basically wearing flip flops. But it doesn’t look like I’m wearing pajamas.
These fun new shoes from Target definitely helped elevate the look. I just got these and I’m so excited. Stay tuned…I’ll let you know if they pass the comfort test. I will say that they look very expensive in person. They do NOT look like they are from Target. Target is rocking it right now!
- Jacket: Evereve – Level 99 Gina Utility Shirt Jacket. Here’s a cute one from Amazon. A classic style from Target. If you want something with a different look, check out this one by Treasure & Bond. Here’s a great style by Madewell. Another cute one from Evereve – this one is a little edgier with the hem.
- Bag: Amazon – Miuco Bucket Bag (I just got this bag in black a few days ago and it looks like it’s already sold out in black but it’s still available in a few other colors.) Looks a lot like the Staud bucket bag to me.
- Shoes: Target – A New Day – Solana Slide Sandals. Here’s a fun option if you are looking to splurge.
Look 4:
Look 2 and 3 are all about relaxed and comfy looks but let’s change things up and transform this simple black dress into more of a work-appropriate look. Now I’m fortunate enough that I can wear all of these looks to work but there are some places that would frown on the relaxed looks.
I added this great 3/4 sleeve blazer to the dress. This is a great lightweight simple blazer. Perfect blazer for Spring. You could also wear this blazer with black pants or a black skirt. And of course, we know it would look fabulous with jeans with and without a graphic tee.
- Blazer: H&M – Mine has already sold out but here’s a cute one from Loft. I love the modern look of this one from Express. An affordable option from Forever 21.
Look 5:
I have yet to take a whack at the camouflage trend. If I’m being honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of camo. It’s probably because I grew up in a rural area and camo was a part of everyday fashion there for some. So I’ve always steered away from it.
But, it keeps popping up everywhere and I keep seeing cute styles, cute looks, cute outfits…So I caved and I got a camo jacket. When I put this one on, I really did realize that it’s a versatile print. The style and weight of this one are great and I love the fact that it was less than $35. Just the way I like to try some trends…lower price point so if I decide it’s not for me then I haven’t made a huge investment.
But I have a feeling that we are going to be seeing camo for a little while since it was on the Fall 2019 Runways. I think it’s safe to say that it’s an on-the-rise print. And I think we are going to start to see it styled in some fun new ways.
So for this look, I hopped on the camo train and joined in. I decided to keep my outfit simple and pair it with espadrilles. I think this would be a perfect travel outfit.
While some will pair camo with other prints…stripes, plaids, bright solids…I will start by letting it be the main print in my outfit. But stay tuned…you never know what I might wear next. Some might be shocked to see me in camo. So…never say never.
- Espadrilles: (Old). A great option from H&M. Splurge on some Tory’s. Go for the slide on mule espadrille. You can order a camo jacket & shoes at the same time. LOL.
- Jacket: Target – Universal Thread – Camo Jacket. You can’t tell here but it’s slightly gathered in the back so it lays nicely and is a little fitted. The gathering makes it feel more feminine. It’s a great fit! (Size note: I would say that this runs a little big. I normally get a S in jackets and I ended up getting an XS in this jacket. But if you want oversized then stay with your normal size.)
Look 6:
I’m all about the headbands right now. There are just so many cute ones out there at the moment. This is a great way to jazz up a simple look. You throw on the comfy black dress, pull your hair back with a headband and grab some shoes and you are out the door.
What more could you ask for in a look…
- Headband: H&M. I wasn’t able to find this one online, but I did purchase it in the store. They have a ton of cute options online right now. Anthropologie also has some really cute ones.
- Shoes: Steve Madden – Bandi Platform (I love these shoes. They are so comfortable and I get compliments every time I wear them. I love that they give you height but you aren’t in pain at the end of the day.)
- Earrings: Evereve – Campbell beaded earrings. These are also fabulous. Affordable option from Amazon.
Look 7:
A utility jacket is a great piece to have in your closet but a utility vest is equally as fabulous. I mean it’s the sleeveless version so why not. I probably get the most wear out of my utility vest in the Spring/Summer months. I’ll throw it over a sundress as I did here. Or throw it on with shorts and a simple tank. And we know it’ll look great with jeans and a graphic tee. I promise I do not always wear bottoms and a graphic tee. (But it is a staple in my wardrobe.)
- Vest: Mine is old from Target. But here’s their current version. This one from H&M is a little more sophisticated and would be great for a more business casual dress code environment.
- Headband: H&M
- Earrings: Old Navy (old). Fun option from Amazon. Check out these Smiley Yellow ones from Old Navy. (And it looks like Old Navy is currently doing 30% off.)
- Shoes: Evereve – J.Slides but you can also get them at Nordstrom. And Anthropologie currently has them in leopard. I talk about these shoes here and how COMFY they are.
Styling Notes:
- Sleeve Fold: I realized some time ago that J.Crew had it right with how they fold their sleeves so I figured out how they did it and that’s how I’ve rolled/folded my sleeves ever since. It just elevates the look of a rolled sleeve. Here’s a tutorial on how to do it. I’ll use this method with my long-sleeve button-down shirts as well as jackets that have a similar style. (For example denim jackets and most utility jackets)
- A knot in dress: This is just a fun way to style your dress. It’s also great if your dress is too long and you want to shorten it. Gives it more of a relaxed look. (We are also seeing this done with t-shirts and tanks or even a long maxi skirt.)
How would you style this black dress from Amazon?
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