Outfit Details:

Dressed Up: LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Dress, Similar Denim Jacket, Similar Heeled Sandals, Similar Statement Necklace Here and Here

Dressed Down: LC Lauren Conrad Pleated Dress (worn as a skirt), Similar White Tee, Similar Jacket, LC Lauren Conrad Blush Flats, LC Lauren Conrad Crossbody Bag

As we head into spring, it’s time for weddings, Easter parties and dinners, bridal showers, and other spring parties. It’s always nice to pick up something for those special occasions, but from my experience, you end buying something and then it doesn’t get a ton of use after the one event.

My goal has always been to buy things that can be worn in a lot of different ways, and I think your dressier items are no different.

To do this, first, it’s all about choosing pieces that will be versatile, and second, finding ways to dress them down so you can wear them often!

Lauren Conrad just released her new Dress Up line at Kohl’s, and it’s full of pieces that are perfect for dressing up or down. I found this gorgeous pleated dress that comes in 3 other colors and is only $60 and today I want to show you two ways to style it — dressed up for a party or wedding, or dressed down for date night or even just a spring day.

To dress it up, I paired it with a light denim jacket and a pair of heeled sandals. For a more formal look, you could pair it with a tailored blazer, and for a cozier look you could add a chunky cardigan. To add a little contrast, I added a statement necklace, and then finished the look with a simple up-do!

To dress it down, I pulled a basic tee over the top and knotted it at my natural waist to make sure my waist stayed defined. Then I added an olive jacket (olive and blush is my current favorite color combo!), a casual bag, and some pretty blush flats. Tip: Wear a cropped jacket to make sure your waist is still somewhat defined — a hip length jacket will drown this look! 

There’s a skirt version of this pleated dress here from Lauren’s line (I shared it last week and had tons of questions about it!), and that’s another good option that’s easy to dress up or down — just dress it up with a dressy top like lace, chiffon, or silk. There are so many other gorgeous pieces from the line like this floral skirt, and this floral dress. Check out the entire collection right here!