With all this Confidence talk going on around here lately, and as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias®,  I am starting a series called “Steps to Confidence”. I’m talking today about how to dress for your body shape using one dress, done 5 ways, for 5 different looks, using items you probably already have in your closet. This is affordable fashion, for your very unique body.

Confidence isn’t always something you’re born with. Sometimes, you have to fake it until you make it, but just pretending to believe that you have confidence isn’t enough. There are certain qualities that people with confidence have, and I want to teach you the steps that it takes to get you there. You will have to make a few changes in your life to become a woman (or man) with confidence. These won’t be huge changes, but they will be life altering as long as you stick with them.

One is learning how to dress. When you wear baggy, frumpy clothes, you’re going to feel like you’re a frumpy old bag. Sorry, it’s just the truth. You don’t have to wear revealing clothing or spend a whole lot of money to dress well. Truth. When you dress well, people respond differently to you, and when you spy someone ogling your chic outfit, you will notice your spirits begin to lift right along with a new-found bounce in your step.

Dressing for your body type can make you feel so much more confident than trying to squeeze into something that just wasn’t made for you. Imagine trying to squeeze a pear into a banana peel. The top might close, but the bottom definitely wouldn’t. I eventually realized that I don’t have the body type that looks good in everything, and that’s OK. Instead of lamenting my curves, I have learned to embrace them and dress for them. I don’t even have to try clothes on anymore to know what’s going to look best on me.

I found this dress in the Lands’ End department at my local Sears. It was on sale for $50, but the entire Lands’ End department was having an additional 30-40% off their dresses. After using a few dollars from my Shop Your Way Rewards account, I paid $30 for this dress. Yep, thirty dollars. If I make 5 different outfits out of this one dress and things that I already have in my closet, I’ve paid about $6 per outfit. This is affordable fashion at its finest.

I chose this dress because it hits and accents my waist at the most narrow point, the neckline compliments my prominent collarbones and cleavage, it flows nicely over my derriere, and mostly covers those knees I’m always embarrassed about. The color is bright and draws attention away from any flaws, and the fabric is thick but soft so it doesn’t show every lump. Believe me, not all of my lumps are lovely lady lumps. I also loved it because it can go with just about anything that I already have in my closet to make the following five outfits:

Look #1: The Simple, Cotton Dress 

This dress is absolutely gorgeous on its own, paired with simple, toned town jewelry. I wore it to The Workaholic’s company picnic along with some coral sandals and a simple necklace. The V-neckline got me noticed, and I love how the dress moves with my body. The waist hits right at the most narrow part of your body, accentuating great curves in all the right places.

Look #2: Scarves Aren’t Only For Winter 

Light scarves can be paired with dresses and tank tops all year long, not just in the winter! I bought this scarf at Sears back in December and I wore it all winter long. I tied the ends together and looped it twice to make a DIY Circle Scarf to go with this dress. I paired it with some tan sandals that I bought last summer. It hides the cleavage which makes this dress better for trips to the mall with the babies, or safe for a PTA meeting in the midst of judgey mommies.

This look really doesn’t need any extra jewelry other than a bracelet and a pair of earrings. You could get a crazy fun scarf that matches your personality to pair with this dress, and hit the curvy girl fashion right out of the park.

Look #3: Forget Color, Give me a Pop of White 

White has been my favorite color to wear for as long as I can remember. I have about 6 white dresses in my closet, a few pairs of white pants (that I can no longer wear but refuse to get rid of), 3 white skirts, a pair of white Bermuda shorts, and a bevvy of white shirts. The only article of clothing that I can’t stand to be white are my shoes. I just can’t keep them clean and I don’t feel like they look quite right with anything. That’s my own personal issue.

White is such a bright, beautiful color with bold colors. I added this little short sleeved cardi with my dress and a sweet white, floral headband for an added pop in my hair. The cardi hits my waist at the smallest point, which accentuates my “assets”. The chunky necklace adds a bit of color, and the wedges lend the outfit some serious sass for the girl with . . . never mind.

Look #4: Color Blocking – The Hot Ticket 

I had this light weight crocheted sweater just hanging out in my closet. It’s a favorite of mine to wear with tank tops and jeans but the color was perfect for this dress from the Lands’ End section of Sears. I had a coral colored belt that perfectly matches my coral shoes, and the three colors together are perfect for spring or summer. I tied all three colors in with this chunky necklace that I bought 4 years ago and have never worn.

By pulling the sweater in a little at the waist and letting it hang over your hips, you give the illusion that your waist is even smaller. Cinching your belt around the smallest part of your waist accentuates your curves even more, and holds the sweater in place. This is a great look for those days you’re feeling a little bloated. The colors make me happy, and I got tons of compliments when I wore it out.

Look #5: You Gotta Work it Out

I work from home, so I generally just put clothes on for the day, and a blazer is rarely part of the deal. I do, however; have a couple of blazers for when I need to look like a business professional. A white blazer would look phenomenal with this dress, but I paired it with some gray low heels from Sears that I bought in December, and a cropped black blazer that I’ve had for eons. Simple pearl earrings and a long, silver necklace completed the look and I was ready for a day at the office. If I had one to go to.

SO there you have it, my fashionable foray into the closet unknown with a new dress turned up five fun outfits.