A-Line Dress

Dresses are a year round staple in my closet, but this season, I’m particularly drawn to bright A-line dresses.  It’s feminine, flattering, and a contemporary take take on a 50’s silhouette.  After slipping into my pleated pink and orange A-line dress, I felt like such a lady, and couldn’t resist twirling around as I walked down the streets of Rodeo on a Sunday afternoon. 
A-line dresses, when styled correctly, are classic, transitional pieces that can take you from brunch in the afternoon to dinner and cocktails at night.
How to choose your A-line dress:
For more petite women like me, A-line dresses really elongate and lengthen your legs, making you appear taller.  Smaller framed women should choose styles with hemlines that end either at, or slightly above their knee.  Longer hemlines will make you look shorter.  Dresses with a break at the waist also provide more structure, giving you a longer, leaner look.

Personally, when selecting a print/color, I avoid bold, loud prints, because with my small frame, busy prints can be overwhelming and overpowering, making me seem even more petite.  In place of prints, I opt for eye-catching color palettes.
How to style your A-line dress
In love with the pink and orange color scheme, I snatched this dress off the sale rack a few seasons back.  However, it didn’t exactly look as flattering on me as it did on the rack.  The continuous pleats, though unique, consumed me.  To resolve the issue, I added a waist belt, which provided a subtle break while accenting my waist—adding more structure to the dress.

I completed the outfit with the perfect pair of heels.  I almost always pair my A-line dresses with cute platforms, wedges, or kitten heels.  Because there’s much color in the outfit, I slipped into a pair of nude peep-toe platforms.

Finally, I kept my accessories simple--put on a crystal-embellished cuff, grabbed my black clutch, and headed out for brunch. 

<<Outfit>>

Dress >> BCBG

Belt >> Ferragamo

Clutch >> Emeline Clutch

Heels>> Valentino