Can you relate to this scenario? You get an invitation to a wedding and find the perfect dress to wear to it, only for it to go to die in the back of your closet never seeing the light of day again...

Why is it that when we purchase something for a special occasion we just never seem to re-wear it? I see this all the time in my clients' closet. They tell me the things that they wore to certain events... this dress to their sister‘s baby shower, this one to their friends‘ wedding and this one to their cousin's engagement party but haven't worn them since. I usually hear things like 'I have nowhere else to wear it to' or 'I've already been photographed in it so I can't wear it again'. We work too d@mn hard to only wear something once! This week I'm showing you how to repurpose some of those event ready pieces to fit a more 'everyday ' lifestyle- occasion wear styled two ways.

When it comes to styling a garment from night to day my top tip is to adjust the accessories to match the vibe. Let me further explain:

Consider the components of your look. The dress, jewelry, handbag and shoes. Often when we're styling for an event we choose items that feel more like evening, and can be described as 'sleek' and 'refined'. Here are some simple swaps to make a special occasion piece feel more approachable:

1. Jewelry: Swap refined bling pieces for more casual pieces with texture, beads or a casual hoop to ground look. Items like beaded necklaces or bracelets, simple hoops, and colorful jewelry feel more casual for day.

2. Shoes: Swap your heels for a flat. This simple swap can take your look from night to day. If you still crave some height, swapping a metallic heel for a leather one, or a heel for a wedge can give the same effect.

3. Handbag: Swap a clutch to a larger leather or raffia bag. A small clutch reads evening, so if you're looking to take the look into the day, swap it for a larger shoulder bag or a bag with texture like raffia.

Another way to make the look more casual is to drape a sweater over your shoulders or add a modern denim jacket. Keep this post in mind as you are shopping this season for your special event pieces. Do you have a vacation or BBQ on the calendar later in the summer that you could re-wear the piece again with some tweaking? Keeping this in mind as you are shopping will help! And if you aren't shopping for an event this season, I bet you have something in your closet already that you could transform! I challenge you this season to get another wear out of something in your closet that has only taken one spin around the town.

Shop the wearing two ways edit here.