How to Wear the Air Force Officer Mess Dress Uniform
The best simple work dresses
Why you'll love it: Lou and Grey isn't a household name, but that's what makes it so great for unique, simple dresses that will keep you comfortable at work.
Clothes from Lou and Grey are unfussy, but that doesn't mean they're uninteresting. This California-based brand exudes a West Coast ease, and for some of us East Coast ladies, that's something to aspire to.
What I love most about clothes from Lou and Grey is how absurdly comfortable they are. While looking professional often means feeling a bit stiff, nothing could be further from the truth with dresses from Lou and Grey. The brand uses custom knits and fabrics that are incredibly soft and cozy, and a joy to wear.
Take, for example, the Signaturesoft pieces feel like cashmere, but with the structure and dependability of a great sweatshirt. And when turned into a dress, the fabric results in a piece that is timeless, effortless, and oh so chic. I'm a huge fan of the Signaturesoft Cuffed Tee Dress, whose crew neck and cuffed short sleeves make it modest enough for the office, and comfortable enough for even the longest of meetings.
For something even more elegant, you might look to the Stark X Silky Caftan. I imagine it paired with some cute heels and maybe a belt (if you're looking to accentuate your figure a bit more), for an easy all-day look. Plus, thanks to the pockets in this caftan, you'll be able to keep all your essentials on your person.
Most of Lou and Grey's offerings are a bit looser fitting, so you don't have to feel claustrophobic in your clothes. The colors palettes are also a bit more neutral, and the brand tends toward solids and stripes, rather than prints, which I find makes the clothes a bit more versatile.
Best of all, Lou and Grey's prices are by no means astronomical. The Signaturesoft Cuffed Tee Dress, for example, is less than $70, while the Stark X caftan will set you back $160.
Pros: Supremely comfortable clothes, relaxed fit, neutral colors that look great on everyone
Cons: If you want more of a statement piece, Lou and Grey may not offer enough of a wow factor for you
Shop all Lou and Grey dresses for $45 to $235
The best work dresses for women of all ages
Why you'll love it: There's a reason that LOFT is such a classic — its dresses make any woman at any age look absolutely phenomenal.
You know by now that mom knows best, and seeing as she (and probably her mom as well) shopped at LOFT, you should probably start doing the same. LOFT has long held a special place in the heart of the professional woman, and it's come a long way from, well, the days that your grandmother or mother were buying their own suits and pencil skirts.
I've found that Loft has one of the most expansive collections of work clothes as a whole, not to mention work dresses. The pieces you'll find both in stores and online are fun and unique — despite being decidedly off-the-rack, you won't look like everyone else in your office when donning a LOFT outfit (especially when the pieces are styled correctly).
Take, for example, the Floral Flutter Shirttail Dress. Available in both petite and regular sizes, this delicate dress looks like something you could just as easily wear to a wedding as to work. It's an easy summer dress through and through, with its cutout-trimmed flutter sleeves and whimsical floral pattern. But thanks to cap sleeves and a shirttail hem, it also looks extremely professional. Throw on a cardigan or a blazer and you'll be ready for just about anything your boss throws at you.
LOFT also does a great job mixing prints and patterns, something that's often difficult to do, especially in a dress. The Mixed Stripe Flare Dress, however, serves as an excellent Exhibit A. Not only does it feature an attractive flared silhouette, but it takes two sets of stripes in two different colors and manages to blend them together seamlessly. At the end of the day, it's still a black and white dress, but certainly the most interesting black and white dress you'll see at the office. Oh, and both dresses (and most of LOFT's offerings) are machine washable.
Just about everything at LOFT is under $100, and with sales constantly going on, you're bound to get a steal.
Pros: Wide selection of dresses, fun prints and patterns, almost everything under $100
Cons: Some women have noted that petite fits are sometimes a bit iffy
Shop all LOFT dresses for $100 or less
The best British brand for work dresses
Why you'll love it: If you're all about European sensibilities, especially when it comes to work clothes, then Boden's lineup of dresses will probably appeal to you.
Boden began in 1991 as a menswear line with just eight products. But in the 17 years since, it's established itself as a go-to brand for not only the professional man, but also the professional woman, teen, and child, too. And while Boden's clothes are great to the workplace, they don't take themselves too seriously. After all, this is a brand that has its swimwear listed next to its workwear.
Boden takes responsible sourcing very seriously and has a dedicated ethical trade team to ensure that the clothes you're buying and wearing were made in a socially and environmentally respectable way. Boden has even published a first-tier factory list, so you can easily see where your clothes are coming from.
