Retro floral perfection: LOFT’s all-purpose shift dress

Avid discount shoppers play a numbers game. 25% off? Mehh, pretty good, could be better. 30%? Random. 35% off? That wouldn’t happen, I’m sure. 40% off? Better, but 40% off full price is still often bullshit. 40% off clearance? There we go. Over the weekend I wandered into an Ann Taylor LOFT store and found out the store-wide sale included already on-sale items… which made this amazing Bold Floral Print Shift Dress $45 after tax.

I’m trying to add more color to my wardrobe, but the chilly spring days we keep intermittently having leave me craving dark tights and tall boots and– le sigh— layers. Warmer days are great, but layering is a year-round favorite. Be it for crisp afternoons (like this weekend) or warm days in the office (like today), this new LOFT shift seems versatile. Worthwhile investment, huzzah!

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LOFT Preview Floral Shift Dress

Dress, LOFT | Blazer, Nordstrom Rack | T-Strap Heels, Urban Outfitters | Bag, Nine West | Bangle, Kate Spade | Watch Necklace, Marc by Marc Jacobs | Earrings, Betsey Johnson

Note: While typing that, I realized each of those items– excluding the gifted earrings– were bought at 40-90% off. Awesome.

Bright LOFT Floral | Warm days at work

I’m suddenly running out of closet space (and hangers!) so even highly discounted items should be multi-use. I was thrilled to see shades of citron and cobalt work as main shades and accent hues. Leave it to the brand that designed by cat dress to make a year-round floral.

Even in the spring, I prefer a thicker fabric; those airy dresses feel like swimsuit cover-ups, and a thick, lined shift keeps its shape.If you’re in the market for substantial shifts, Ann Taylor LOFT’s selection is spectacular. This guy lasted a day full of running downtown with my reporter’s notebook, purse, a semi-functional camera, a camera bag the size of an outdated sewing machine while trying to finish the piece before it headed to the printers. It was not my classiest moment (I did it, though!) but the dress survived. When I made it back to the office, somehow with both ankles functional, the dress made me still look pretty professional. The half-undone hairdo and look of panic sort of ruined that, but what can you do?

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Dress, LOFT | Blazer, Express | Tights, Francesca’s | Boots, Steve Madden | Tote, Jacobs by Marc Jacobs | Necklace, homemade | Watch, Anne Klein | Earrings, Vintage

Layered LOFT Floral | Floral for chilly days

The sale is still happening! From my experience, prices were better in store– including the price of my new favorite dress– but the online sale is still impressive. And really, you can practically pretend the price is 1/2 less if the dress can get twice the mileage… That’s proper shopping math, right?

2 Comments

    • May 6, 2013 / 10:23 pm

      Thank you! LOFT is the best for work clothing. I just found a great pair of BCBGeneration ankle-strap flats at TJ Maxx in camel that go perfectly with this new shift; turns out, emerald and camel work together spectacularly! And an entire bargain outfit is the best kind of outfit…

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