15 Flirty Spring Dresses That Won't Break The Bank

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Ever get to the point where you're so sick of your clothing routine you're ready to ditch your entire closet? Yeah, we're there right now. But, instead of getting all Sparta on our totally trustworthy duds, we've decided to pick up just a few new spring dresses to add to the mix. And, we've obviously got to limit ourselves somewhere (we're saving our shekels for summer Friday getaways). So, we've scoured the city for the cutest frocks under $200. Sure, that moolah could take you a long way, but we're thinking each of these flirty ensembles will see as much light as your everyday sandals, averaging out to a seriously low CPW (cost per wear). The point? Worth it. Especially if that come-hither vibe lands you that happy-hour date you've been after. 

Click through and find your perfect, easy-to-wear spring dress now—we've got 15, ripe for the picking. 

REPOSTED FROM REFINERY 29

By Annie Georgia Greenberg

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After playing with the dog this morning and freezing my butt off, I was inspired by all the great cold weather looks above from Who What Wear. Notice not one puffy coat or pair of Uggs... how refreshing!

Master Craft

Images from New York Times, Style.com

Every craft has its masters... here they are for fashion. When roaming BG or clicking through Net-Porter, it's easy to forget the roots of where garment creation comes from. What happens in haute couture, however far removed from Zara, Old Navy and you and me, is silently shaping how we dress. Reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell's rule of 10,000 hours...

Just beyond the doorway of the first studio, called the atelier flou, is a muslin-covered bust wearing a floor length skirt with layers of red organza ruffles. This is the finale dress, and it’s still without a bodice. In truth, none of the looks appear to be finished. In fact, they aren’t. In the studio 50 people in white coats are working on the remaining embroidery, stitching and construction. Half of the sewers are interns from the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, the school of the French Federation of Fashion and Ready-to-Wear. (Only a few will be offered long-term employment after years of apprenticeship. “We keep the best,” says Catherine Riviere, the directrice of haute couture for Dior.) The other sewers are all experts; many came to Dior from houses that have closed in recent years. “There are only two real haute couture houses remaining,” Ms. Riviere says. “Chanel and Dior.” She worked at the former 15 years ago before arriving at her present position. Structured, stiff designs in materials often applied to men’s suiting, and the use of faille or organza are what Ms. Riviere says distinguishes Dior from Chanel. It’s in the second studio –– the atelier tailleur –– that these architectural pieces are made.

Like the atelier flou, the atelier tailleur is occupied by about 50 sewers, each working on a single look. There’s a bust being fitted with a jacket that appears to be made of crocodile (each scale is actually an irregularly shaped cutout made of black ostrich skin that’s been hand sewn onto organdy and tulle). This entire collection is red, purple, beige, black and white. X-ray is the theme –– image seams exposed and beading turned inside out beneath sheer fabrics (the house used black toile for the first time to simulate this effect). Is there a technique that’s specific to each atelier? “There’s no technique here,” Ms. Riviere says, explaining that skills are, instead, unique to each artisan. For example, one person does embroidery, like the white cursive letters that spell out Mr. Dior’s favorite sayings on a skirt; another creates pied de coq patterning, and so on. 

It’s worth noting that not one of the 40 dresses is finished and the show is in less than 24 hours. Still, the atmosphere is tranquil, cool, unruffled. “It’s always calm. Everyone has to concentrate,” says Ms. Riviere. “You cannot be excited when every stitch must be precise.” 

Of course, there will be people working through the night until, at last, the finished pieces are covered in white muslin cases and wheeled away from the atelier, a parade of ghosts with red or purple tulle trailing behind them.

Wear it!: Floral Bottoms

   Étoile Isabel Marant Jerry Floral Pant                  Etro Floral-print wide-leg silk pants                     MAX MARA 'Tubinga' trouser

   DOLCE & GABBANA printed trouser                         DKNY Ankle Skinny Pant                             Dries Van Noten Pyrus Pants

Pair with a sweater, white button down, or corresponding printed blouse. 

       J. Crew                                                             Gap                                           Tory Burch

Neck Candy

Breath in Dannijo (made in NYC, designed by two lovely sisters, a modern women's delight.)

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.

Not your boring old jewelry line and worth every precious penny. It's easy to get sucked into the easy delights at F21, but you need a piece of this.... NOW! Glorious, beautiful, sparkly joy. Around the neck, on fingers, dangling from wrists.

Ignite the classics in your closet with seriously fun gems.