You know what I think I love most about spring? Dresses. I could say it’s all about the sunshine, the freshly mown grass, the budding blooms and the promises of new life but I am siding with the dresses.
Next month dresses are all I will be wearing. For a reason. Frocktober raises money and awareness for Ovarian Cancer.
Unlike many other cancers there is no early detection test. Consequently ovarian cancer is often diagnosed in its late stages and only 20%-30% of women will survive beyond five years of diagnosis. In comparison, survival rates increase to 80-100% when ovarian cancer is detected and treated early.
(source: Frocktober everydayhero page)
That sounds to me like a really good reason to fund research for an early detection test and to bring awareness to a cancer we don’t talk about all that much. AND it’s fun to wear dresses all the time.
Last year, I am slightly embarrassed to admit, I didn’t need to re-wear any dresses. A recent dress re-count of my wardrobe and I could probably extend Frocktober well into Frockvember and still have a few unworn pieces. But I know not everyone is quite as dress-obsessed, makes their own clothes or has a spare downstairs wardrobe. So I put together some inspiration on how to wear dresses for thirty-one days straight.
Wear to find the dresses
Your wardrobe: your whole wardrobe. Yes, this is fairly self-explanatory, but don’t forget to explore the dresses you seldom wear. The evening dresses. The forgotten corporate dresses (if you are at home with kids). The kaftan you only wear on the beach. These dresses can be re-interpreted for every day wear. I have some ideas below.
Borrow. Have a friend or family member approximately your size? Why not see if they would be willing to swap a frock or two for the outfits you won’t be wearing during Frocktober? You could even host an outfit swapping party with friends and raise money for Frocktober at the same time.
Make. Do you have some fabric stashed away just waiting to be made up? Frocktober is the perfect excuse to whip up a dress. There are some awesome (free!) dress patterns on this Pinterest board (not my board, but it’s just fabulous).
Ask. If you are blogging your Frocktober, you never know, a fashion brand might send you a dress to flaunt. You can always ask (very politely).
Buy. Check out the op-shops for some cute, pre-loved dresses. Or if you are in the mood for some brand new pretty, the Champagne Cartel glamazons have this great round up of spring dresses.
How to wear dresses (every day)
View them as separates. As a one piece, dresses are an easy option but seemingly lack versatility. The way to get more mileage at of your dresses is to think of them as separates. Adding a top over or under a dress will give it a completely different look. For slim dresses, adding a skirt over the top is another option.
Use them as a canvas. A simple black dress is a great canvas for a stunning necklace, a statement belt or an amazing pair of shoes. The beauty of this is that people will remember the accessories, not the dress. So there’s plenty of opportunity for re-wears and re-styles.
Wear them differently. Obviously, this is only going to work for certain kinds of dresses: but if you have a stretch dress or a floaty maxi, you might be surprised at how good they can look back to front. A maxi skirt can be pulled up, add a belt, a voilà another dress. (Remember a few years back when Sienna Miller had everyone doing this?)
Layer. Adding jackets, vests, scarves etc. will add another dimension to your dresses and give you a lot more outfit choices. And if you live south of where I do, I figure it’s probably a necessity due to the weather.
Use the beach stuff. You might have beach throws or kaftans that you don’t wear outside the sand and surf because they are transparent. Invest (if you haven’t already) in a nude and/or white slip to wear under them and you might just have another option to add to your frock wardrobe. Alternatively, if you have a few sarongs around that never get worn (I have so many) you can sew up a dress very easily.
Make the evening into the every day. There are certain kinds of dresses that only work at night-time right? Maybe not. You can dress down a cocktail bustier dress by throwing a t-shirt over the top. A sweeping floor length gown can be made into a gorgeous day time maxi skirt by pairing it with a tank top.
More ideas. The below ideas aren’t meant as a style challenge (although if you want to use them that way, go ahead). They are intended as a set of ideas when you get stuck.
