Dark colors are the safe choice, and by the end of a long week they start to look exactly as tired as you feel!

Just imagine a soft mint green dress scattered with pink blossoms that gather towards the hem, with three-quarter sleeves and a gently gathered waist. Now stop imagining. Pale mint is remarkably kind near the face — it lifts rather than drains, which is the opposite of what black does on a difficult morning.

• Kind Near The Face
  Pale mint reflects light upward instead of absorbing it. It softens the look of a tired morning in a way a dark color simply cannot.
• Blossoms At The Hem
  The pink flowers cluster low on the skirt and thin out as they rise. That placement keeps the print from overwhelming the top half of you.
• The Neckline Stays Put
  A round neckline sits flat against the chest and does not gape when you lean forward. You will not spend lunch quietly tugging it back up.
• Arms Settled
  Three-quarter sleeves cover the upper arm without adding any warmth. The arm question is answered before you have even looked in the mirror.
• S To 5XL, Relaxed
  A generous cut through the body across the full range. Take your usual size; the ease is built in and it is what keeps the dress cool in a warm room.

Safe is not the same as good. A color that makes you look better on the days you feel worst earns its place — and that is the dress that keeps coming off the hanger.