Object Lesson: Swan Song

For the sartorially inclined, a woman that is, the LBD (read: little black dress) is the ultimate symbol of utopian glamour. It used to be that scoring just one that worked was the point, but most busy ladies have more than just cocktail parties and weekend weddings on their agenda. Today's Holly Golightly is just as likely to be commanding the conference room as swanning on the sofa, martini in hand.

Sure enough, the truly "perfect" LBD should be as versatile as the woman who wears it. That's why we've fallen hard for the Inhabit slubbed cotton tunic dress—a take-anywhere, do-anything piece that's perfect for layering, but still packs enough attitude to stand on its own.

"Spring was an exploration of lightness through shape, drape, and material," says the knitwear label's design director Susie Cho. "I have continued to play with layering concepts by adding new exaggerated necklines, armholes, and shapes, and you can see that in the lines of this piece, too." The tunic dress perfectly evinces Cho's emphasis on wearability and versatility: The forgiving but still flattering shape makes it just the easy but elegant piece to throw on over a turtleneck or a blouse for work, while the plunging back with criss-crossed straps makes it softly show-stopping enough for evening. Because its made of a no-fuss, lightweight slubbed cotton, it's ideal for travel, multiple time-zones, and seasons. Wear it over opaque tights with booties in winter and pare it back with just gladiator sandals in summer.

Finally, a dress that multitasks even better than you do.

Inhabit's cotton tunic dress is springtime's answer to the chameleon.