Fashion Friday: Here Comes The Dress Parade

There is a singular fashion trend that is taking over sidewalks and office hallways right now.

The Dress.

My eyes became unblinded to this obvious movement after an email from a girlfriend.  She’d been working this week in Manhattan, and I asked her to pick up some ideas from the trends on the streets.  She reported back, “no woman here is wearing pants.  Every one of them is in a dress.”

Then I started looking around here locally.  I was at a women’s conference and almost everyone I saw, from 25 to 60, was in a dress.  Then I went to a legal education event, and all of the female panelists had on dresses.  Literally, everywhere I looked was a professional woman in a dress.

Bright dresses, neutral dresses, patterned dresses, solid dresses.  Every fabric and color but they all had similar styles.  None of these dresses have full skirts.  They are all sheath styled or possibly a subtle A line.  I don’t love this look for me personally because my post kids figure isn’t flattered by a narrow dress, but with careful styling most women can make it work (think Spanx and a blazer!).

In light of this singular uniting fashion trend, I offer a few of my favorite options (and ways to style it if you have figure constraints like I do):

The asymmetrical neckline is huge right now.  From twist knots to foldovers, you need to have this neckline for summer.

This Tahari black dress is a steal at $50 from Nordstrom Rack and exemplifies this trend while keeping the look chic and sophisticated.

Don’t flip out over the brightness of this yellow asymmetrical dress – the neckline is cool and you can further cool down the color pop with a gorgeous blue jacket.

I personally couldn’t spend $600 on a work dress, but this dress is spot on.  Look for this style simplicity with a gorgeous asymmetrical detail when you’re shopping to add an asymmetrical neckline to your work wardrobe.

Colorblocking is also everywhere right now, and you can do wear this trend in neutrals or colors.  I love this steal of a deal from Rack where they marry neutral colors as well as pattern and throw in an exposed zipper in back.  You can’t beat the price at under $60.

Or if you’re willing to go brighter, try this bright blue blocked dress from Macy’s and pair it with a black blazer to tone it down and cover any areas where you’re uncomfortable (the blazer should not go below the top of your waist – it will also depend on where this black band hits you).

Finally, my favorite is this simple dove gray blocked dress which you could pair with anything, including really pretty jewelry, to mix it up.

How do you do color?  Well do it big and bold this summer.  Gorgeous hues are everywhere.  This robin blue Tahari number is simple but fresh for work, and with longer sleeves you can wear it without a blazer.

If you’re willing to do pattern, then Alexia Admor has lots of great options at Rack for summer in this sleek midi dress.  Pair with a neutral blazer and bone high heels to tone down the color if you need to for the office.  (I’m a fan of these feminine cap sleeves!)

This navy and coral print dress is more subtle and designed in a figure flattering way – to tuck where you want it and minimize where you need it.  Plus, the sleeves are long can be worn pushed up with no blazer for summer, or pulled down with a scarf and blazer for winter – year round win.

So what say you?  Are you wearing dresses?  How do you style them?  Weigh in today!