Between my husband and me, the number of wedding save-the-dates on our fridge is… alarming. And while I really am thrilled for my friends and family who are tying the knot, keeping all the details organized has been sending my brain into overdrive. I do the admin in my relationship, so I'm the one who figures out flights (can we use points?), decides between hotels or shared houses, determines how much time to take off work, and all the little logistics in between. But throughout the chaos, I've found a source of calm in The Occasion by Old Navy. This collection has my wardrobe completely handled. It's a one-stop shop for easy-to-wear, versatile dresses that I can scoop up for every wedding event from rehearsal dinners to receptions.
Even better? Digital creator (and avid wedding-goer) JaLisa E. Jefferson tried on some of my favorite styles from the collection and gave me the full rundown—from how they fit to how she'd wear them. It felt like getting my own personal styling session without the work. And lucky for you, I'm sharing all the looks right here.
"What really stood out to me was how versatile these dresses are. The silhouettes feel elevated and structured, but they're also pieces I could wear again in different ways," Jefferson explains. "I loved the soft stretch on this brown off-the-shoulder." Since brown is having a moment right now, I, of course, was instantly hooked. "I kept it classic with my favorite chunky heels and oversized sunnies for a laid-back, summer wedding vibe. I love playing with shape and texture to elevate a look without doing too much, so I added the mini bag to tie it all together." But, as she mentioned, these dresses are versatile. "I can see myself dressing it down with sneakers and a denim jacket for a day date or adding strappy heels for a night out," she explains. The possibilities are endless. And there's nothing better than being able to rewear something again and again.
I'm leaning more into minidresses these days, so I was so excited to see this piece on Jefferson. "The playful shape of the black mini is everything," she says. "I wanted this one to feel fun and a little flirty, so I paired it with printed heels and a micro bag. It's giving cocktail-hour energy." I love that the color feels so easy to play with—you can keep it simple with black pumps and diamonds or play it up with a structured bag and statement heels. I'm definitely wearing this to my next welcome dinner.
"This dress felt the most formal, so I leaned into that with simple heels and a statement clutch to make the dress the star," Jefferson tells me. Black tie events are always so glamorous, but it can be hard to find something that you can feel comfortable enough to stay in the entire night. "When I'm at a wedding, I want to be able to sit, dance, eat… all the things. And feel good doing it! So I need to be comfortable. This dress does exactly that," she explains. And with that, I was sold.
