How to Dress Down a Dressy Dress

September 25, 2017

This week it is finally supposed to start feeling a little bit like fall here in Oklahoma. NYC gave me a tease as it was 70s/60s while I was there. This rust color is one of my must haves for fall. It reminds me of the colors of the leaves, all things pumpkin, and just transports me to my favorite season. That’s probably why I loved this dress so much. The color along with the asymmetrical hem sucked me in immediately. Here’s the thing, I don’t really need ultra dressy dresses in my everyday. So today we are talking about how to dress down a dressy dress.

One of my favorite things about dresses are their versatility. You could easily add a strappy heel to this dress as-is and wear it to a fancy night out. My regular week looks a lot like time with Ivy Jean as a mom, work, and then either a family dinner date or a group hangout with friends and church on the weekend, so I loved the idea of dressing this down. I also have dresses in my closet that can now be worn more! Here are three easy ways to style a fancy dress more casually. Doing so allowed me to wear this to work. Win!

How to Dress Down a Dressy Dress

  1. Add a Layer Over or Under – Whether to add a blouse underneath or a jacket over (or both!), adding a more casual layer instantly dresses down a dressy dress.
  2. Wear Casual Shoes – I opted for my current favorite sneakers for more of a street style look, but a loafer, slide, fun boot, or just about anything will do. I’m linking my sneakers in several places below as sizing is limited in some.
  3. Consider Adding a Belt – Adding a belt to visually break up the dress will also make it more casual.

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Rust Colored Dress for Fall

Thank you to Banana Republic for sending me this dress and sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

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71 Comments

  • Reply ADA October 3, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    You did a great job dressing down that pretty rust brown dress. I was at BR today but didn’t see this beauty. Your blouse and rose gold Superstars are awesome!

  • Reply Mary Murnane October 3, 2017 at 10:32 am

    Such a cute way to dress down a dressy dress! Love the rich color and those sneakers look perfect!

    Mary
    http://marymurnane.com

  • Reply Michelle Orsi September 30, 2017 at 3:40 pm

    What a genius idea! I’m sure this dress looks stunning when dressed up too

    http://www.michellespaige.com/

  • Reply Jessica September 29, 2017 at 1:19 am

    Such a lovely outfit dear! I love how you played with different pieces, from the laced sleeves, to denim jacket, and sneakers. Really cute casual look for fall.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

  • Reply Jessica September 28, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    That is a gorgeous silk dress, Amy! I love that it can be dressed up or down. Pairing it with sneakers is sheer genius!

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

  • Reply Threads for Thomas September 28, 2017 at 7:51 am

    This is such a cute look! I’m loving the color of your dress, and these are such great tips!
    Rachael
    http://www.threadsforthomasblog.com

  • Reply Heidi D. September 27, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    This is fall perfection Amy! And I love how you paired with your sneakers! Pinned!

    Heidi || Wishes & Reality

  • Reply Liz H. September 27, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    What a cute way to style this! I’ll definitely keep this in mind!

    Liz
    http://Www.lizzieinlace.com

  • Reply Zunera Serena September 27, 2017 at 12:27 pm

    How you could look so flawless. You are amazing.

    https://zunera-serena.com/stripe-matching-crop-top-skirt-set/

  • Reply Natassia Crystal September 27, 2017 at 8:40 am

    It’s a very pretty dress.. and the sneakers are perfect! 🙂

    Looking great! 🙂

    Twitter | Blog: Geekette in High Heels | Instagram

  • Reply thevelvetrunway September 27, 2017 at 8:06 am

    Great tips! This is such a gorgeous dress and I love how you dressed it down with the layers and sneakers!
    I have a dress a bit like this but don’t wear it much as I find it too dressy for every day, so I’m going to get it out of the cupboard and try layering it!
    Thanks for sharing your style tips!
    Julia x
    http://www.thevelvetrunway.com/

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