Help my Mom choose the best dress!

Next week my Brother is getting married, and my Mom had no idea what to wear to the rehearsal dinner, so she went on a bit of a shopping spree and came home with five new dresses. But she is even thriftier than I am and didn't pay more than $25 for any of them!
In need of an objective eye, she asked if I could take photos of each, and put it to a vote.
So, what dress looks the best?

Black dress with subtle polka dot design by Penta

Black and white graphic print by Neiman Marcus

Black dress with pink bow by Sara Campbell

Purple sheath dress by Jax

Nude lace dress by Weston Wear

Which Dress Is Best?

Thanks for your help!
My regularly scheduled outfit post will be up later tonight!

Breaking my own rules

I wore leggings. As pants. To work.

Aren't I awful? I am a firm believer that leggings are not pants. And the line between what is and is not acceptable is very thin. The top has to have significant length and appropriate amounts of bagginess.
This top might be iffy. But I'm curious to know what you think, so I've created a poll.

I got my new lens! It has a much more substantial feel to it than the 1.8 did, and the photos should be looking crisper. Do they look crisper?

I like to shoot with the lens wide open, and when relying on the auto focus this often results in images not being focused on the spot you would like them to be focused on.
Such as this one, where my shoulder is in focus and not my face. But since my face is always super oily and tired looking at the end of the day, I don't mind being a bit blurry.

In the interest of full disclosure, a photo from the back, proving that there is rear coverage.

The Rundown

Top Gap - Blazer Kohls - Leggins TJMaxx - Pumps Areosoles - Earrings Aldo

So I'll leave this up to the jury to decide if I need to be arrested by the fashion police.
In my defense, I'd like to mention that one of my coworkers complimented the outfit today. And that almost never happens.

Does this leggins-as-pants look work?

The new lens, wide open at f/1.4

Coral, Olive and Turquoise

Feeling inspired by my three latest nail polish acquisitions: coral, olive and turquoise, I wanted to create an outfit with those three shades.

But someone, who shall not be named, seemed to think that three colors and a pattern was just too much for one outfit, so I swapped out the coral top for an olive one.

However, I need to know who is right, and therefore have created a poll. Which look do you prefer?

Which look do you prefer?

The Colors: Coral Bikini from Avon, The Real Teal from Sally Hansen, Olive from Avon

These sandals are a travesty. They were my special B-Day splurge last year and they were a little uncomfortable, but I thought, they are leather, after a few wears they will be great. But they are NOT. They are painful, they dig into my feet!! I am so sad.

I love this turquoise, it is fabulous!!!

The Rundown

Olive skirt Urban Outfitters - Turquoise Flower Sandals Poetic License - Turquoise belt Thrifted - Olive earrings Made by Me - Flower ring Kohl's - Coral top Gap - Olive top Arabella

Outfit Choices

Getting dressed did not happen today.
I decided to spend the morning drinking cup after cup of boiling hot apple juice (yes, delicious), resting and using my metal powers to make my cold go away. I did plan on getting dressed eventually, but when 4 p.m. came and went and I was still pajama clad I thought I might just plan out tomorrows (or maybe Sundays) outfit instead and extend the style challenge a day.

The unworn item to be remixed is a black pencil skirt I got a H&M over the summer and have only worn once before, sometime in September.

I came up with three choices, and thought it might be fun to let you decide which I should wear!

Option One features the white ruffled top from the other day and a bright green snake print cardigan.
(inspired by What I Wore)

Option Two features (another) ruffled top, but this one is a purple jersey and has been paired with a grey wrap.

Option Three features a floral top (with more ruffles - where is my head?) and a purpleish blazer. It doesn't look purple at all in the photo - should have used the flash!
(inspired by Selective Potential)

Which skirt remix do you prefer?