As many of you know I love dresses! I also love versatility and think investing in a new dress every season is a really easy way to update your wardrobe or refresh it. If you work out a few different ways you can style the dress then straight away you have a selection of outfit ideas you can dip into. It also means you don't need to buy as much and get more use out of it - cost per wear and all that!
I was over the moon when M&S asked if I would select one of their must have items for the Autumn season to champion, especially as most of the styles were already on my shopping/ wish list! I've been a fan of the womenswear ranges for a long time now and the prices and styles always fit so well into my wardrobe and lifestyle. For this blog post I wanted to share how you can style one of the new season essentials - a maxi floral dress. This £45 Floral Print Shirt Maxi Dress was a standout piece for me as it is bang on trend with its print, shape and colour and can be worn now with sandals or well into the depths of winter with tights, boots and a rollneck. It has a bit of a boho, 70's feel to it and this burgundy colour is very fashionable at the moment. The front hem split means this is the perfect way to showcase the new season boot styles - be it a biker boot or the back on trend knee high boot (these would work well). There is nice attention to detail such as the contrast back and shoulder panelling and covered buttons down the front. The easy, straight looser shape make it a very comfortable dress to wear. It could also work for breastfeeding mamas too. I'm 5'7 and the dress length comes to my ankles, I'm wearing my usual size 12 and it fits true to size.
This is how I chose to style the dress...
1) With biker boots and retro sunnies for heading into town to meet a friend
These flat biker boots will be another wardrobe staple for me - they work with skinny jeans. dresses and jumpsuits and are very comfortable so perfect for running around town in. The retro sunnies have glittery rims and are really fun giving it even more of a 70's boho feel.
2) For cooler casual days with a skinny rollneck and trainers
The stipe rollneck is a bargain and will be well used in my wardrobe this season. They work brilliantly as a layering piece under dresses for cooler days. I've teamed it with white trainers and a black bag- this little bag has also been really versatile as you can wear it long and cross body or shorter on your shoulder, I think it looks like a designer bag! It could also work with a skinny belt making the dress pulled in at the waist. Another option is to pop a Blazer over the top as well.
3) With a chunky knit and loafers
Throwing a jumper over a dress is an instant way to cosy it up and transform it into a skirt. This knit is the perfect shape (and comes in lots of colours) and great for cooler days. I've teamed it with these leopard loafers, I love the print clashing with the floral and leopard. The loafers also come in other colours and fit really well.
The dress would also work well with existing styles you may have such as a leather biker jacket, denim jacket, over jeans, belted, with statement earrings, layered necklaces, an aviator jacket, a faux fur jacket, high heeled stiletto style courts for an evening feel...so many options!
Here are all the pieces I have picked out for this outfit post, click to shop the styles.
#MyMarks #MyMustHaves
This post was commissioned by Marks & Spencer but all photos and opinions expressed are my own.