Happy March! I’m really excited to share a new format to my “One Piece, Two Ways” series, starting with this post.
Here’s what you can expect in this new format:
- A single blog post featuring one piece, two ways (so that you can see the outfits side by side!)
- A quick “4-1-1” section all about the featured piece
- Shoppable carousels to shop both looks
- A handy collage you can save to your computer for easy styling reference
Now for this post! If you’re itching for spring but it’s still definitely winter where you are, this is for you. Today I’m sharing two transitional floral dress outfit ideas while it’s still cold.
The 4-1-1: Floral Midi Dress
A transitional floral dress like this adds a fun pop of spring to your day, regardless of the weather. While Punxsutawney Phil claimed an early spring, it’s still cold for a lot of you reading this. But don’t worry – you can still get wear out of a floral dress right now. It’s all about the layering.
I chose this exact dress for a couple of reasons. First, the length. A midi length like this makes it appropriate to layer now, or wear on its own later. Second, the fabric. Made from a lightweight, non-stretch cotton, you can layer now without having heat stroke, then wear alone come spring. (This dress is also currently part of the Shopbop sale, where you can get 15-25% off your purchase.)
There’s a hook-and-eye- closure detail up the chest portion of this dress, so you can rock it as buttoned or undone as you’d like. The slit is a fun addition while still maintaining modesty due to the overall skirt length.
SIZE NOTE: I’m wearing my normal size, a size 4.
One Piece, Way 1: With Black
I wanted to show you the major versatility of this floral dress, so in this post I’m sharing it with both black and brown accessories. Any piece that matches with brown and black gets an A+ in my book for being a potential “matches with it all” item.
First, I opted for a thin black layering turtleneck to go under the dress as a base layer, along with opaque black tights. (These are my favorite layering turtlenecks; they fit close to the body and are thin, but don’t stretch out.)
I removed the thin fabric belt from the dress and replaced it with this fun, embellished belt. Belts provide definition to your waist, particularly if there’s a print happening.
My combat boots help toughen up the otherwise girly floral print. I bought these boots for London and wore them non-stop – I’m obsessed! They have elastic panels around the ankles which help keeps a slim silhouette; especially if you’re like me and have skinny ankles. The boots come with a set of white and black laces, so I opted for the black ones here.
To keep things interesting with the embellished belt and combat boots, the finishing touch for this look was a sequin bag. It’s eclectic, but since the sequins are black it adds in some nice texture without overshadowing the floral dress.
One Piece, Way 1: With Brown
Now onto brown accessories! I ditched the turtleneck and tights for some western-inspired suede ankle booties and a statement puffer coat in a similar shade.
You’ll notice that with my brown accessories, the yellow tones of the dress pop a little more! Fashion sorcery at its finest.
Since the browns on the coat and the booties are flat, I added some dimension with this champagne metallic purse. This styling of the floral dress is simpler, but still packs a fashion punch thanks to the puffy coat. (My exact puffy coat is sold out but the one above is almost identical and just as amazing!)
