From The Straits Times    |

We’re sure most of you can understand the struggle of being avid shoppers: Seeing a dress that you love, wanting to buy it but then stopping to think about whether you really need another dress. (The answer depends solely on the amount of self control you exercise, of course.)

And we get it. There are so many pretty dresses we’d love to own but not enough space in our wardrobe – or too much empty space in our wallet.

So in order to help us decide, we’ve come up with a simple checklist to make sure that pretty dress truly is great and deserving of our hard-earned money:

1. It has to make us feel great.

2. It has to look good – design, cut and quality.

3. It has to be versatile enough for at least three different looks.

Granted, there are exceptions to the rule. We are by no means implying that dresses that don’t fulfill the criteria are lesser than those that do. We are, however, saying that these go-anywhere dresses are the smarter pick.

So with that in mind, here’s our pick of the week.

Jersey-trimmed pleated twill mini dress, GUCCI, $1,314 from Net-A-Porter

 

1. THE OFFICE:

For those of you with a colder office, you’ll appreciate the blouse that you can wear under the dress to serve as a double layer. The collar will also add some detailing to the outfit and contribute to that chic look.

As for the ones that work in an office with a weaker air conditioning unit, be sure to opt for a lighter fabric, like silk, so that it isn’t too warm for you.

Finish your look off with a tote bag that has a clean silhouette and a pair of classic black pumps.

Blouse: Pleated silk crepe de chine blouse, GUCCI, $1,349 from Net-A-Porter

Bag: Tote bag, Victoria Beckham, $1,530 from Farfetch.com

Shoes: Leather pumps, Tom Ford, $1,485 from mytheresa.com

 

READ MORE: 16 lovely lace dresses you can wear to work

 

2. SUNDAY BRUNCH:

If there’s one thing we enjoy, it’s having our weekend brunch. That’s one of the (many) reasons why we frequently think of cute brunch outfits you can rock, no matter your style.

So naturally, a go-anywhere dress wouldn’t really be go-anywhere if it couldn’t go for brunch.

… You’re still following us, right?

For the dress, we’ve opted a slightly more preppy look complete with a headband to keep your hair away as you tuck into your delicious food.

What about your shoes? Well, since you’ll probably be walking about, choose a pair that you know and love for its comfort – but jazz it up by going for a statement pair that will keep you looking like the fashionista that you are.

And to keep a busy woman on time, we’ve also thrown in a brilliant watch that’ll add the right amount of detail to your Insta-worthy brunch shot without stealing the attention away from the real gem: Your food.

 

Shoes: Elyse metallic platform derby shoes, Stella McCartney, $1,025 from Net-A-Porter

Headband: Striped headband, GUCCI, $350 from mytheresa.com

Watch: Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36 alligator and 18-karat red gold watch, IWC Schaffhausen, $17,342 from Net-A-Porter

 

READ MORE: 20 affordable and comfortable kitten heels to look presentable in the office

 

3. FANCY NIGHT OUT:

Now for a little fun. And by fun we mean a nice night out with your partner – or friends, if you don’t need no man!

Or say you’re heading to the Cirque Du Soleil performance of KOOZA (great taste, by the way. We cannot recommend it enough) and you have no time to purchase a killer dress.

Don’t fuss; just throw on a pair of nude Louboutins and you’ll be ready for anything. And in case you haven’t heard, they launched an extensive range of nudes for every skintone so you’ll be sure to find your perfect match!

Knowing that wine will probably be on the menu, we’ve played it safe with a black blazer that won’t make laundry a nightmare (accidents happen) and still show off the waist definition of the dress.

And to add some bling, go for a choker that complements the neckline of the dress.

Outerwear: Cropped single button blazer, Rick Owens, $1,711 from Farfetch.com

Shoes: Uptown Nude Nappa, Louboutin, $1,390

Necklace: Blake gold-plated choker, Elizabeth and James, $124 from Net-A-Porter

 

READ MORE: 10 tops and blouses to show off your back and keep cool in style

 

4. WEEKEND DATE:

If you’re freaking out about that casual date at the cinema this weekend, don’t worry. Your go-anywhere dress will take you there.

Since it’s all about looking like you didn’t try too hard, dress the outfit down with a denim jacket and a pair of sneakers. That way, you won’t have to worry about torturing your feet should the two of you decide to walk around for a bit.

To jazz up the outfit, throw on a pair of earrings that’ll add some ‘glam’ factor to your look whilst not making it look like you tried too hard.

Might we also suggest some ‘lazy girl’ hacks for a killer hairstyle? It’ll complete your look and it won’t take more than 10 minutes!

Outerwear: MOTO Raw Hem Denim Jacket, Topshop, $106

Shoes: Original Achilles patent-leather sneakers, Common Projects, $274 from Net-A-Porter

Earrings: Metal earrings, Mango, $7.90

 

READ MORE: Here’s 10 easy and effortless work outfits that will finally sort out your office wardrobe

 

5. SHOPPING WITH THE GIRLS:

This might not be a necessary look since you’ll already have all you need with this dress…Kidding! Whether you’re window shopping or heading to Orchard Road on a mission, you can still look absolutely fabulous with this dress.

To keep it convenient for when you try on shoes, opt for a pair of mules that’ll make the arduous process a breeze. And a mini bag is always a smart choice when shopping since you won’t be bogged down by heavy, unnecessary items. Just your cards, phone and essential makeup products.

As for your precious peepers, keep them safe from harsh UV rays with a cute pair of double bridge sunnies; a style that’s been making repeated appearances on the runway.

Shoes: Carlotta suede mules, Tory Burch, $485 from mytheresa.com

Bag: Polly mini leather-trimmed tasseled suede shoulder bag, See by Chloe, $432 from Net-A-Porter

Sunglasses: Nickol round sunglasses, Oliver Peoples, $429 from mytheresa.com