How to Add Your Own Style to the Little Black Dress

What is one staple that every woman has in her closet? Most likely, it's the LBD: the Little Black Dress. Black is the most versatile color, slimming you down and helping you look your best -- and it's a color that works on everyone.

But how do you best style the LBD?

You can add colorful jewelry and shoes, keep it simple with black or neutral accessories, or go all black and white. Whatever you decide -- it should be an expression of your own style, and appropriate for the occasion, of course.

Today, since I'm just going to the office, I didn't do much with my accessories. I wore ruby jewelry and chose these sparkly SJP shoes to fancy up what is really a very simple dress.

Outfit Details

Dress: Donna Ricco Square-Neck Scuba Fit and Flare Dress

The neckline is why I really wanted to buy this dress. I love a dress with a square neck, since I feel it's the most flattering on me. I also liked that it was made of a scuba material (no ironing) and has that lacy design along the edges. The dress run true to size, and I'm wearing a size 2 for reference. It's a very comfortable dress that won't be going out of style anytime soon.

Shoes: SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker Giddy Dress Sandals

The sandals are no longer available, but many major retailers, like Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus and Saks, carry the SJP shoe line.

Baking, Reading and Everything in Between

This past weekend, I really felt like I had a chance to relax more than usual. It might have something to do with the fact that I split my work over two days rather than working a solid 6-8 hours on Sunday. I am definitely going to try spreading things out going forward.

Here are a just a few things I accomplished this weekend:

I started off my weekend by baking a two-layer Devil's Food Cake with Vanilla Icing for my mom and Laura's birthday celebration on Sunday afternoon. The cake was a hit, even though I used more butter than I have ever used before: three sticks in the cake and two sticks in the icing. But, after all... butter makes everything better.

Saturday night, Chapin cooked me a belated Valentine's Day dinner: baked oysters to start, followed by cheesy (gluten-free) pasta with crab. Everything was amazing.

Baked Oysters by Chapin

Sunday night, I finally finished the book I've been reading: Still Me, by JoJo Moyes. I just adored this book, and can't stop thinking about it and wanting to cry. If you enjoyed Me Before You (either the movie or the book), you have to read the whole series. Still Me is the third installment and continues Louisa's journey as she tries to live out a life that would make her beloved Will proud. The book even features a little pug named Dean Martin!

I left the author a Facebook comment to let her know how much I loved the book, and I hope she reads it. I also gave her an idea: to write about one of the characters, an older woman (and Dean Martin's momma) named Margot, during her youth in New York City. As described in the book, Margot was a fashion editor in the 1960s and 1970s who chose a career over raising her son. I hope she decides to do something with it! (Fashion and pugs? You know I loved Margot to bits.)

Outfit Details

As I start the work week, even though the temperature is mild (70s), it's rainy and overcast, so I wanted to wear a bright print to help me get through this Monday.

Dress: Belle by Badgley Mischka

The print reminds me of a sunset in summer, and definitely has me dreaming of warm days ahead! You can shop the brand at Dillard's, Lord & Taylor and Amazon, but I couldn't find this exact dress online.

Shoes: SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker

I hope your weekend was just as good as mine!