WAYS TO WEAR A SWEATER DRESS, WITH BRASS

Ever feel like you have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? I sure do. This constant feeling, along with the all-too-often urge to buy, were a few reasons I started a style movement towards a more minimal, curated wardrobe. I constantly felt (and still feel - I'm working on it!) the need to buy new things to fill a void of what is "missing" in my wardrobe. It usually ends up with impulse buys and things that I only love individually... i.e. a whole bunch of awesome pieces, and not enough that works well together. That needs to change.

THE BRAND

Jay Adams and Katie Demo launched Boston based women's clothing company, Brass in September 2014, after feeling frustrated by the fast-fashion industry. (Insert hand raising emoji) They took their expertise: Jay's experience with apparel manufacturers and Katie’s background in online fashion retail, and turned it into a brand of women's clothing with a purpose. They design beautiful, high-quality clothing without crazy price tags. They are also transparent about the factories they work with - something slow-fashion lovers definitely appreciate. When designing each piece, they pay attention to fit, fabric, and femininity - all while holding each garment to these 5 principles:

Beauty: Is the garment beautiful? Is it sophisticated and chic?
Quality: Is the garment well-constructed? Does it fit? Is the fabric substantial and will it hold up over multiple washes and wears?
Versatility: Can the garment be worn to work and on the weekends? Can it be dressed up and down? Can you wear it through multiple seasons?
Ease: Is the garment easy to care for? Is it wrinkle resistant? Does it travel well?
Purpose: Does the garment serve a purpose in my life? Is it timeless and will it continue to serve a purpose?

While you can shop individual garments, you can also purchase curated closet "kits" - a selection of essentials already picked for you! They also have a Boston location where you can try on all of the styles and sizes, and then order your favorites! The brand's main pieces can be found in their Foundations Collection, which are all designed to be worn 3x times per week, great for work and weekend, and easy to care for and travel with. I got the chance to style the Relaxed Sweater Dress and it's seriously the most perfect sweater dress - and something I had been looking to add to my wardrobe for some time now!

THE DRESS

This dress really is the perfect sweater dress. It comes in the gray color shown here, and a really pretty tan color. The website describes the dress as "Knit dresses often cling in all the wrong places. Not this one. The relaxed a-line silhouette doesn't grab, it glides. The definition of a throw-and-go piece, The Relaxed Sweater Dress is the ideal weight for three season wear - fall, winter, spring." - I couldn't have said it better myself!

It's crafted from a wool-blend material and is easy to care for: wash on gentle and cold, inside out. Lay flat to dry. The length is perfect for the office and every-day, hitting just above the knee. The mock neck and long sleeves make for a cozy outfit, without too much fabric. It's also a great thickness and SUPER soft.

SIDE NOTE: In an effort to show you (and myself) the versatileness (is that a word?) of different pieces in my wardrobe, I've decided to introduce a new little "theme", if you will, to my blog posts. Behold: UP / DOWN / MIDDLE GROUND! I'll be styling pieces 3 different ways - dressed up, dressed down and dressed for every day wear, or "middle ground".

So let's get to it!

LOOK #1: DRESSED UP

Adding a pair of pumps to an outfit is one of the easiest way to add a little fanciness your look. Instead of a classic pump, I chose a velvet mid-height block heel with a pointy toe to elongate my legs. I threw on a belt and a red lip and I'm ready for a night out! Opt for a small purse and only carry the essentials - you'll be glad you did.

DRESS // BRASS - Relaxed Sweater Dress

BELT // Target - A New Day

HEELS // Marshalls (Old) - Marc Fisher, Similar in suede

BAG // Target (Old) - Similar

LIP COLOR // MAC - Ruby Woo

LOOK # 2: DRESSED DOWN

Sneakers and a baseball hat = instant dressed down, cool-girl vibes. This works with almost anything really - but I love the combination with this sweater dress. I added the scarf for a layer of warmth and a pop of "color", and although I'm wearing sneakers, this feels really put-together to me. It's like a laid-back kind of chic, which I love! Run errands, go see a movie, watch a baseball game - you can pretty much do anything in this combo.

DRESS // BRASS - Relaxed Sweater Dress

SCARF // H&M - Wool Scarf

HAT // H&M - Cotton Twill Cap

SHOES // Vans - Authentic

BAG // Old Navy (Old) - Same bag, different color

LIP COLOR // MAC - Ruby Woo

LOOK # 3: MIDDLE GROUD

This is an easy one to modify - ditch the hat for the office, or keep it on for after-work and weekend activities. I went with pointed toe heeled ankle boots for this look, because.. I just love pointed toe heeled ankle boots! I wear them with everything and to me, they are that "middle-ground" between office appropriate, casual and elevated. I kept my accessories monochromatic and let the sweater dress be the piece that ties it all together. The texture of the dress with the lines of the accessories is what makes this look super cool. Push up the sleeves for an effortless look and add black nylons if you need a little extra coverage.

DRESS // BRASS - Relaxed Sweater Dress

HAT // GiGiPip - Faye

WATCH // Daniel Wellington - Classic Sheffield 36mm, Rose Gold

SHOES // Nordstrom Rack (Old) - Steve Madden, Similar 

BAG // H&M - Shoulder Bag

LIP COLOR // MAC - Ruby Woo

Some other BRASS styles that I love:

- The All Day Tank // The perfect layering tank
- The Non Stop Top // Hello white tee gorgeousness
- The Get Down Button Down // Obsessed with this cropped version of a classic
- The All Day Pant // Literally could wear these all day, every day
- The Essential Dress // A "wear with anything/go anywhere" kind of simple chic


All of their pieces are designed to rotate into your current closet effortlessly - and they'll definitely do that. If anyone is looking to incorporate a sweater dress into their Fall/Winter/Spring wardrobe - I highly, HIGHLY recommend this one. It checks all the boxes for versatility, comfort and style... and I'm OB.SESSED!

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ON YOUR NEXT PURCHASE!!