What to Wear: Red Dress

Anne has a big night on the town coming up soon:

I am a stay-at-home mom who admires your sense of style! Your blog is a wonderful glimpse into a world where fashion is appreciated and not selected merely for its washability. 🙂

I have 3 kids ages 3, 2, and 6 months and have been simply overwhelmed by motherhood since my most recent son’s birth. I am ready for a dress-up night on the town in February, when a college girlfriend of mine is getting married. My husband and I have booked a room at a swank hotel in town, and I want to look stunning for him and for me, not to mention the college gang. 🙂

I have the dress but am looking for some accessories and shoes that won’t break the bank. I am rather short (5’5), so shoes with a heel that elongate my legs would be great. Also, I live in the tundra of Minnesota, so if it’s not a bank-breaker, I would consider some type of elegant cover-up to add some warmth to this sleeveless dress.

If you have the time, could you offer some desperately needed guidance to a desperate housewife?

What a pretty dress! I love the feminine, vintage feel. Matching the red with gray and gold is an unexpected and elegant combination. A much better pairing than with black (too severe) or white (too santa):

Dress – Grand Canal dress in deep red silk with a ruffle on the collar. Currently on sale for $80 $40.
Shoes – Arturo Chiang pump with gray patent leather and a gray suede bow on sale for $36, down from $120. The substantial heel is a good match with the vintage style of the dress and will make your ankles look thin. If they don’t have your size, keep looking. These shoes are on sale everywhere.
Coat – Gray wool coat on sale for $50. This is something that you can definitely wear again and again.
Earrings – Statement earrings on sale from Anthropologie for $30
Clutch – In gold for $28.

Have a great time being swanky! PS: Hi Katy 🙂