3 Highly Versatile Dresses. One Piece, Many Looks—Layer It, Wear It Open, and Let It Show a New Side Each Time

The dress is a true ally for those of us who want to look put together without much effort. Being able to head out the door in just one piece, without having to think about coordinating a top and bottom, is a kind of ease that's hard to find in other kinds of clothing, and the open, unrestricted feeling of not having an elastic waistband seems to put a spring in your step. Dresses with this relaxed mood have such appeal that you could wear one every single day—but if we had to point out a weakness, it would be that they can start to feel monotonous. Unlike outfits made of separate pieces, where the impression changes depending on how you combine top and bottom, a dress doesn't offer much room to vary how it looks once it's on. That can lead to a nagging feeling that maybe you should style it a little differently, and sometimes that worry is enough to make you set the dress aside for a while.

To solve exactly that kind of worry, this time we're introducing three highly versatile dresses. The impression they give can change quite a bit depending on how you wear them, so let's take a look while enjoying the various combinations possible.

◆ Dress 1: Cotton Light Poplin Gathered Dress

If you want to enjoy varying the very shape of the dress itself, here's one we'd recommend. As you can see from the string at the waist, this is a dress you can wear either cinched snugly at the waist or left loose and untied.

Cinched, the dress takes on one shape; left loose, it takes on another. The difference between the natural mood of one and the smart, polished mood of the other is subtle, yet it's enough to make a real difference in the overall impression—a small but essential detail. The string is left slightly long so that it flutters coolly in the breeze when untied, and we'd also recommend experimenting with different knots, such as a simple knot or a bow, to add your own accent.

The neckline is wide enough to show off a clean decolletage, so it also works well layered over an inner top with some height at the neck, like a mock neck or high neck. On its own, the gathered dress already has a sweet impression thanks to its abundant gathers, but adding a layered neckline on top makes it even more thoroughly feminine and sweet—perfect for going out or for a date.

For those who don't want to show too much leg, here's some good news: pairing the dress with pants lets the color and pattern of the pants show through, and the length is just right to avoid looking sloppy. With the visual weight shifted downward, the balance of the outfit is easy to achieve, making this a dress that even those new to layering can try with confidence.

◆ Dress 2: 3-Way Gauze Sauna Dress

This is a dress that can be worn three ways: as a light outer layer, on its own, or layered over other pieces. The plump, soft touch of the gauze fabric feels wonderful, letting you head out with a relaxed, effortless style.

The great thing about wearing it on its own is that it looks properly put together whether you fasten the buttons in front or in back—that's what makes it so versatile. It's called a "sauna dress" because it truly makes the most of gauze's highly absorbent, quick-drying properties, and true to its name, it's a dress you can choose to wear in a sauna. That said, even those who have nothing to do with saunas in everyday life will find its natural cotton feel and simple design just right for daily wear, and worn as an outer layer it can even double as a long cardigan—a happy option as sun protection becomes more important in the coming season.

Gauze's great appeal lies in three qualities: moisture absorption, quick drying, and breathability. Because of this, it's a fabric that tends to evoke summer, but layering it two or three times deep creates pockets of air that give it a soft, fluffy feel, so it can also be worn as a layering piece well into the cooler months. The gauze fabric used by ao, in particular, has a crepe-like texture with a natural stretch, and the fabric itself is surprisingly lightweight. Choose your favorite from three colors: gyoun (a soft, cloud-like gray), sabi-seiji (a muted celadon), both easy on the skin in tone, and a basic black that's easy to reach for every day.

For a layered look, you can pair it with pants on the bottom, or let a turtleneck peek out at the collar—both look lovely.

◆ Dress 3: Bib Apron Dress

This dress from Yarmo, a maker known for its extensive range of workwear, is designed with an apron as its motif—rather a surprise. Its unique design, which could pass for a salopette skirt just as easily as an apron, gives off a real sense of playfulness.

What makes this apron dress so lovely is the shirring on the back. The silhouette billows softly out from the waist, gorgeous enough to live up to the name "dress," and it's the kind of piece that makes you want to twirl and strike a pose, just like a scene from a movie.

In front, there's a large kangaroo-style pocket. The fabric has a thin, crisp texture to the touch, but the generous amount of material lets it drape naturally—a key design point that lets you head out feeling like the one-of-a-kind fashionable person you are.

What makes this one-piece so versatile is that you can freely choose the sleeve length of the top. Like a salopette skirt, the shoulder straps are adjustable with three-stage buttons, making it a free size that can be worn from sleeveless to long sleeves regardless of the season—and it's fun to experiment with different styling ideas.

This time, we paired it with a sleeveless cut-and-sew top and a long-sleeve shirt.

Skirt: Pleated Maxi Skirt

Shoes: TRAVEL SHOES TR-009 CRM Ballet Shoes

Shirt: KL Heritage 60 Sailor Collar Shirt

Shoes: TRAVEL SHOES Silky Suede Ballet Shoes TR-009SK BLACK

Hat: Bucket Hat Britton

Since it comes in a bright yellow, it pairs beautifully with both calm navy and vivid green, giving off a light, breezy impression that suits the wind. Layering it with the skirt makes the most of the three-dimensional shirring at the back, which looks lovely, and if you dare to layer it with pants instead, the unique Yarmo character really stands out, letting you enjoy a fashion look with a different atmosphere than usual.

▼Cotton Light Poplin Gathered One-Piece