This is the ultimate tutorial for how to dress up a basic Zara dress and make it the most unique outfit on the streets!

Have a few pieces from Zara but want to make them stand out from the crowd?

Pro tip: to start get a piece from Zara that is just one color: no patterns. That way it is easy to add to it!

Zara is always a good place to start when in need of a simple silhouette that is usually very trendy. However, many people shop at Zara and often times you don’t want to be wearing the same thing everyone else is wear – well this style guide will give you a step by step tutorial to make you basic Zara dress look a step above the others!

When bringing this look together I imagined myself gracefully walking through the desert adorned with jewels and what else I might be wearing and quickly my accoutrements came to me. I used this dresses gorgeous mustard yellow color and turned it into an ethereal Moroccan desert theme.  

Step by Step tutorial in how to dress up a basic Zara dress:

Step 1: As mentioned before: work with a solid color as you base. Then styling the other pieces from there will be a cinch.

The dress (being the center piece of the outfit) is the basis for the color story for styling your basic Zara dress – in this case it’s mustard gold.  

With a dress that is a bold solid color you have more opportunity to adorn it with accessories, unlike a dress with a pattern or mixed colors.  

Step 2:

Add stilettos that make a statement!

Since the dress is one color – the shoes can really make a statement: either with their color or their details.

So I knew I had the perfect pair of strappy stilettos: Marc Jacobs in gold snake skin, to match this dress.  I found these treasures a couple of years ago in a consignment store in NYC!  What a find!  

Step 3:

Add a clutch and jewelry to really bring the look to life!

I also knew my Dries Van Noten clutch was the perfect piece for this outfit with its gold embellishments and smooth cream exterior. (This purse has special meaning to me as it was my first purchase from Barney’s in NYC.)  

My necklace, from an Argentine street jeweler, was the perfect compliment to the dress and my rings were of gold and brown hues.  

This outfit came together perfectly and even though it was not the Moroccan desert the sunny day in San Francisco was the next best thing.

Dress: Zara (woooohooo!!), Shoes: Marc Jacobs, Clutch: Dries Van Noten, Necklace: Argentine street jeweler, Rings: all gold one from Shopbop, and brown stone from my mom.

For details on my make-up see latest beauty post.

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