The weather in New York has been so weird this spring, it has left me a little out of sorts with what to wear. Luckily, a hint of summer has arrived making it just warm enough to sport bare legs and a light jacket. Yesterday, I caught up with my fab designer friend Allison Parris (who is known for her playful and stunning party dresses). I pulled a few pieces for an upcoming shoot and felt inspired to put this playful number into action as a street style outfit. Normally, I reserve Allison Parris dresses for evening events or parties, but today I wanted to showcase the wearability of the party dress during the day.

To dress down a cocktail dress you need two things: flats and a blazer (or jean jacket). Layered necklaces helped finish the look and added a little more refinement. The black and white combo is clean and professional looking, while the pleated detail at the edge of the dress keeps it looking a bit lighter. Swap out the flats for strappy nude heels, add a red lip, and ditch the blazer for a seamless transition into after work attire.

If you aren’t familiar with Allison Parris- you should be! She is the queen of the party scene- fashionably speaking. Her line is made locally in the garment district and she uses discarded fabrics for her linings and designs. She leads with style and incorporates sustainability into her brand DNA. What can I say- she’s got it right… Girls just want to have fun. Look great. And save the world.