An Easy $40 Dress

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I’m always looking for simple pieces that help you get dressed and out the door quickly. This time of year, especially, days are long and time is a commodity, so keeping outfits easy is essential.

I’m such a fan of a dress for work, or any occasion, really.  It’s one step dressing that always looks more pulled together than the actual effort you put in. When I need to be dressed for a day of client work or have a function, almost every time I opt for a dress.

But for a dress to be ideal, it has to hit a few marks, like, not being a mico-mini, having a proper sleeve, and a neckline that doesn’t plunge to your navel.  

The times when I do come across what feels like the unicorn of dresses, the price tag is often limiting. So when I saw this chic and simple dress at Old Navy of all places, I knew we had to work with it. As I write this, the dress is now on sale for $26, so run, don’t walk.

It’s available in regular, tall, and petite, in XS – XXL here in red, and here in black – I would grab both. Plus Size? They have a similar style here in red and black from a 1X – 3X. 

An Easy $40 Dress for Work

Dress, $40, $26 Available in Red and Black  |  Boots, $200, $108  |  Tights, $10  |  Necklace, $80  |  Satchel, $340

Let’s talk for a minute about Ponte-Knit, because choosing seasonally appropriate fabric is important. Ponte-knit is soft and double sided, with varying levels of stretch. So you can move comfortably but the dress still maintains it’s shape. It’s a wonderful alternative to wool in the cold months.  

It also travels well, so if you are on the road for work or the upcoming holidays it’s an easy-peasy piece to throw in your suitcase. 

The  shape of this dress is as classic as it gets. The sleeves hit right above your wrists, so if you have a few stackable bracelets at home, go ahead and load up on them. I like that the cut of the dress is shapely without being skin tight.  The placement of the waist seaming is flattering and forgiving, it’s not going to cup your belly, rather, it falls nicely over it. 

To keep you warm, I used a pair of opaque tights, and knee high boots.  The boots are on sale at Off Fifth for a little over $100. They are the perfect clean, suede boot with a manageable heel that you’ll reach for over and again. Sizes are limited. 

Pull the look together and throw on a long necklace.  This will help elongate the neckline and add some movement.  I like this popular Kendra Scott option since it incorporates the black element into the outfit, making it feel purposeful. Lastly, a ladylike satchel by Tory Burch adds some nice structure to the look and plays to the professional vibe.