I love taking fancy pieces and dressing them down. It allows you to get more use out of everything you own and results in combinations that would otherwise be inappropriate for more formal setting.
Enter the above lace skirt. I found it at Joe Fresh during a trip to Vancouver a few months ago. Lace can be a more formal fabric, but this skirt’s thick stitching makes it the perfect transition piece from day to night. So naturally, I had to have it.
Not sure how to go about dressing down lace? Click through to see how I would do it and read some tips for purchasing pieces that you can dress up or down.
I am kind of obsessed with these Converse-like kicks I purchased from H&M last spring. They are a great shape and are the perfect color. I encourage you to purchase a pair of sneakers like this to act as a base for dressing down more formal pieces.
I also got the below bauble necklace from H&M and get compliments on it every single time I wear it. Similar to the shoes, it’s the perfect color and material for incorporating into most looks. It’s heft makes it feel more dressy but the matte material of the baubles keeps it from being too stuffy. If you’d like to add a more substantial necklace, choose neutral colors and non-sparkly materials in order to maximize its versatility.
The gingham boy shirt was another purposeful pick. It’s one of those patterns that can be worn with a suit or on an apron while slaving in the kitchen. Choosing a pattern that is also transitional lets you add more texture and play down the formality of the skirt.
Lastly, you can’t forget how you style your hair and makeup. A chignon and glasses keep it casual, but a bright lip makes it dressier. The key is to choose a more offbeat lip color like fuchsia, as red can be a bit too bold for a day look.
And there you have it, your guide for dressing down lace. Keep the above tips in mind and you can dress down just about any formal piece you own.
Here is the completed look – what do you think?
