How to Dress Down a Dressy Dress

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.

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.