White Makes Right

It’s tempting to give in to the idea that in order to be well-dressed, ladies must acquire a closet stocked with wide-leg pants and skinny pants, pencil skirts and A-lines, strapless dresses and one-shoulder dresses, and everything in between. But as these three local stylists and personal shoppers will show you, it’s the simple, classic silhouettes that can become your wardrobe’s biggest workhorses. With a few accessories, they take our LWD (that’s Little White Dress, the more up-to-date sister to your faithful LBD) from lunch and shopping to a night on the town.
 

Casual Day
Michaela Vattimo
fashion stylist and personal shopper:

“Sometimes it’s harder to create a more casual look than a nighttime one,” Vattimo notes. But don’t think a daytime look needs to be boring or even plain. To brighten things up, take a cue from springtime’s most colorful blooms—poppies, in this case—when selecting your accessories. For footwear, keep it unfussy—whimsical flat sandals and an airy scarf are pretty while still being completely comfortable for a day out.

Dressy Day
Barbara King
Barbara King Styling:

For a more formal daytime occasion, look to hats or oversized jewelry (or a dash of both, if you’re feeling adventurous). King chose a unique wire necklace woven with ribbon and peacock feathers to pop against the white dress, and added a feather to the hat, as well. Because the necklace was such a statement piece, she explains, she toned down the earrings and selected other accessories in varying blue and green tones to accent the feathers rather than compete with them.

Night Out
Cheryl Lampard
Style Matters International:

To elevate a simple dress to nighttime status, think beyond the typical statement necklace. (Everyone will expect that.) Instead, opt for an oversized silk scarf tied in a cowl shape for added color and texture. “A scarf makes it easy to transition from day to cocktail attire,” Lampard says. “You can do a lot with a scarf—wear it as a wrap, scarf or shawl—without having to do a jacket. We’re in Florida, after all.” A stack of bangles also ups the fancy quotient, while a glittery clutch picks up on the colors in the scarf and shoes and ties the look neatly together.

Model
Pressley Shawn, Next Models

Hair and makeup
Roni Fields

For more style news and notes, make sure to check out our Style File blog!