Simple Chambray

Chambray is one of my favorite fabrics and one of the most underrated in my humble opinion.  It's a plain weave cotton, similar in appearance to denim and like denim, it's a work fabric, but so much lighter and more comfortable.

Like denim, chambray is a neutral, which means it goes with anything and everything, so when you have a chambray piece as your starter, the possibilities are endless.  So, I thought today we'd deconstruct one of my favorite outfits for fall with this Chambray dress from ModCloth, which I thrifted for under $10.

So, starting with a Chambray dress, the world is wide open; you're only limited by your existing wardrobe and your imagination. Because Chambray is a work fabric, meaning durable, you next need to to decide where are you going and what will you be doing.  This little shirt dress could just as easily go with me to feed the pigs as it does to the office or out to lunch, but for this particular outfit, I'm going in to my chilly office on a fall day, so I started with some burgundy cotton tights and brown T strap heels.

Just a little side note here, that when it comes to clothes that could be worn dressy or casual, fit is way more important that style.  A shirt dress looks so much classier when it fits properly than when it's too baggy or tight enough to cause button puckerage.  So, just as something to keep in mind, be sure to get something that fits well or have it tailored just a bit.  An extra $20 or so to have an item of clothing taken in here and there so thta you can have a dress that looks way more polished, is an excellent investment for both expensive and inexpensive items of clothing.

After the tights, I opted for this purple cardigan from my favorite cardi company, YeMAK.  I know, I know, it's autumn and everyone goes for oranges, yellows, and reds, but really, I love purple at this time of year.  To me, it just enhances and is enhanced by the fall colors, which is why it's become an autumn staple for me.  But, at this point you may be thinking, purple and burgundy?  No, that doesn't go.  Ok, just keep scrolling.  

Aha!  Adding the final piece, which is my multi colored scarf that was a beloved Christmas gift from my girls when they were very young, has both purple and burgundy, plus a host of other lovely colors, is what ties it all together.  And, if I had a belt that matched my shoes, I would wear it too, because a belt really is that finishing touch that makes an outfit look less casual and more polished.

And there, my darlings, you have a standout outfit with a dress that can work with you and for you anywhere you choose to go.