Happy Holidays…well, not quite yet, but Christmas is coming early for you guys!  First, stay tuned for a LOT of fashion heading to the blog.  The next few weeks will feature some amazing outfits and styling suggestions, just in time for holiday parties.  Second, this post will feature 2 ways to wear the PERFECT dress!  Are you ready?  Here we go!

This dress is EVERYTHING.  Disclaimer: it is somewhat of a budget buster, but the price per wear for this piece makes it a worthy investment.  Urban Zen is Donna Karen’s new lifestyle brand.  Per her website. it is a philosophy of living and the calm in the chaos of life.  All of her pieces in this line are extremely soft, well-fitting, and FABULOUS.  Gus Mayer features an extensive selection of her pieces, but this black dress has to be my FAV.  I am showing you two different ways to wear it, but the possibilities are endless.  From work to a fancy cocktail party to a casual day date with your fav, this is a dress you can wear for years to come, both timeless and seasonless.  In both examples, I pair the dress with a statement necklace, Janessa Leone hat (amaze by the way), my go-to Prada bag, and Stuart Weitzman over the knee boots.

In the first look, I shorten the dress to show off a little leg and create a fun look for fall or winter.  Over the knee boots are THE hottest shoe for fall and winter and a great substitute for tights.  Personally, tights are so uncomfortable and drive me crazy.  With this dress all you have to do is scrunch the bottom up and voila!  The perfect LBD.  Pair with a fabulous necklace and boots, and you have the perfect date night outfit.  Throw on a hat for a hip accessory or to cover up a bad hair day.

In the second look, I keep the hat, boots, and purse but drop the skirt, add a belt, and take it off the shoulder.  OH EM GEE, I cannot get over how fabulous this look is.  Again, this is perfect for date night or lose the hat and rock it at your next holiday party. Want a super casual way to wear this?  Let the skirt down, lose the belt, and pair with hightop sneakers such as these HERE.  Of course I thought of that AFTER the photoshoot, but I will post pictures of that outfit on Instagram (follow me HERE).

You can purchase the dress and belt at Gus Mayer in Birmingham.  Call Brittany Jones at 205-870-3300 , and she can hook you up.  I have also linked the entire outfit at the end of the post.  What’s your go-to outfit this season?

All images by Rachel and Noah Ray Photography

DRESS Urban Zen | BOOTS Stuart Weitzman Highland | HAT Janessa Leone (similar HERE and HERE) | NECKLACE Dannijo (similar HERE and HERE) | BAG Prada (sold out similar HERE) | BRACELETS Vita Fede