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10 Foolproof Formal Dresses

By Cynthia Nellis, About.com

10 of 10

Print Dress

Mary L Couture

Mary L Couture

Nordstrom.com

A fresh flowery print dress is perfect for daytime occasions, from weddings to bridal showers to a special tea time.

Big bloom prints look good on most women, just be sure to scale them to your figure: larger women look best with the prints close together and less background space showing, the opposite is true for smaller women.

Muted watercolor prints, bold graphics and paisley prints are also great for after five: in fact, almost any print can translate to special occasion if it comes in a dressy silhouette.

When wearing floral prints, don't be tempted to accessorize with a silk flower or buds on your shoes. A more sophisticated approach is to pair with metallic or bright sandals and an oversized bead necklace (pearl or gold) to counter the cuteness factor of a flower print dress.

Buy Direct: Mary L Couture Print Dress, pictured above

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