1. Try Tone-on-Tone
Photo: Olivia Graham
Mad for monochrome, but not matchy-matchy looks? Layer pieces with different textures.
Pair Zara's elegantly edgy puff-sleeve dress with refined accessories in a similar color, like Bruno Magli's patent leather-capped stilettos (lordandtaylor.com) and American Apparel's reversible leather belt. A Bauble Bar necklace and Swarovski crystal earrings from Three Jane in deeper tones lend extra sophistication.
Electrify ivory, taupe, black, or gray frocks with a high-watt color.
Let them wear white! Rhyme & Echo's flirty "Zoe" dress ($79, piper lime.com) looks great with flameorange Marissa Webb "Willa" pointy pumps and Vince Camuto's clutch. A bracelet with a vintage vibe from House of Lavande makes it fun and feminine.
Chloe & Reese's cap-sleeve dress comes in five neutral shades, all ready for happy accents -- in this case, Presmer's oversize pastel-blue "Maria" python clutch and Tuleste's enamel petal necklace (shopbop.com). Best pairing for a full skirt? Bruno Magli's sweet, sky-high "Halki" grosgrain pumps.
No need to embellish the scene-stealing neckline of the Hitherto for Bhldn "Audrey" dress. Instead, a clutch like Jenny Packham's "Acacia Nouvelle" will push this LBD into formal territory. And black is the ideal backdrop for a jewel tone. Clip on these Deco jade earrings from Kenneth Jay Lane, along with a knockout cocktail ring from Tacori.
Solids are smashing, but don't ignore the fine print. Zimmermann's "Rising Floral Fly" dress is au courant (shopbop.com), and Ivanka Trump Handbags' "Travel Organizer" clutch is posh and practical (amazon.com). Add texture via Jean-Michel Cazabat's suede "Ella" pumps (646-669-8508) and color with these Asscher-cut drop earrings from Gioielli by Nikki Baker.
Select a group of colors (we chose blue-green, blush, lilac, and lemon), then let your friends decide how to mingle them.
Flatter a pal in a ruffled organza peplum dress by Donna Morgan and she'll send the thank-you note. Kotur's "Espey" minaudiere shows that blue and bright yellow are buds. And Isharya's bold "Gemini" earrings and Ben Amunn's "Punch Deco" bracelet (charmandchain.com) complete this vivid picture.
Send your fashion maverick down the aisle in J.Crew's cropped silk "Estelle" trousers, Bardot racer peplum top (piperlime.com), "Fran" pumps in lemon, "Genevra" belt in lavender (both from L.K. Bennett, 212-309-7559), and Alexis Bittar's "Teatro Moderne" malachite necklace (charmandchain.com).
She'll evoke Daisy Buchanan with Tadashi Shoji's pale iris gown (877-823-2744), Jenny Packham's "Camellia" headdress, Coach's "Glass Station" necklace, and Miguel Ases's green onyx bracelet (fragments.com).
Helios & Luna's "Lemonade" dress with asymmetrical tulip skirt shows off curves (800-800-5878). Made in loads of colors, American Apparel's leather belt offers options galore. Add Zara's pink stone necklace and Nancy Gonzalez's crocodile box clutch to illustrate that it's only her bag that's square.
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