lulu long sleeve dress STRIPE SWEATER PLEATED MIDI DRESS: Black IVORY XS B clothing company The Lulu Dress in Red

Pair it with a tailored blazer and classic pumps for a grounded professional look

As a fellow graduating college senior, I know how important it is to save every penny you can, whenever you can, especially as we prepare to step out into the oh-so-scary "real world." I love a good deal as much as I love a gorgeous dress, and there's no reason why we can't have the best of both worlds

Your jewelry need not stand out because the sophistication of this dress code is in the details

First up, McCalls 8175, a pattern for a dress with side cutouts that resembles the Staud dress above: It should be pretty easy to detach the bodice from the skirt portion and add a ring to connect the two pieces, like in the Staud dress