For the past few seasons they’ve slowly migrated out from underneath your clothes and taken a life of their own, but you may not think of a slip dress as being a very versatile piece. My decision to purchase one came after having the realization that I could wear it just as easily for daytime as for night.

The key to making it more casual is layering over a shirt for more coverage. Button ups or plain white tees work great for this, and also help in spring if the weather hasn’t totally warmed up yet. I was a bit worried the top would just bunch up under the slinky silk, so go for something fitted or just tuck it into bike shorts like I did. Sneakers continue the laid back vibe and keep the look as far away from lingerie sexpot as possible. I’ll leave that for the evening hours!

Of course, slip dresses also come in handy for layering under sheer summer garmets (as intended) so I anticipate this will become a triple threat in my wardrobe. I shopped around and decided on this 100% silk version from Aritzia for the best quality and value. There are many similar synthetic styles in the same price range, so choose carefully or shop second hand for a real bargain.

Slip: Aritzia, Top: BCBG similar here, Shoes: Ecco, Bag: Vintage Chanel from Once Again Resale