The Sheath Dress Revisited

The sheath dress has always been a must-have in my opinion as it flatters most women's bodies. Thanks to Michelle Obama, we have an alternative to the baby doll style that continues to be on the pages of this fall's fashion magazines. The baby doll, however, has made most of us look pregnant over the last 8 fashion seasons, regardless of how appropriate or biologically possible that can be.

Perhaps we should call Michelle Obama "Smart Lady," instead of First Lady as she is brilliant, but also knows what looks and feels great on her body. Remembering that confidence is the key foundation to true style, the sheath dress may just be the perfect addition to your wardrobe this fall / winter as they are one of the most comfortable dresses to wear, leaving you to think of changing the world, rather than wondering how many more minutes before you can change into your sweatpants! Sheath dresses are generally made of knit fabrics which contain a form of stretch to them - yes! Comfort is king when trying to get women to wear dresses, I find, so look at the fabric content on the labels, ladies, and make sure to get some stretch in that sheath dress of yours.

The key to making the sheath dress work for you is to adjust the length to suit your body. Most of us have spectacular legs, particularly from the knees down, so don't be aftraid to show them! The shorter you are, the more leg you may want to show, and the less you will want to wear shoes with ankle straps, as these will visually cut you off and make you look drowned by your outfit. Shoes without an ankle strap and with even just a bit of heel (the more the better... while still being comfortable), elongate the leg, so this is usually the best style for most of us to wear with dresses, in general. I would say that the sheath dress will keep its nice lines if hemmed somewhere between the calf muscle to just over the knee.

Sheath dresses are extremely versatile and usually travel well due to their knit fabric. You can wear the dress with boots, dress shoes, a blazer or jacket, a Pashmina, cardigan, belted, or with a blouse underneath. Never forget your accessories, of course, as these are what change an outfit around and make the finishing touches to it, like a cherry on top of a sundae. mmmm.... sundae.