The first thing to consider is the colour of the dress. Ideally, you want to choose something that doesn't clash with your office attire, so stick to muted colours like black, navy blue, grey, and perhaps a neutral shade of pink, or beige for the daytime.  If you want the glam factor, you can also go for darker hues of red, purple or green.

Next up is the type of fabric.  Ideally, you want something breathable and comfortable.  Fabrics like viscose and cotton are good choices as they are lightweight and easy to wash.  Finally, you also want to look at the pattern of the dress.  You don't want something overly loud or bold as it will make you stand out like a sore thumb at the office.  Ideally, you want a pattern that blends in while still standing out just enough to be interesting.

The first thing to consider is the colour of the dress. Ideally, you want to choose something that doesn't clash with your office attire, so stick to muted colours like black, navy blue, grey, and perhaps a neutral shade of pink, or beige for the daytime.  If you want the glam factor, you can also go for darker hues of red, purple or green.

Next up is the type of fabric.  Ideally, you want something breathable and comfortable.  Fabrics like viscose and cotton are good choices as they are lightweight and easy to wash.  Finally, you also want to look at the pattern of the dress.  You don't want something overly loud or bold as it will make you stand out like a sore thumb at the office.  Ideally, you want a pattern that blends in while still standing out just enough to be interesting.

Similarly, if you want something that is wrinkle free, stay away from fabrics like linen and velvet.  Ideally, you want to find dresses made of matural fabrics like cotton, poplin, and viscose that are breathable, wrinkle resistant and easy to maintain.

It is important to check the fit of the dress before you buy it. Ideally, you want something that is neither too loose norr too tight.  Also, make sure the length of the dress is appropriate for the occasion you're wearing it to.  

If you're wearing it to the office, make sure it is not too short.  If you're buying online, you can use a virtual fitting room to see how the dress would fit you.  Just keep in mind, the fitting room will only show you the way the dress would look on a person of your height.

If you are much shorter or taller than the person modelling the dress, it may not look the same on you.

It's not just the fabric and fit that you should look out for  You should also check the details of the dress to make sure it's a good investment.  Good quality dresses have well-constructed details like proper stitching, functional buttons, and an intact zipper.  Ideally, you want to find dresses that have all or most of these things.  Stitching is an important detail to look out for as it shows how well the dress has been put toghether.

Ideally, you want to find dresses with clean and straight stitching.  Functional buttons are another important detail to look out for as you don't want to find dresses with buttons that are securely sewn on.  And lastly, an intact zipper is essential as you don't want it to break in the middle of a special occasion.  You want to find dresses with zippers that glide smoothly and stay put when you lower them.

While it's important to check all these details, you should also trust your instincts when shopping for items like dresses.  If something doesn't feel quite right, than it's probably not a wise decision to buy it.  Ideally, you should go for something that feels comfortable and that you can easily move around in. 

If something doesn't feel right, don't buy it and move on to the next item.  Also, if you find yourself constantly picking out loud and overly embellished items, take a step back and remember to trust your instincts.  You can find plenty of nice dresses that are stylish without being too flashy.