Sustainable Fashion – How to Wear One Dress Different Ways

Whether you are trying to make the most of an investment dress or just save money, learning how to wear one dress different ways is a frugal way to stretch your wardrobe. It’s also the sustainable choice. The fashion industry is a major source of greenhouse gasses, and our passion for fast fashion is having a serious impact on our planet.

My husband bought me this beautiful dress by Escada in San Francisco a year and a bit ago. The dress is super comfy, is in my signature blue and I feel great it in, but at over $1000 it was definitely an investment piece. For all those reasons, I want to be able to wear it as much as I can, without people thinking it’s the exact same outfit.

Sarah of Absolutely Fabulous Image visited my home to help me shop my closet and learn how to wear one dress different ways. She had some wonderful hints and tips that can help you make the most of your wardrobe as well!

How To Wear One Dress Different Ways

1. Work with Colour

Use silk scarves or coloured pashminas to completely change the look of your dress. Don’t hesitate to be bold with contrasting colours. You don’t have to be matchy-matchy all the time when you are trying to wear one dress different ways.

Scarves and pashminas mean you can wear your dress throughout the seasons. A silk scarf makes a lovely summer wrap, but a warmer pashmina lets you wear your dress into the autumn and winter too.

Depending on the occasion and location, consider adding a hat, fascinator or hair decoration to add pizazz.

2. Shoes

Great shoes and boots can transform your outfit.

Go for elegance with neutral hose (tights) and a heeled shoe. Want to go more casual or wear your dress in a cooler season? Switch things up with opaque or coloured hose (tights) and knee high boots.

Your shoes don’t have to match your dress. They can be a contrasting colour, or even patterned if the dress is a solid colour. Silver, gold or sparkly shoes are almost always appropriate these days.

Here I’ve worn diamante shoes and a matching bag from L K Bennett.

3. Bags

Your shoes can match your handbag, but they don’t have to, especially if you are trying to wear one dress different ways.

The size and shape of your handbag will change the look of your dress. Choose a smaller clutch bag for formal occasions or go casual with a larger (but still in proportion to your body) handbag. Choose an elegant, matt finish or go with a bright contrasting colour. Again, sparkles are always appropriate, before or after sundown.

4. Jewellery Can Help You Wear One Dress Different Ways

Special occasions are a fantastic opportunity to wear your investment jewellery or sentimental pieces. You can also change the look of your outfit by choosing statement necklaces or brooches.

This Stella and Dot necklace still looks elegant, but it’s more casual than precious stones. You can also mix and match more expensive jewellery with costume pieces for a totally different look.

Here Sarah recommended my sapphire and diamond earrings and necklace to compliment a silk scarf from Fortnum & Mason. The silver bracelet is a costume piece.

Endless Possibilities – How To Wear One Dress Different Ways

With Sarah’s help, I was able to find over ten new and different ways to wear my beautiful Escada dress. Most of these options were frugal  too.. While the galaxy print Fortnum & Mason scarf was an investment piece, it was something I already owned and did not buy specifically for the dress. None of the pashminas (sourced by Sarah) cost more than £25.

Some of my pieces of jewellery contain precious stones and the Stella and Dot necklace was fairly pricey but because I already owned them, they were definitely a frugal option.

With Sarah of AbFab Image’s skill, a bit of ingenuity and a willingness to shop my closet, my Escada dress has become a linchpin of my wardrobe. Shop your closet, keep your eyes open for accessory bargains and, with an open mind, you too can discover lots of ways to wear one dress different ways. It’s frugal, sustainable, and fashionable too!

Sarah van Dort of Absolutely Fabulous Image can be contacted via her website.

Disclosure: I have not been compensated for this post.

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