And as for the clothes themselves, they're really quite delightful. I'm a sucker for asymmetry, and to that end, am particularly taken by the Wren Pointe Midi dress. The high-low hem makes this dress more than a simple color-blocked garment, and despite being a midi length, manages to incorporate quite a bit of movement into the full, swishing skirt. The flow of the bottom part of the dress pairs well with the structured top. You'll make quite the impression in your transition from sitting to standing when you rise from the boardroom table. Plus, it has pockets. What more do you need?
Also worth a shoutout is the Katie Dress. Vertical stripes are flattering on just about everyone, and this linen dress comes in a unique color palette that you wouldn't necessarily think to try on your own. But surprisingly, green, orange, and purple look great together, and with side splits and buttons on the shoulder, the Katie features plenty of detail to keep this deceptively simple dress interesting. There's also a self-fabric tie belt at the waist so you can decide for yourself exactly how cinched you want to be.
Much of Boden's workwear comes with a flattering waist design, either in the form of color blocking or a built-in belt. It adds just the right touch of sophistication to already elegant clothing.
Pros: Sustainable and environmentally-friendly production processes, unique clothes with great attention to detail, unexpected prints, patterns, and lines
Cons: Can be expensive
Shop all dresses at Boden for $63 to $260
The best work-to-beach dresses
Why you'll love it: If you thought you'd never shop at Lilly Pulitzer again after your sorority days, think again.
There are people who say you can't wear resort wear to the office. To them, I say, watch. Lilly Pulitzer may make pretty adorable dresses for women bound for the beach, but who says that resorts and places of employment are mutually exclusive?
What I most appreciate about Lilly Pulitzer's collection of dresses is that they are unapologetically bright and bold. These aren't dresses for women looking to blend into the crowd. Rather, these are the dresses for women who want their colleagues to know that they have arrived.
While Lilly dresses should certainly be in your suitcase the next time you jet off to a tropical paradise, they should also be in your professional wardrobe. Take, for example, the Hollee Dress. The t-shirt dress fit makes it an easy option for Mondays at the office, and the boat neckline is just as appropriate for your 3 p.m. meeting as it is for your 3 p.m. date with a daquiri (a girl can dream). There's a bit of cut-out detail at the back, but if you want to keep that hidden from your colleagues, a simple sweater will do the trick. I'm also partial to 3-quarter length sleeves, and the Hollee does a great job mixing prints with a bright accent near the hem.
If you're really trying to stay away from prints, don't think you have to steer clear of Lilly Pulitzer. The Callista Dress is a fantastic example of a more toned down offering from the brand. The navy sleeveless dress comes with lace detailing that is just enough to keep the dress interesting. It's simple enough that it can be easily accessorized, and I'm beginning to think that it's the perfect dress to live under a blazer. And when you're done for the day, leave the blazer at work and take that dress to happy hour — it'll serve you well there, too.
Pros: Fun and colorful prints everywhere you look, dresses can easily transition from work to other settings, wide range of styles
Cons: Relatively expensive, generally more embellished than dresses from other brands
Shop all Lilly Pulitzer dresses for $98 to $428
The best classic work dresses
Why you'll love it: If your place of employment is a bit more traditional or conservative, there's no way to go wrong with a dress from Banana Republic.
There's a reason just about every woman can attribute part of her professional closet to Banana Republic — the brand is a bit newer than other companies you might mention in the same breath (think Ann Taylor or Talbots), and a bit more professional than the other brands in its family (think GAP, Old Navy, and Athleta). In essence, it's a great middle ground in every sense of the word and provides some of the most dependable staples for a work wardrobe.
I'm a big fan of Banana's Life in Motion collection, which offers pieces that are stretchable, comfortable, and very easy to care for. That's a huge plus for the Stretch Silk Slip Dress, which yes, you can actually run through the washing machine. That's certainly not something you can say for most other silk dresses. The garment itself is beautiful, with a tailored fit across the bodice, and a straighter cut from the waist down. I imagine it with a cardigan and a statement necklace for an extremely wearable work-appropriate outfit.
Indeed, many of the dresses from Banana Republic clearly place a high premium on comfort and care. I love the Tencel Fit-and-Flare Shirt Dress, a unique take on the classic denim dress. The fit and flare silhouette is flattering on just about any body type, and because it's made from Tencel fabric, it's very soft and breathable. This relatively new material is made from wood pulp, which makes it both sustainable and eco-friendly to boot. This shirt dress also comes with a tie at the waist for an extra accent.
Like products at LOFT, most offerings from Banana Republic can be found in both regular and petite women's sizes, which makes shopping for your body type quite a bit easier.
Pros: Easy to care for fabrics, classic designs and colors, available in both regular and petite fits
Cons: Limited sizes available online
Shop all dresses at Banana Republic for $24 to $169
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Source: https://www.insider.com/guides/style/best-work-dress
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