the perfect dress for a spring wedding.

This post was sponsored by Zappos, thank you so much for supporting the brands I truly love.

Adrianna Papell dress via Zappos. (c/o)

You guys know that my everyday uniform is pretty casual.  I’m a mom, and I work 99% of the time from home, which means my jeans get a lot of wear.  That’s what works for my lifestyle and I love it.  But I also love dressing up.  I love having a reason to get dressed up, it’s something I look forward to and to me, it keeps life from feeling monotonous.  If I don’t have a reason to dress up, I’ll make one for myself, whether it’s planning a fancy date night to the local opera house, or a tea party or brunch with girlfriends.

I think every woman should have at least one formal dress in her wardrobe.  (I like to have two in mine: one for spring/summer, and one for fall/winter.)  Even if you don’t need to dress up often all of us have a reason to dress up from time to time, and when you get invited to that spring wedding or your husband surprises you with a fancy night out, it’s nice to already have something lovely waiting in your wardrobe.  When choosing my formal dresses, I always look for timeless style, beautiful fit, impeccable quality and that little spark or extra detail that makes it unique.  Adrianna Papell dresses are my absolute favorite for special occasions.

I have a few more formal events to attend over the next few months, and so I knew I wanted to add a lighter and more spring/summer inspired frock to my wardrobe.  This beautiful Adrianna Papell struck me as the perfect dress to wear to a spring or summer wedding.  It also reminded me so much of the dress I wore to my high school senior ball, which was such a gorgeous, classic dress that I’ve worn it again several times to other formal occasions.  This is the beauty in going classic when choosing a formal dress, you can wear it again and again.

When I saw this one, with it’s gorgeous beading and floral pattern and the timeless dropped waist silhouette, I knew it would be the perfect dress for wearing to a spring/summer wedding, a fancy brunch or a night out to the theater with my hubby.

I also love that I can style it for day or evening events.  I styled it here with a lovely embellished cardigan, some block heeled sandals and a simple soft-pink clutch, for a more day-inspired look perfect for a wedding or brunch.  You could also layer it with a silk blouse or a bolero jacket and a pair of stilettos for an evening out, or just wear it on it’s own, because, let’s face it, this gorgeous dress really doesn’t “need” anything at all.  It’s perfect on it’s own.

When I’m styling a dress like this, with ornate beading, I like to keep my jewelry, make-up and hair much more understated.  That way everything you’re wearing isn’t an exclamation mark, and the piece you want to stand out really makes a statement without the look feeling over the top.

I ordered this dress from Zappos, which you guys know is my go-to.  They have the best free shipping and customer service on the internet.  Seriously, this beautiful dress was at my door barely 2 days after I ordered it.  And I love that if the fit is off they have 365 days of free returns.  Zappos carries over 300 Adrianna Papell dresses, so no matter what you’re looking for there’s a good chance they have it.  Happy dress shopping!