As someone who grew up wearing a uniform to school every day, I’ll be the first to admit that the whole fashion thing eludes me.

I wish I liked to shop, but I suffer from store-induced ADHD. I get too overwhelmed by all of the options and end up making a beeline for the nearest coffee shop or bookstore instead of shopping for clothes. That’s why most days you’ll find me in some variation on a uniform theme. When I was toiling in corporate America, I wore black pants and 3/4 sleeved knit sweaters with an optional blazer pretty much every day. Now, because my job entails chasing after little people, cooking (that getting dinner on the table thing is relentless!), and peering into a computer monitor to write (or God forbid, to “fix” some code bug), my uniform is along the lines of a white shirt, drapey sweater, jeans & Converse sneakers.

My go-to stores and my look haven’t changed all that much since college (hello J Crew & Banana Republic!), much to the chagrin of my more stylish friends. But I’m convinced my “uniforms” save me a ton of money, keep my closet under control, and probably keep a damper on my anxiety levels to boot. Plus I pretty much never have to waste any bandwidth chasing sales.

With all that said, I do have a fashion fantasy.

And that is to have the wherewithal to find one staple dress that I can wear to pretty much every fancy occasion, especially those events that crop up during the Holiday Season, without looking like I am wearing a uniform.

I did a little research on Polyvore – okay, I’m lying, I spent FAR, far too much time on that site – but it is amazing in that it lets you put together outfits that you can then go buy. I rationalized that my “research” will save me time and money in the long run because if I can figure this out, this dress up uniform should last a decade.

I picked one relatively affordable little black dress and tried dressing it up a few different ways. It’s kind of amazing how a simple cardigan or boots vs. pumps can really make the same item look like it’s something entirely different.

A stylist would probably guffaw at my amateur efforts. But you know what? I think I’ve found my uniform… If you’re interested in knowing where the individual pieces came from, check out my 5 Ways to Wear 1 Little Black Dress board on Polyvore.

Do you have a “uniform” for Holiday occasions? If so, dish!