Saying Yes To The Dress // floral dress + sneakers

Floral dresses are what spring is all about, right? But don't be like every other Betty on the block -- give your floral frock an edge by teaming it with contrasting separates. Think: leather jackets, sneakers, and bright, off-beat bags. You can go ahead and do the whole floral sundress thing, but make sure to do it YOUR way!  

This dress. Kind of reminds you of your grandmother's shower curtain, am I right? I'm not offended. I actually thought the same thing when I first spotted it. But then something weird happened -- it grew on me. I started to find its quirky, almost vintage feel appealing and charming! And this is the kind of piece that has SO much potential, which is what sold me in the end. Yes, a bright, pink midi dress CAN have endless styling options -- you just have to pick your accessories wisely...

To avoid looking frumpy and outdated, throw some badass into the mix in the form of a jet black leather jacket. A moto layer is never NOT cool -- no matter what you have on underneath. 

Go for the unexpected and slip into comfy street shoes instead of a heel or delicate sandal. Sturdy sneakers like these really help ground such a light, feminine dress. 

A bold dose of color is the perfect way to inject some energy into your ensemble. 

Classic Ray Bans have the magical ability of transforming any look into a winner. From girly sundresses to acid-wash jeans, these sunnies are a no-fail accessory to any statement piece. 

Neon nails, spiky bracelets, leather cuffs -- it's all in the details. An eclectic outfit like this truly shines when each item is worn with true authenticity.

This vintage necklace from Tiffany's is near and dear to my heart as my mom rescued it, had it refurbished, and packaged it just for me. She surprised me with the final product days before my college graduation. I LOVE the silk rope the pendent hangs from, and how it instantly adds a subtle edge to my outfit. 

This matte lipstick from Urban Decay is a new favorite. And although it's not yet available in stores, it will be soon and I highly recommend giving it a whirl. It's called "Backtalk" and it makes your lips look like your lips...but better! 

Who would have thought that a dress so ugly it's pretty could actually look pretty hip (...do people still say "hip" these days?) just by adding a totally random yet totally brilliant combination of quirky and bold pieces? I love how leather, cobalt blue, sneakers, and black jewelry all help transform this grandmotherly frock into something TOTALLY street style worthy. 

Photos by Brooke Faison 

[dress: Ann Taylor // jacket: Guess (similar here) // sneakers: Adidas // sunglasses: Ray Ban // purse: Kate Spade (similar here) // necklace: vintage Tiffany & Co. (I also like this one) // watch: Daniel Wellington // black leather cuff: Michael Dawkins (I also like this one) // spike bracelet: Stella & Dot // amethyst bangle: David Yurman // lipstick: Urban Decay (not available in stores, but this is a similar shade)]

I'm telling you, sometimes you just gotta say yes to the dress. My friends were shocked when I declared my love for this piece -- some even tried to talk me out of it. But hey, I like a challenge. And I was going to prove to them that I could make this dress look young, fresh, and totally fashionable! So what do you think? Mission accomplished? 

If you're not convinced yet, just wait until you see the other looks I came up with for this dress -- coming to you this summer ;) 

// SHOP //

Floral With An Edge :: floral dress + black leather jacket

Floral dresses need to be given more credit. They're extremely versatile and can EASILY be styled in a rebellious, no-frills way. Just because you're wearing floral, doesn't mean you have to look overly girly and preppy - no, SIR! Welcome to the wonderful world of floral dressing 2.0: styling a floral dress to satisfy your inner badass. Intrigued yet? 

Silhouette is important. If you want to look as edgy as possible, opt for a leaner, more body-skimming frock. While fit-and-flares are fabulous, they're also majorly feminine. Try and find a floral pattern that has some contrast to it as well. For example, the black paneling on mine is unexpected and definitely adds an edge. And a high-low hemline? It doesn't get much more posh than that. 

 A black leather jacket is the key to pulling off this look. Rebels ALWAYS wear leather and it's ALWAYS black. I like to think of my leather jacket as a blazer with an attitude - don't be afraid to team it with your nicest dresses. There's truly no limit to what you can pair a leather jacket with. And if you really want to style a floral dress in a downtown way, a leather jacket is almost always required. 

 Typical black pumps are way too basic for a true badass. Choose an equally versatile pair, but one that offers a bit more spirit. These pointed-toe, ankle-strap Sam Edelmans are fierce and fresh, but chic nonetheless (ha, I just made a rhyme)! 

Stick with a streamlined, simple bag to match your jacket and heels. Let your floral dress do the talking! My crossbody has a fringey tassel attached to it too, which gives it a little more flare. And don't forget about your nails - my bright purple polish is its own kind of accessory!

I'm not into hoop earrings (totally nothing wrong with them, it's just a personal taste thing), so when I want to make a statement with my ear jewels, I turn to these guys - pretty much every time. They're loud but not obnoxious. And let's be real, pearls or dainty diamond studs don't exactly scream "edgy." Use your accessories to offset the sweet femininity of your floral dress. 

Using one of my very favorite eyeshadow palettes (you can find it here), I gave myself a deep bronzey look. A black smokey eye would have been way overkill in addition to my look-at-me lips. And a poppy pink lipstick was just too fun to pass up for this rockstar look! 

Case in point: a sleek dress with slightly edgy accents comes full circle when a leather jacket gets thrown into the mix. Add matching black accessories that posses a "wow" factor, and polish it off with an electric lip. BAM - a floral frock with a major 'tude. And in fashion, attitude is something we STRIVE for. 

Photos by Ryan Kathleen Greene

[dress: Ann Taylor (old, but I also like this one) // jacket: Guess (similar here) // heels: Sam Edelman // clutch: Ann Taylor (similar here) // earrings: Ann Taylor (I also like this pair) // eyeshadow: Innerstellar palette by Kat Von D // lipstick: CK One (similar choice here) 

Since spring is THE season for florals, I thought it was only appropriate to showcase one of my favorite, unexpected ways to sport a traditionally one-dimensional type of dress. It's super easy to give yourself a badass makeover, and from personal experience I can also say it's pretty empowering! I wore this look to the Women's Transformative Leadership Forum dinner here in NYC, and it gave me all the confidence I needed to strut into a room full of women professionals. 

When it comes to fashion, the glorious thing is, you don't HAVE to choose between edgy and girly in one day, with one look. A floral dress can effortlessly give you the best of BOTH worlds. 

 SHOP ::