We all have those pieces hanging in our closet—you know, the ones that we bought because they’re just so darn pretty, but for whatever reason, haven’t worn.

I look at these items in my closet often, but sigh and pass right by them. They’re too wonderful to purge, but I haven’t figured out what to do with them.

That is, until today. I grabbed two of the “just can’t figure out” offenders, and set about styling them in a way that I would—and could—wear.

The first is this Dolce & Gabbana dress that I bought AGES ago, at a vintage store with the tags still on it, for $90. It’s one of my thrifting victories, for sure. But it has these annoying black bra straps which never seem to go with anything, and feels too 90’s. So, I tucked in the straps, threw on a $5 necklace from F21, and vogued it out to Madonna:

The second piece is a floaty, sheer top that I also picked up a-thrifting. It’s adorable, and has a pouffy chiffon flower at the back. I toned it down with cuffed boyfriend jeans, my favorite green suede shoes, and a necklace from Subversive’s target collection: