Fashion Friday: Royal hues

Dress: Final Touch (old) | Cardigan: Wet Seal (old) | Belt: Wet Seal (old) Tights: Fred Meyer | Boots: Bouquet (old)

Wow! Everything I wore yesterday (except the tights) is super old, so I guess this isn't much of a fashion post. Also, I am SO TIRED of the weather that requires me to have my husband take awkward deer-in-the-headlights photos of my outfits in our living room. You understand, right? Winter just sucks.

Anyway, I wanted to share this to show you how to make knit dresses more modest and interesting. This dress is just a tad too short, and when I add a belt (because it looks boring and shapeless without it) it scrunches up even more. But I love the color and the pockets and the fun texture, so I can't give it up!

Enter the ruffled slip. I actually have no idea where I got this, because I've had it for at least 10 years, but I wear it all the time with dresses that are too short. You could easily make one yourself by just sewing a thick ruffle to a slip you already have (which I have also done), but there are also plenty of extender slips out there in boutiques and online. I highly recommend them if you're tall like me and never seem to have dresses that fit.

You might be thinking, Why not just sew a layer of ruffles to the bottom of the dress? You could certainly do that, too, but I think it limits your style options (not to mention that sweater fabric bunches and is difficult to sew). I actually have a brown ruffle slip I've worn with this dress before, which changes the entire look -- and makes it possible to wear brown boots. :)

Any tips on making shorter dresses more modest? What are your favorite ways to style thicker clothes in the winter? Utah had freezing rain today, and I was grateful for my cozy outfit when the droplets froze instantly on my windshield, creating bubble wrap-like ice pockets, and I had to pull into a gas station to scrape it off.