Ask Belle: Wearing Orange

Belle,

I look great in orange and I don’t think many people do, so I love to wear it. I recently bought the shift dress below and I am having such a hard time accessorizing this dress. I’ve done basic gold jewelry and nude pumps, but is there something more exciting that’s still work appropriate? Maybe a belt?

Cara

This season is all about bold colors.  From chartreuse to royal blue to orange, a lot of designers are challenging consumers to step out of the neutral box and into the world of color.  So I think it’s great that you’re willing to try something different and wear a lot of orange.  To get the most wear out of this dress, you will want to try three different approaches.

The Dress Stands Alone. The first approach is to do exactly what you’re doing: use neutral accessories to let the dress take the stage.  Yellow gold accessories and nude pumps are the best choice for a chic and classic look.  Another option would be to wear the dress as a jumper over a more neutral blouse.

Pussy Bow Blouse (Asos, $43)

Shades and Tones.  The second option is to mix this dress with other shades of orange or printed fabrics.  For example, you could pair the dress with a pale orange cardigan and a neutral belt and shoes.  You could also try an orange printed cardigan, but this might be a difficult item to find.  

Sweetheart Cardigan (Banana Republic, $70) 

Ideally, I would prefer a short sleeved sherbet-colored cardigan, but I couldn’t find exactly the one that I wanted.

Nude Gold Buckle Belt (Asos, $17)

Go Bold, or Go Home. If you’re feeling brave, then there are a number of bolder color combinations that will look stunning.  Some colors to think about are navy, emerald green, and hot or pale pink.  Personally, I love all of them.  Of course, the color you choose will depend on your preferences and coloring.  For me, I prefer pale pink or hot pink like this boyfriend jacket.

Gestuz Double Breasted Jacket (Asos, $170)