three ways to wear a leopard wrap dress

i’m just going to throw this out there, wrap dresses are tricky for anyone who might possibly be considered the least bit..busty. wrap dresses both accentuate and flatter all at the same time. i’m not the type to wear a “women tell all” kind of leopard dress so i like to mix it up a bit to the conservative side when wearing a wrap especially in a leopard print.

also a side note on leopard, it can go peggy bundy real fast so make sure you spend the time finding the right leopard print. i like a smaller leopard print because I find it’s easier to pattern mix with. i bought this wrap dress on sale at j.crew (and now it’s an extra 30% offf). i sized up because of the way that the top fit. the 8 didn’t close as far as i am comfortable with so a 10 worked out well.

the first way i styled this dress was to use it as a layering piece rather than a stand alone dress. i bought this shimmery turtleneck from j.crew in every color and it worked perfectly under this dress because it’s a thinner knit material and the dress has a bloussy type sleeve. it was 12 when we shot these photos. as in 12 degrees so layering was much needed. i also wore the same boots and tights with all the outfits. these are the tory burch boots i picked up on clearance and they are amazingly comfortable and go with everything i needed short black boots for.

i styled this dress with a sequin blazer for the second look. here is my take on sequins. yes, sequins are usually associated with evening wear and fancy ness. but what does that have to be limited to after 5pm? paired the right way adding a pop of sparkle to your daytime wardrobe is a fun way to express a bit of playfulness. life is too short not to dress for the party any chance you can. i love pairing a sequin blazer with a t-shirt and some boyfriend jeans. i thought it would be fun to mix it up a bit and layer it over this wrap dress. sure, it’s a bit extra but baby so are you (and me) . my sequin blazer is from last season but this one is very similar.

sticking with the jacket theme i added a long sweater coat for the last look. i had this tory burch sweater jacket from last year but the hem line is almost exactly the same length as the dress. for a longer sweater look with the wrap dress i would stick to something with structure that cuts in just a tiny bit at the waist. that way you keep the benefit of the wrap dress which is to accentuate the smallest part of your waist. i kept it simple with a solid color and just a hint of sequin on the collar for some added fun. let the leopard be the star of the show. my jacket is last year but this one is similar.

i think it’s important when you purchase a new piece for your closet you have multiple plans for it. this dress could also be dressed up for a night out with a big statement necklace and a pair of pumps. I even thought it would be cute with a brooch on the shoulder to dress it up a bit. it helps stretch your closet further if you have pieces to mix and match together.

check out some other favorite leopard outfits of mine!