Back to Basics: The Sheath Dress

We're back with the second post in our series of basic pieces that working women should have in their wardrobes. If you missed our first, go back and check it out. The goal is to show you those items we come back to time and time again and show you a few ways to wear them so you 1) get some mileage out of the pieces and 2) you don't look (or feel) as though you're wearing the same thing every day.

The capsule wardrobe. Be honest- how many times have you pinned it? (Katie 1 would like you to know she's has NEVER pinned it. She has no desire whatsoever to create a capsule wardrobe thankyouverymuch.) Whether it's for vacation or every day, we search for those elusive few pieces that we can mix-and-match in a million different ways to create an entire month's worth of outfits with just seven pieces!

We here at Not a Corporate Fashun Blog have no mastered the capsule wardrobe. We, just like you, wake up in the morning with a closet packed full of stuff and still have nothing to wear. But one thing we all have in our closets, and one piece that always shows up in those capsule wardrobe posts is the sheath dress. We (the Katies in particular) LOVE a sheath dress. We don't think we've met one we haven't liked. Why? Because they can be used countless ways. Wear it under a suit jacket, with a cardigan, bare armed, with a shirt underneath. Accessorize with jewelry or go bare. Add a belt. Add a scarf. Neutral shoe. Fun shoe. Patterned tights, bare legged. Winter, spring, summer, or fall (*All you have to do is call*- love me some Carole King). Wear on a regular day at the office. Wear to an important meeting! Nothing exudes power and confidence like a sheath dress paired with a Chanel-inspired boucle jacket!

Important things to remember when picking out your sheath dress: fit is key and pick a seasonless material. Think lightweight wool and ponte. Also, don't count out good quality synthetic materials which can look just as good as wool but are less high maintenance.

So how do to you style a sheath dress so it doesn't look like the same piece day after day? How can you wear one piece to both an office meeting, holiday with the family, an interview, and drinks? 

Let's start with this stunner from Lark & Ro. We love the dark green color, classic shape, and of course the price ($40!? Seriously?!). For the office, we love the idea of green and leopard (we love the idea of ANYTHING and leopard), so try these pumps or this skinny belt to add some interest. A leopard pump is easy to transition to evening, so wear simple jewelry during the day and for evening, add some sparkle. If you need a more elevated day look because you have an interview or you work in a more conservative industry, pair the dress with a blazer with some visual interest.

If you are heading to a a holiday party, pair the jewelry we recommended above and add these adorable plaid shoes (courtesy of Katie 1, who came across them and ended up purchasing).

As the weather gets warm (don't worry, it will eventually happen), any nude or blush shoe would be beautiful. Katie 2 thinks either option the Katies picked up earlier this year would work.




Need some more ideas? Willing and able to spend a little bit more?

We found this teal stunner at Brooks Brothers. The color is fantastic, and we know the quality is on point. So, how do you get more miles out of the piece? Add a cardigan for some visual interest. For day, go with classic shoes (black or nude). For evening? Metallics. (Seriously. We saw these in the store over the weekend and Katie 2 has been dreaming about them.)

Even though the color is a bit different, you can still safely fit into a conservative work environment by topping it with a jacket. Tweed is always a good choice. (A more conservative option.)

A necklace with this neckline could be tricky. We suggest something longer. Or forego the necklaces all together and do some great earrings for day and evening.

Don't forget- you can always accessorize with a scarf.




We've shown you some colorful options, now what about a classic color?

Katie 2 believes in buying the best quality you can afford. So when it comes to a classic silhouette in a classic color, it's time to splurge. We particularly love the detail at the neckline of this lightweight wool dress. The open neckline brings us to a new recommendation when it comes to sheath dresses: layer below.

Sure, we can show you a blazer (or two) (or jacket) to put over top of this dress (seriously, grey is so incredibly versatile). But to really change the look, try putting a lightweight turtleneck underneath. Super conservative office? A button-down shirt is a timeless look. (Just a suggestion- go with a bodysuit to help with the bunching. We realize that  a bodysuit is a polarizing recommendation. We are making it anyway.)

It may be a little more difficult to take a grey wool sheath dress and turn it into a nighttime look, but it's not impossible. A printed satin jacket in a longer length can take some of the "boardroom" out of the look. Or what about a beautiful velvet?


We really do practice what we preach here. Case in point: Elizabeth owns this purple sheath and has given you a few styling options spanning the seasons.



Katie 1 has a classic black sheath, and she is showing us how to style the dress for an interview, a casual day at the office, a dressier day at the office, and an evening out on the town.

(Katie 2 did not reach into her closet for this post, because 1) she is lazy and 2) she is very disappointed with everything in her closet after doing the research for the recommendations above.)

Are you still not sold on the sheath dress? Check out this article from the M Dash, where one woman wore the same sheath dress for an entire week. She gives you some styling tips, and you really can see the versatility of a great sheath.