30 Before 30

In honor of my upcoming 30th birthday, I’ve researched countless “things to do before 30” lists. And while there are plenty to choose from, I kept coming back to “Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.”

The List was originally published in Glamour by columnist Pamela Redmond Satran in 1997. Over the next 30 weeks, I’ll be tackling each item on The List and reflecting about it here… publicly (gulp). I hope you enjoy and we can grow together. After all, turning older is a privilege denied to many.

By 30, you should have…
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.

I’m sure every woman can relate to the hunt for the perfect LBD, or Little Black Dress. And while I myself own a handful of them — and have worn each for various job interviews and dates — I actually prefer my LRD, or Little Red Dress.

The Dress is a cotton shell, which makes it easy to care for or stash away in a suitcase when traveling. The red hue is vibrant without being overbearing, perfectly tinted for festive fetes or standing out in a sea of black. The back features a gold zipper, and the shoulders are accented with black pleather, providing just enough panache to keep it from being plain. Finally, The Dress has the ultimate modern feature every girl adores: pockets!

I bought The Dress a few years ago, and keep it in my repertoire for fancier occasions or last-minute plans. It pairs well with tights or without; with booties or flats or wedges or heels; and with or without an outer layer. I even recently wore it to a holiday event and a girlfriend was wearing essentially the same thing — the ultimate style compliment, in my opinion.

What’s your go-to garment when you need to be fashionable in a flash? Post a comment and let me know!

Cheers to the LRD!