Whenever I have a summer event like wedding or graduation party, I spend weeks trying to find the dress. After accomplishing that feat, the hunt begins for the perfect accessories, which is often just as challenging! I recently shared my top picks for what to wear to a summer wedding and over the next two weeks I’ll be sharing some ideas on how accessorize three different dress styles for summer. We’ll kick it off with talking about how to accessorize the strapless summer dress from head to toe.

Also keep reading to find out how you can win $400 to Aquatalia!

Accessorizing the Strapless Dress

Playing Up Your Strapless Dress

Garden Party Dress by Pim + LarkinSilk Embroidered Strapless Dress by Ann Taylor, Floral Silk Dress by Rebecca Taylor

The strapless dress is your best friend for most summer party situations because they can suit a variety of settings from garden parties to formal wedding ceremonies. Strapless dresses are often the easiest cuts to find and come in a variety of prints and patterns from florals and geometical to eyelet and linen. Here’s a few ideas of how to style strapless dresses for any occasion.

Soleil Poppy Ring by Baublebar, Faye Wedge by Aquatalia, Russian Red Lipstick by MAC, Madame Royale Necklace by Wendy Brandes, Garden Party Dress by Pim + Larkin

A dress with a vibrant print should speak for itself. Choose neutral accessories that compliment the dress instead of overpowering it. A solid neutral wedge works well with vibrant strapless dresses because they will enhance your legs without taking away attention from the rest of your outfit.

Choosing a necklace that is subtly unique will catch the eye of other party guests and make them wonder where you got it. With vibrant prints, consider going with a flashy cocktail ring that works cohesively with the rest of your outfit. As for makeup, a modern and vibrant print makes for the perfect opportunity to go with a bold red lip.

Waxing Flicker Necklace by Anthropologie, Organic Stacking Ring Trio by Baublebar, Dusty Rose Lipstick by NYX, Jade Sandals by Aquatalia, Silk Embroidered Strapless Dress by Ann Taylor

With the classic dress it can be easy to fall into the trap of playing it safe. Instead of opting for the traditional pearls, think outside the box by choosing a bold yet classy bib style necklace. Along with that, pick a ring or bracelet that compliments the necklace without being too matchy-matchy.

A solid color shoe but with an interesting design will suit most classic dresses very well. Fight the temptation to picks shoes that directly match the color of your dress. As far as makeup goes, a classic red lip would work well, though you can always go with a dusty rose color that compliments many skin tones.

Rio Heels by Aquatalia, Colorburst Lipgloss in Papaya by Revlon, V-Lace Necklace by Baublebar, Floral Silk Dress by Rebecca Taylor

When working with a brightly dress you can go one of of two ways. Either choose bold accessories so you stand out even more or downplay the accessories by choosing accessories that more match the ones chosen for the classic strapless dress above.

While there’s certainly more free range with going bold, it can very easily look overdone or tacky. To avoid accessories overload, choose just one statement piece that will definitely stand out and create a contrast with the dress. This can be a Cleopatra necklace, jeweled cuff or even something for your hair.

For shoes, the style you choose will determine whether people are looking at your feet or your outfit. Choosing a bold and equally brightly colored shoe will mean more people look at your feet. Going with a neutral option such as a silver shoe will keep most of the attention on your outfit. You can really go either way! Throw on some lipgloss and head out the door!

How do you accessorize a strapless dress? Which style is your favorite? Of the three dresses, I would be mostly likely to pick the classic style strapless dress.

Want a chance to win the shoes you saw in this post? Well, between now and May 21st, you can take Aquatalia’s Shoe Personality Quiz and be entered to win $400 to Aquatalia.com. The contest is open to US and Canada only. I tried their Yaz Rain Boots, which are seriously the most comfortable shoes my feet have ever been in!

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This morning I opened my inbox to find out that my sister Jillian is starting her own vintage-inspired sewing business. I cannot tell you how excited I am for her, and of course, I wanted to share a bit about what she’s trying to do. Jillian is a year out of college and launching her first business, Past is Present Designs.

Jillian began sewing at age 12 and hasn’t put down her needle and thread since. She’s made everything from flapper Halloween costumes to women’s suit jackets to scarves for Christmas (OK, that last one is technically knitting!).

“I have honed my craft and admired vintage clothes and costumes,” Jillian shares, “I have been sewing them for myself ever since. So why not bring the same garments to other women as well?”

A talented artist, Jillian puts a lot of attention to detail in the pieces she creates. She has an intuitive eye for modern style, which helps her take vintage designs and revamp them for the modern woman.

“I want to give a little piece of my passion to other people through the form of a hand-made, well-crafted garment,” Jillian says. “It is the dress that makes a woman feel wonderful and confident, and what better way is there to extend my joy to her than to make that very dress for her.”

Jillian is taking a huge risk in striking out on her own to start her very first business. We all know how hard it is to take that first leap of faith. You can show your support for Past is Present Designs by donating to Jillian’s goal of fundraising $1,000 to start her business. Every little bit helps Jillian meet her goal of launching her own business!

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15 Beauty Products for 30 Days: Two Weeks In and I’m Boring

May 11, 2012
15 Beauty Products for 30 Days: Two Weeks In and I’m Boring

I finally bought my first ever videocamera, the Canon Vixia M40! After about six months of searching and constant stalking of a local Best Buy going out of business, I finally scored a camera I was happy with for an unbelievable price. The new camera gave me the perfect opportunity to talk about the 15

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Give It Up for Goodwill

May 9, 2012
Give It Up for Goodwill

Every few months I drop clothes and housewares off at my local Goodwill. However, it wasn’t until recently that I realized Goodwill is much more than a place to drop off old clothing. Last week I went “behind the scenes” at Goodwill Headquarters in Boston to learn more about how the organization helps the local

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What to Wear to a Summer Wedding (Non-Mad Men Edition)

May 4, 2012
What to Wear to a Summer Wedding (Non-Mad Men Edition)

With summer wedding season right around the corner, many of you may be hitting the stores to figure out what to wear. My husband and I are invited to his best friend’s wedding this summer. Upon learning about their engagement, I was of course excited, but then I thought, “What will I wear?!” I began

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Thinspiration: The Body Image Conversation We Should REALLY Be Having

May 1, 2012
Thinspiration: The Body Image Conversation We Should REALLY Be Having

Over the past ten years, thinspiration has faded in and out of the media spotlight. The term “thinspiration” can mean a lot of things, but in general it’s the idolization of extremely thin women that often manifests itself online in forums and blogs. Pinterest and Tumblr recently banned images and boards that promote thinspiration and

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