That's A Wrap!

Wrap Dress goddess: Diane Von Furstenburg

Ever had one of those mornings when you can't figure out what to wear?  You stare into your closet without a clue as to how to put anything together?  To add to the problem - you have about 30 seconds before you need to head out the door?

It is in this moment that one little item becomes a lifesaver: the wrap dress.  The fashion miracle was created in 1973 by the genius designer Diane Von Furstenburg - and has since been reproduced by nearly every brand out there.  It's easy, effortless - and essential to any woman's wardrobe.  Nothing else can even compare.  It takes only seconds to throw on, but looks amazingly stylish on anyone.

It's such a magical item.  Universally flattering, the wrap dress looks custom made to any body type.  It gives shape to a boyish figure and controls curves on a full one.  The traditional jersey fabric is simple to care for and stays wrinkle-free all day. 

Not only is it wearable to all, but also affordable.  Wrap dresses are found everywhere from high end fashion houses to the racks at the mall.  In all types of colors and patterns.  Some of my favorites have come from Banana Republic, who's dresses are made in tall, regular and petites.

Banana Republic Wrap Dress, $98

Of course, there's always the classic wrap dress from DVF herself.  Although pricier, they are dresses that will stay in your wardrobe long enough to pass down to your daughters.  Not that you'd ever want to.

Diane Von Furstenburg Wrap Dress, $385

Wrap dresses aren't limited to young women.  With the right hem and sleeve length, it can look great at any age.  As opposed to today's mini dress or asymmetrical shoulder styles, a wrap is a classy fit that covers most of the body but still manages to be irresistibly sexy and cool.

Sarah Jessica Parker, looking good in her 40's in a Halston Wrap Dress

The next time you find yourself struggling to put an outfit together, consider a wrap dress.  Or a bunch of them.  They're great from season to season, year after year.  There's really no easier way to look like a million bucks - even if you only spend the $98.

Tailor-Made

There's this crazy idea we women have that if something off the rack doesn't fit us, the problem is with us.  That we must fit into a specific size - no matter what brand.  I beg to differ.  There are no half sizes outside of shoes at the stores and not everything is available in extra long or petite.  Some of us have short torsos and are all leg, while others have short legs and long torsos.  How can we all possibly expect ourselves to conform into the select sizes major brands cater to?  Especially in a world where these clothes are often made with the stick-thin model in mind and not the more realistic (and just as beautiful) curvaceous midwestern girl?

The answer is: tailoring and alterations.

Why didn't I think of this before?  Maybe I thought it was only for wedding and prom dresses?  Only pant hemming?  Or only for people with ever-disposable incomes?  Not so fast - this process can be affordable and quite amazing.  For once - you can call the shots with how something fits and custom-size it perfectly to your very own body.

Some of you that know me personally know that I've lost quite a bit of weight in the last few years.  This has left me with a new body to dress and a closet full of clothes that hang on me.  But some of these items I loved so much that I couldn't bear getting rid of them.  So, they sat in a sad pile in my closet for nearly 3 years just waiting to be worn again.

In my quest to shop as little as possible and reuse and reinvent the items I already have, I decided to alter some of these dresses.  I picked them up yesterday - and it was like getting to go on a shopping spree at only a fraction of the cost!  And in some of the cases, my dresses were altered so much that it was practically a new one-of-a-kind item.

I'm so happy with how my dresses turned out that I encourage you to go and get something tailor-made.  Even if the item isn't three sizes too big.  Just a nip and tuck here can make a world of difference.  It'll look like the item was made just for you.  You can wear it and not let it wear you.