One dress with endless options

Reporter: Sally Obermeder
Broadcast Date: March 31, 2009

These are tough times so buying smart is now more imperative than ever, and shopping for fashion is no exception.

Designers and retailers are acknowledging consumers need to get more for every dollar.

Fashionistas are embracing the recession and have decided that multi-wear dresses are the must have essential for the season.

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The combinations of the multi-dress are endless.

Creator Ariane Goldman from Two Birds was originally inspired by the need for a bridesmaid's dress, but it has quickly gone from strictly bridal to a dress for all occasions.

"The company's called Two Birds cause you're killing two birds with one dress," she said.

"The beauty of the dress is that you can wear it with diamonds and pearls or you can wear it with flip flops."

Ariane said the elastic waist enables the dress to stretch from side to side and then the straps enable you to wrap it and hide what you want to hide and show what you want to show.

"So if you're bigger or smaller, you have the opportunity of kind of creating that coverage that you need depending on the look you're going for," she said.

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The dress is 100 per cent Australian made and comes with a step-by-step instruction guide on how to get 15 different looks.

These include the cross-back, the braid down the middle of the back with the Grecian front, the bow with the Grecian front, the halter with the bow, the halter with the cross-back and the cross-back with sleeves.

Vania Hayes is a personal stylist who believes that the economic climate is forcing designers to come up with multi wear clothing.

"The dress is really versatile because it can take you from day to night, from casual to glamorous," she said.

"It can take you from winter to summer."

So what is pick for the season? A $64 dress from American Apparel, which can be worn at least 10 different ways.

"The hottest look in Hollywood is the one shoulder look," she said.

"Add a jacket, add a necklace, add a glitzy belt and off you go for the evening, as easy as that."