Plan
My last piece of advice is to plan your wardrobe for the month. Spend a few spare hours (huh! I know!) trying on things, playing around and seeing what works. It’s best to go into the month with loads of options. Not only are you raising money for an important cause, you will probably learn a few new things about your own wardrobe and expand your options (potentially, without a paying a cent!). Go on, donate some of that saved cash.
Want to join in?
If you would like to be a part of Frocktober you can find out more here and sign up here.
If you would like to support my and the Pipsters Dress Up Frocktober team efforts (thank you so much!) you can donate here.
If you are blogging your Frocktober, I will be hosting a link up at the end of the month. Let me know if you want to co-host.
Are you joining in Frocktober? Are you blogging or instagramming it? I want to follow along!
Got any tips for making dresses go further?
Hi Robyna – I’ve signed up (I think) to join the Pipsters group. I am happy to cohost or do whatever! I’ve been thinking about my 31 dresses (and being a bit of a hoarder of clothes) I think I can create 31 different looks!
Oooh YAY! That’s great – looking forward to see you in Pipsters Dress Up – I haven’t seen a request to join the team though?
I really want to do this but fear I am lacking the prep time and casual options for weekends and non-work days!
The top over dress option opens lots in the casual space – so many different ways you can wear one or two dresses.
Great tips! I’ve joined as well and will be be instagramming my efforts. Very handy ideas as I started to feel a little bit daunted by it all. Thanks for the article xx
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Go Team Pipsters Dress Up!! So excited to be doing this with you Robyna, can’t wait to get started!
Sarah @theroutinequeen recently posted…HomeHello Giveaway
Me too! It’s going to be loads of fun and hopefully we raise some money for a good cause.
Hi Robyna,
Thanks for the tips! This will be my third? Or fourth? Frocktober but 2nd doing the full 31 days! Please feel free to follow my progress on instagram #peachykeensenorita !!
Goodluck and much love! Xx
I am looking forward to following you and seeing what you come up with.
I’ve signed up for #Frocktober2015 too! Look forward to following your frocktastic adventures 🙂
Janet Camilleri recently posted…What Big Eyes You Have!
Yours too Janet! Should be a fun month.
Robyna recently posted…Chatting to Carly of Little Lettie Boxes
I can’t wait for Frocktober to begin! It’ll be so fun to plan outfits every day. I have well over 31 frocks so it’ll be a challenge for me to choose which I’ll wear! Can’t wait to follow everyone’s journeys x
I am tossing up whether to wear something different every day or whether to re-style dresses as a bit of a challenge. Will be fun either way.
I love this Robyna and would love to be involved in some way. Once I’ve read all the links you’ve posted I’ll work out how I’m going to do it. Btw, I love all your ‘dress’ ideas. Great stuff.
Thanks Collette – I think even if you have ten or so dresses, you can make it work. Would love to see what you come up with.
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Hi,
First time reading your blog but fellow Frockster 🙂
Love all your suggestions! On my 4th Frocktober and aiming to wear a different dress every day this year. Look forward to joining in your link up 🙂
Caroline recently posted…Official last day in jeans til November 1st 2015
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Well done Robyn! I think, even with these good suggestions, I am unlikely to stretch out my six dresses (I think, at last count) to make it through the whole month. But I’m happy to support the pipsters, and look forward to seeing what options you all come up with (btw, looking at doing a ‘girls night in’ instead, so we can still be active in supporting funds to cure women’s cancer). Cheers, Helen
Helen K recently posted…I’m just .. I need to .. oh, never mind (the holiday blog post)
Oh lovely! That should be great. Some people are just doing the Friday – so that’s an option too. And hopefully you picked up some tips to wear those six dresses a few different ways.
Lots of people rocking Frocktober this year. That’s brilliant! I can’t wait to see all your creations on Instagram. Sounds like you have it covered! I think I could do a week but then would be rewearing.
Karin @ Calm to Conniption recently posted…The Ultimate Rabbit Hole #38: Brought to you by the number 2
The instagram posts have been fabulous! Re-wearing is kind of a challenge itself.