It’s the little black dress that get’s all the attention, isn’t it? But what about the little white dress (LWD)…the true star of summer, don’t ya think?

I haven’t always owned a LWD but now that I do, I see how versatile it is. And it’s because of it’s versatility that it’s the perfect item for a capsule wardrobe. It’s the perfect base to add to.

Little White Dress Inspiration

When I thought of writing this post, I started looking for images of LWDs. I was really drawn to classic images of Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor, and Dionne Warwick, just to name a few.

I found the inspiration I was looking for on Pinterest, of course 😉

A LWD makes me think of carefree days spent outside, laying on picnic blankets and watching the clouds pass by, pointing out the different shapes.

Or strolling along the river, hand in hand with a loved one, trying to eat an icecream cone before it drips all over my hand (and white dress ;).

Styling Over Shopping

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, and again, and again…

The most sustainable clothing option is the stuff we already own.

The majority of us have lots of clothes already hanging in our closets and if we think of all the different combinations that we can make with them, we really never have a need to shop again!

We will, of course, but not because we need to.

That’s why I love to put together these little styling posts. First, they’re hella fun to do. And they make me think of outfit combinations that I can refer back to. Win win!

Just check out this post on how to style a chambray shirt or this one on how to style a jumpsuit for more styling examples.

My Little White Dress

For this post, I chose my only white dress…a little secondhand cotton number that I bought from the Real Real last summer.

I love that it’s fitted and formal on top but fun and flirty on bottom. I can button it all the way up or leave a few undone for a more relaxed look.

Outfit 1 – Accessorize

Probably the easiest way to change up a look is with accessories!

I decided to go for a monochromatic white and black look here. The accent button at the top of the dress is black and to play that up, I added:

• a secondhand leather belt with little attached flowers that I purchased online this past fall;
• a small vintage Coach bag that I thrifted locally at the start of the year;
• and, a pair of white slingback shoes that I also found secondhand online.

The way that I’ve accessorized with the black and white here gives this outfit a dressier vibe but I could just as easily make it feel more casual by unbuttoning the top and adding a tan leather belt and tan sandals.

Outfit 2 – Layers

I decided to play with light layers for my second outfit. Layers are great for adding depth and visual interest to an otherwise basic outfit.

I have not chosen to wear any accessories other than my everyday hoop earrings and watch, but yet this outfit is visually appealing.

I’ve really been loving the look of oversized silk shirts. I’ve seen them a ton of times in vintage shops but I never did pick one up until this past fall.

They always seemed a little too 80s or something, but them I tried one on and realized that they were totally 80s, but in the best possible way!

I love how the thinness of the silk shirt lends itself to being tied in a knot at the waist but there is no added bulk.

My thrifted black clogs were the perfect addition for a little height while still staying comfortable. I can’t wait to wear this outfit to dinner!

Outfit 3 – Knotty

I feel very French in the outfit. I think it’s the stripes. It’s definitely the stripes.

This outfit feels very playful and is something that I would wear to walk around downtown. It would be perfect for taking my kids to the library and then grabbing lunch somewhere.

Can you tell I’m in a daydreamy mood with this post?!? I find I’ve been dreaming of all the things that I can no longer do. I think it’s my coping mechanism for the pandemic.

My daughter has always been fascinated with Paris. I’ve told her that we will take her for her 16th birthday. Luckily, we still have quite a few years to save up for it :).

For this outfit, I added my black and white striped tunic on top of the dress. I love how the color peeks out over the top of the tunic.

The trick with layering during the summer is to pay careful attention to fabric.

Make sure that the pieces are made from natural fabrics so that they allow skin to breathe. This tunic is a linen/cotton blend and air moves through it easily.

To deal with the length, I rolled, gathered and knotted the tunic at my waist with a hair elastic.

Then I rolled the hanging fabric up and tucked it under the new waist.

I added my secondhand converse that I found online last summer to amp up the casual vibe of the outfit.

Wearing a top over a dress like this gives the dress an entirely different feel. It feels like I’m wearing a top with a skirt.

Depending on the neckline of your own dress, you could easily fool someone into thinking that it was a skirt.

Outfit 4 – Reinvent

Speaking of wearing your dress like something else, how about as a top?

For my final outfit, I decided to reinvent my dress as a top by wearing a skirt over it.

Since my dress has a little volume to it, I needed a skirt that could conceal the volume without being too voluminous, if you know what I mean. I hope you know what I mean, haha.

This vintage silk skirt that I bought locally last fall was perfect for the task. I added a tan belt at the waist for some visual interest and my leopard print mules.

I love how this skirt and the tan accessories give this outfit a dressy casual vibe.

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A dress is one of my absolute pieces for a capsule wardrobe, simply because its so versatile.

And I am loving the LWD. It has definitely been a great addition to my wardrobe.

But, if you don’t own a LWD, I hope you still find this post useful for styling your dresses this simmer!

Now, I’d love to hear from you. Do you own a LWD? Which of the 4 outfits was your favorite…1, 2, 3 or 4?

Until next time,

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