‘Tis the season to be pretty! There are hints of spring everywhere & I even see flowers starting to pop up out of the ground, which means that it’s time to start considering the new & bright pieces for our wardrobe. This includes cotton dresses, wedges, lightweight cardigans, & baring some skin from under the heavy layers of winter. I was clicking through the Old Navy website, which is when I found the striped fit & flare dress ($20.00) in black & white, which is also available in creme caramel.

I knew this look deserved a pop of color, which is why I added the peep toe wedges ($24.90) in green from Forever 21 & American Eagle Outfitter‘s perforated crossbody bag ($19.99) in lemon yellow. Both pieces are perfect to mix & match with other wardrobe staples like dark denim jeans & a ruffled blouse, a graphic tee & mini skirt, or wrap dress & ballet flats.

To complete the look, I headed to LOFT for the dot haircalf skinny belt ($20.99), which is on sale 30% off with no code needed after its already reduced price. I love the idea of matching stripes & polka dots for a truly feminine look, so I wanted to keep with a black accent in the outfit with Forever 21‘s teardrop rhinestone earrings ($5.80). Lastly, the 4-pack bracelet ($7.95) from H&M is a fun way of adding some personality with the layers of chains, studs, & rhinestones.

The total for this look comes to $99.53 (before taxes) & can make for a wonderfully feminine look for a variety of occasions. Try this dress with a blazer to play up the juxtaposition of its softness with some menswear-inspiration, or consider adding the belt with a floral wrap dress & slingback heels. For more posts on affordable fashion, check out previous posts like Kate Young’s new collection for Target, neon looks inspired by Chloe Grace Moretz & Kristen Stewart, spring break-ready must-haves, sexy stilettos for under $30, how to save on the pink skinny jeans trend, all-white ensembles as seen on Rooney Mara & Nicole Richie, & Lauren Conrad’s latest spring collection for Kohl’s. Happy Styling!