Spring 10×10 Outfit 5

Hi, friends! Well today’s look finishes out the first half of the Spring 10×10 Challenge. Can you believe it?! This first week has really flown by and I’m excited to keep the momentum going into the next!

But first let’s talk about my Day 5 look and why I’m totally smitten with layering a sweater over a dress.

If I learn nothing else from this challenge, it’s that dresses are so SO versatile. Much more versatile, in fact, than we give them credit for. They can be styled by themselves (like I did here), as a top (coming soon), or as a skirt as is done here. The options are endless! And my ability to show you just how endless they are will undoubtedly be cut short not by the options themselves, but by the length of this challenge. Darn! But I  do encourage you to test out new and different ways to style your dresses this next week. See just how many different ways you can create new looks with one single dress, and let me know what you find! (You can look at my Floral Dress 4 Ways Challenge for inspiration if you need!)

Ok, now back to today’s look!

Today I’m styling this teal dotted dress as a skirt by layering a light weight sweater over top. This was my solution to dealing with chillier weather moving in this week and it ended up working out magically. I just love how the shorter length of the sweater adds variety and interest to the longer length of the dress, and ends up complimenting it rather than simply covering it up.

And this outfit was perfect for a laid back day of work at Wonder and then at home. It started to get quite chilly today (it’s actually starting to SNOW as I type this), so I made a few last minute changes to this look by layering a pair of black tights underneath my dress and swapping out my clogs for my waterproof Chelsea boots when the rain/snow/slush started. Nothing wrong with adding in a few pieces to the challenge when needed, right? The challenge is all about teaching us new things and getting us outside our styling comfort zone. It’s supposed to be fun and insightful! And I don’t believe following the guidelines like rules teaches us anything more about our style than being open to changing things up when the circumstances call for it. Wouldn’t you agree?

Luckily I spent most of the day indoors where it was nice and toasty. Even now, the longer sleeves of the sweater feel like the perfect warm embrace as I watch the snow coming down softly outside. (P.S. I thought we were in spring? :P)

And just a little insider’s tip, if you are worried about snagging your tights on the top of the boots or just need an extra layer of warmth, I added on a pair of ankle socks over my tights to keep my feet warm and dry throughout the day. They are a great way to add warmth while still remaining hidden to the outside. (Plus, they come in super cute summer-y prints. 😉 )

And a quick styling note about today’s look… Because a sweater over top can sometimes become a bit shapeless, I added a belt to cinch in the waist and give the look some curves. I’m completely in love with how this outfit turned out and it’s definitely not something I would have put together normally. How fascinating! This challenge is forcing me to try new combinations out and play with my personal style in ways that weren’t being tested out before. I love it!

And for those that aren’t sure what to do with the extra length of the belt around your waist, I usually just tuck mine into the belt itself for an easy albeit put-together looking solution.

Since the look turned out looking much more classy than it felt (read: super cozy and comfortable), I added a dressy black studded clutch to pull the look together and make it perfectly appropriate for dinner and drinks after work. Although let’s be honest…snow days call for cozy nights at home on the couch with a pizza and a movie. Am I right?!

And that’s my Day 5 look. I’ll be taking most of the weekend off from the Spring 10×10 Challenge, doing a little laundry, and gearing up for some creative outfits next week. Are you excited?! I am! See you in a couple days!

What about you? Would you style a sweater over a dress?

You might also like…The Perfect Work To Date Look and The Last Time I Styled A Sweater Over A Dress.

Photos by Allen Ream

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Get the Look…

Dress: 1. State (similar here, here) | Sweater: H&M (similar here, here, here) | Shoes: Old Navy (similar here, here) | Belt: J. Crew| Purse: Vera Bradley (last seen here)