Beneath the Willow, Beside the Lake

This was one of those impulse dress purchases where I saw it, saw the designer, saw the sale tag, and had to have it. At the time (sometime in summer of 2011), I knew that I had no place to wear it, was unemployed and short on cash, but purchased it anyway. I haven't ever regretted the purchase. The dress fits like a glove, attracts compliments, and can be accented by a black blazer or cardigan, heels or flats, or worn on a warm summer day with nothing but a glass of wine to accompany it. For work, in order to look less like a wedding guest or a party attendee, I paired it with a blazer. It toned down the look a bit and having full coverage on the top half of my body allowed for the length to look a bit shorter than I usually wear. I also used the dress occasion to hop on the arm party trend and stacked up sterling silver chains, flat bracelets, bangles, and pearls.

Blazer, flats: H&M (similar blazer, flats); Dress: Matthew Williamson for Macy's (2011); Assorted jewelry: sterling silver, pearls