Skirts & Dresses: Fun & Flirty to Sleek & Sophisticated

The wintery floral print on this Maggy London dress is a scene stealer. Everything from a smokey blue to a burnt orange and red are beautifully tied together and accented with a black lace that creates a little cap sleeve – great for winter functions and to get a little arm coverage. This does run a little smaller than most Maggy London pieces, so if you are between sizes, size up. This dress is beautiful with black suede pumps, but deep burgundy really up’s your style game.

We talked about the importance of peplums in our Work Fashion Finds this week – both, from a style standpoint and from a figure enhancing one. A peplum is really a beautiful design invention – it’s so polished and sophisticated looking, especially when Tory Burch does it in this modern fitting crepe dress. It calls out the slimmest part of our figures, our waists, and cleverly conceals the hip, tummy, behind area. If you have more of a boyish figure, it also helps create curves. Add sheer organza cap sleeves and velvet waist detail, and you’ve got a perfect after 5 dress – dinner, cocktails, a wedding…you’ll get plenty of use out of this stunner.

Fit-and-flare styles can be a girl’s best friend – they accentuate the waist and conceal below. It’s also comfortable, since you don’t have a slim skirt to prevent you from really showing off your moves on the dance floor. As we’ve been highlighting this week, a midi-length (just around the calf) gives any shape a fresh update. Donna Morgan delivers again with a well-priced, modern fit that is ideal for dressier events, like weddings and holiday parties. The jacquard fabric is done in a bronze and black combination, which is a beautifully subdued way to do metallic shine. And you can wear any black dress shoe with it. The tank top style ensures you can wear a bra too, another perk. It even has a stylish pocket that doesn’t add any bulk.

A contemporary option for a flirty fit-and-flare dress, we adore the textured herringbone print of this muted metallic jacquard. If you look closely, you'll see the metallic panels at the top of the dress are pewter, while the skirt is bronze - just a couple of shades different, and such a stylish touch. The sleeves have a pleat detail and are cut straight across, so they highlight your arms in a really flattering way and give you freedom to move them. This is an especially great fit and style for a pear shaped figure (smaller on the top, curvier on the bottom), with it's slim top that nips in at the waist and full, shorter skirt. (Note: The model is 5'9" in a size 0. So, while this does hit above the knee, it's not as short on most women, as shown here.) 4.collective is a new line that is all about professional, on-the-go women…a perfect match, don’t you think? Add a strappy black dress shoe and be ready for the holiday season in this one. Sizes are going fast, so try Anthropologie if yours is sold out.

Tadashi Shoji has taken one of their best selling dress styles, and updated it with one of our favorite color combinations – navy and black. It is sophisticated, yet dressy when the navy lace pattern is done in sequins. The matte black wraparound waist bands are very slimming and the shoulder straps are wide enough to wear a bra. You don’t need much jewelry to complete this look – play up the black in some great drop earrings and a faceted stone bracelet.

NYDJ’s new dress line for fall even includes a great after 5 option. Silver metallic studs outline the neck and shoulders. Since this dress offers a full sleeve and crewneck style, it’s a great way to add a touch of shimmer and not have to figure out how to work a necklace or bracelet in. Besides their trademarked technology fabric around the waist that slims and smooths, the black contour fabric down the sides of the dress create a slenderizing illusion – what more can we ask for, especially if we’re heading out for a special dinner or holiday celebration? As with all NYDJ products, we recommend sizing down.

Jacquard fabrics – where the design is actually woven in to the fabric to create texture – are popular this season. And as we head in to the holiday season, we find they are a chic way to make a classic style more updated and celebratory. Ted Baker London had the same idea, with this gorgeous cobalt blue and black pencil skirt. The wide waistband is very flattering and sits higher on the waist, which is very fresh. The front slit plays into the slim silhouette and contemporary fit. Complete the look with the coordinating jacket for a holiday business event or pair it with any black blouse or dressy sweater.