I've talked before about my 'three outfit' rule when buying new clothes: I have to be able to wear the item three different ways, regardless if it's a dress, shirt, skirt, or pants. Last week, I talked about how to wear a jersey button down polka dot shirt eight different ways for pretty much any occasion you can think of. Today, I want to talk about how changing something as simple as your shoes can instantly transform your outfit from casual to dressy. I'll be using this beautiful rainbow-striped dress that I got off of Amazon. It is fully lined, has adjustable straps that criss-cross in the back, and a stretchy waist. I ordered a medium, which is what I normally wear in dresses.

Dress + Sneakers

Let's start with a dressed-down outfit. Plain white sneakers instantly dress down pretty much anything you wear them with and make your outfit feel casual. I wore this for a morning of errands followed by an afternoon of working at my desk. I threw on my favorite jean jacket because it was windy and cool.

Dress + Colorful Wedges

This is a slightly stepped-up version of the previous outfit. The wedges take my outfit from casual to playful, perfect for a casual Friday at the office or brunch with the girls.

Dress + Metallic Slides

This outfit still falls on the scale of casual, mostly because slide sandals can't truly be treated as anything other than casual. I would not wear this version to work, but I would wear it to a family reunion or picnic.

Dress + Neutral Wedges

When you want your dress to shine, opt for a neutral shoe. I prefer something with a heel so that my legs are elongated (I'm 5'2"). On a chilly day, top things off with white leather/denim to keep things chic and the focus on the dress.

Dress + Metallic Heels

Nothing instantly dresses up an outfit like a good pair of heels. Whenever I want to feel undeniably dressy, I pull out my gold heels. Keep things chic by letting the heels do the work, or give a subtle edginess to the ensemble by adding leather up top. Either way, this outfit is ready for a night out.