Fashion Fridays: S.W.A.P., From Office to Hot Date

This is a fun one girls! For today’s “Shopping with a Purpose,” S.W.A.P., we’ve got a hot date coming up! Wahoo! Nothing you want to knock out of the ballpark like a first date. My friend’s date, just like my own first date with my now-husband, immediately follows a work day.

What’s a girl to do? Bring an entire wardrobe change to the office? Heck, no! There are GREAT first date options which move seamlessly from day to evening with only a make-up freshener and accessory change needed.

If you are firmly in the anti-dress camp, then I’ll try to figure something out for you. But seriously, a dress is the perfect solution. You can pair a great dress with a blazer for day and then slip off the blazer and add some chandelier earrings and you’re ready for a date.

In addition, if you are firmly in the anti heels camp, then I can’t help you. You wear heels on a first date, especially if it follows work AND you’re wearing a dress. Get a pair of great nude heels – your legs will look a mile long. Here’s a great pair for only $60 at DSW:

Wear them before the date so you know how to walk in them and they’re not slippery on the soles (nothing worse than busting your bum in front of your date because of slippy shoes).

So let’s get to the centerpiece: The Dress. You don’t want to go over-the-top, and you should play to your best features. No matter what dress I show here, the specifics may not work on you because you carry weight in your hips or you have a larger chest or you have all up and down lines. Wear something you feel AWESOME in and in which you will feel comfortable through the day and evening.

If you don’t carry weight in your middle like I do, I love this dress. I’m showing it in several ways because of the smart styling – look at the cool back zipper and if you paired it with a fabric blazer instead of a leather one it would work beautifully for work as well as your date.

If you do carry weight in your middle or hips, this is a lovely option. My girlfriend just bought it and it looks chic and eye-catching on.

If you prefer something more understated, this is a fashion forward but neutral option with cool leather color blocking (I’d pair this with gray heels instead of nude).

Freshen up your make up in the ladies room before heading out and think about darkening your eye make up for a little dramatic flair but keep your lips and skin neutral. Then swap out your work earrings for something a little edgier – or add a fun necklace and keep the simple earrings (I like long tassel necklaces).

All of these are simple fixes for less than $40 (necklace courtesy of Nordstrom, earrings courtesy of Macy’s, and make up courtesy of your local drug store):