Airy Tale

Fashion tip of the day: for every great little black dress you have hanging in your closet, there should be a counterbalancing white one. To accompany this fresh precept du jour is Ralph Lauren’s Maria Ruffled Dress. An oh-so-perfect summer number, it is an airy dream to be worn both under the sun for weekend rooftop gatherings and under the moon on breezy date nights out.

Plucked from Ralph Lauren’s S/S 11 collection, one of my favorite lineups of the season, this feminine pick mixes two trends at once with its bleached-out coloring and flowing ruffles. I am always inspired by ruffles—they bring a dress to life with movement and a 3-D effect—and gush over the runway’s tribute to them this season (read: Alexander McQueen, Nina Ricci and Moschino). Taking a cue from the catwalk, I suggest rocking Ralph Lauren‘s frilly frock with a waist belt, fringe bag and platform sandals. xoRZ

Availability: Ralph Lauren Collection Maria Ruffled Dress ($1500). For additional retailer information, visit Ralphlauren.com.

P.S. Excessories are everything! To prove it, I compiled 20 of my favorite Outfit Add-ons Under $200!