Whether you live in an on-campus residence hall or an off campus apartment, you can almost bet that your closet space is super limited. It may seem like all of those fuzzy (but, in reality, itchy) sweaters, or your dress that you wore to the eighth grade dance, are needed in your closet. The best essentials women can have in their closets are proper fitting, wearable dresses. Dresses are a one-stop shop for comfort and style. Plus, you don’t have to worry about wearing pants, and who doesn’t like that? These ten dresses will give your closet the boost it needs, not to mention a great excuse to go shopping!
1. The Everyday Dress
Wear this dress when you want to look a little bit more put together with minimal effort required. The best styles to look for are a skater style dress because of the universal flattering shape. Find one with a solid color and dress it up with some statement jewelry, or pair a patterned dress with a cute jacket.
2. The Power Suit
Channel your inner Hilary Clinton and embrace your power suit. Not only will you look professional and put together, but it will also get you your dream internship or job. A dress, for me personally, flatters your shape better than a traditional pantsuit. Pair with a bold blazer and simple accessories and you’ll be dressed for success!
3. Little Black Dress
The Little Black Dress never goes out of style, so feel free to splurge on a nice one to have in your closet for years. However, if you want to go for a trendier look, go for a dress with unique cutouts or backless that will set you apart from the others.
4. T-shirt Dress
We have all been there: it’s 8am, your alarm went off at 7:56, and you need to get to class. Usually, you are tempted to throw on a sweatshirt and sweatpants and call it a day. However, the t-shirt dress is an exception to this norm. Putting on a t-shirt dress takes 5 seconds at most (it only takes longer if you get your hair caught on the zipper… obviously this has happened to me a few times) which is quicker and your friends will never know that you literally just rolled out of bed. For the cooler months, pair a t-shirt dress with tights and boots or even a vest and jacket.
5. The Dress for Meeting the Parents
This is going to be a big step in your relationship, so you want to make sure you are dressed appropriately. There are a few rules you want to follow to ensure the parents aren’t looking at you and thinking, “That’s what she wore out with her friends last night.” First, consider the setting and make sure your dress matches the venue, such as an upscale restaurant for dinner or a local diner for brunch. Also, go with a timeless piece and stick to a floral or light pattern that will show your romantic side.
6. The Sparkly/Sequin Dress
You are only young once, so embrace it! This is the only time in your life when it will be socially acceptable to wear a sequin dress in public. Yes, you will stand out, but you will look like a million bucks and capture everyone’s attention in the room!
7. The Transition Dress
Going from summer to fall, it may be hard to transition all of your clothes to the new season; it may seem like your entire wardrobe is obsolete. However, have no fear because with the perfect transition dress, you can look on trend all year. Personally, my favorite transition piece is a jean dress. In the warmer months, you can wear it with sandals or heels with cuffed sleeves, but in the cooler months you can wear it with tights, boots, and a vest or long-sleeved cardigan.
8. Going-Out Dress
It’s 9pm on a Friday night and your friends just texted you to go out. Nothing brings bigger fear than having no idea what to wear. That is why you need your staple going out dress, so you never have to panic. Look for these dresses in advance and shop at places online, such as Tobi or Lulu’s, because they have amazingly cute dresses at affordable prices.
9. Special Event Dress
We always find ourselves being invited to our brother’s girlfriend’s sister’s bat mitzvah or neighbor’s cousin’s baby shower. It is always nice to be prepared for these to ensure we’re not forced to rummage through our mom’s closet to find something appropriate to wear. Choose a dress that is a neutral color so you won’t stand out on someone else’s special day. Don’t forget to make sure you’re dress covers you in all the right places.
10. The “It” Dress
This is the dress that is unique to every girl. Nothing makes a girl feel more beautiful and confident than when her dress fits and looks perfect. Pick a dress that you like (not your mom, best friend, or sister). When you wear this dress, you want to be walking down the street with a smile on your face because you know that you look gorgeous and feel unstoppable.
Now ladies, feel free to take a deep plunge in your wallet- any of these dresses will give your closet the lift it needs and the style you desire!