Night Outfit: Silver Spoon June Mixtape Release Party @ Katra

Dress: H&M

Feather Earrings: H&M

Cross earrings: Betsey Johnson

Watch: Skagen

Bracelets & Rings: Various, including Calvin Klein

Silver Necklace: Givenchy        

Purse: H&M

Shoes: Aldo

         Sometimes, the jewelry says it all because the dress won't  speak for itself. Whenever in doubt, I count on my accessories to create the outfit for me. I had no idea what to wear to Silver Spoon June's mixtape release party at Katra so I went for all black. All black works because no one knows if you've worn that dress out (whether you have or not). Most black dresses ultimately look the same until you get up close. If you want to make a statement with the "little black dress" opt for ones that have intricate details or tailoring that you can only see in person/up close. The dress I wore last night was a sweater night with see through patches. It can work well as a shirt if I put a tank underneath, but tonight I wore a slip to convert it into a slutty *cough* I mean, sexy dress ;) Look at the pics below to see the transformation. 

           I wanted to be low-key, but still stand out. So this was the perfect combination. I knew there'd be plenty other black dresses, but no accessories like mine. I also knew I was going out to a club and... I was more on business than anything else. So, I wanted to look like I wasn't supposed to be there. The bag I brought out was technically too big for the club, but... with a pair of flats, business cards galore and a clementine in case I got hungry, I needed room. It also gave me a...umm.. don't give a fuck vibe. Paired with the leather, open-toe clogs, I felt a little "rock star" coming on --and who gives a fuck less than rock stars? 

           As for the accessories, I piled them on.  I usually do, though. I like to mix gold and silver because it seems most people are afraid to. Also, I can never make up my mind so I wear both. The feather earrings were perfect in giving a soft touch to all the heavy metal (I'm such an effin rock star) I had on.  I also wore studded black belt you can't see in the photos simply because I felt I was too heavy on the top... meaning my outfit wasn't balance. Sometime your shoes do too much, or your earrings, or whatever. You have to balance the attention. Adding a belt allowed me to differentiate the top of my body from the bottom and provided that "hour-glass" curve we women of color tend to pride ourselves on :) Still, when I held my bag down by my waist, the bracelets and fringes from the bag helped with the overall balance of the outfit.

w/o accessories.

 W/ Accessories

Work

Dress: Milly

Watch: Skagen

Rings: Calvin Klein

Shoes: Aldo

    So, I wore this  dress to work today. I got it from my sister. She was hesitant to wear it becuase someone said she looked like a flight attendant once. Yet, every time I wear it, I get random compliments; from women my age, younger, and maybe 4 times it! Perhaps because it's designer, Michelle Smith aims for a "youthful" look with staying in line with "timeless silhouettes".  

         I think this dress works well on me because of my curves. It falls flat from the waist but hugs in all the right area without being whorish. Still, it's super covered up so I can maintain the professional look I go for from 9am-7pm. While at work, I try to compliment my curves rather than hide or accentuate them. I'm not ashamed of what I've got in the least bit, but if my co-workers want to see something, they can drop by the XXX video store down the block. Other than that, the dress is  super comfortable and pretty heavy. Works well in this (bizarre) summer-ish weather but transitions well to an office like mine where they put the AC onAntarctica. 

      When I wear a dress like this, I keep the accessories plain and professional. The dress already does a lot on its own. Accessories should be used to either liven up an outfit or tone it down. This here is an example of that. A simple watch paired with a ring or two and you're pretty set for the day. I tend to opt for silver jewelry at work just because it looks cleaner and more refined. You don't have to wear bangles up the arm every day --same with the shoes. The Aldo open toed clogs I paired with this don't do too much on their own --which is perfect --but still give me a ladylike air while the leather helps with that look of "youth".