Adaptable and adorable apparel

In today’s economy, it’s hard for people to look their best on a budget so Meryl Benaim of Atlantic Beach is solving that fashion dilemma with the “Versatile Dress,” a single dress that can be worn at least seven ways.

Before launching her company, POUCH and the Versatile Dress in 2007, Benaim worked as part of the product development team for several specialty stores. Traveling overseas often she didn’t want to have to pack a lot of clothes and that problem spurred her to create the Versatile Dress. It started as a maternity dress but Benaim learned that nearly 50 percent of the people buying the dress weren’t pregnant, she decided to make the same dress but for a more general market.

“We didn’t change the dress, we just changed who we were marketing it to,” Benaim said. “It’s a matte jersey material so it’s wrinkle free and not intimidating.”

Benaim said the dress is perfect for someone who doesn’t want a huge wardrobe. “In this economy you could buy one dress instead of nine and wear it different ways,” she said. “I bring one of each style with me when I travel.”

The dress comes in five different styles: Kicky Lite, a knee length style; Classic, a mid-calf length; Maxi, a long dress and a Tunic top. “Everyone gravitates towards this item because it’s seasonless,” Benaim said, meaning it could be worn year round.

Except for buying the dress online, Say La Vie in Cold Spring Harbor and Honey Due on Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury are the only places on Long Island that sell the dress for both maternity and non-maternity women. Honey Due storeowner, Antoinette Troia, said customers love the dress because it can be worn many ways and is a great value for their money.

“It doesn’t look like a typical maternity dress which is something the girls want to achieve,” Troia said. “It has a more contemporary feel. It’s more trendy but still classic.”

Michal Chesal of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. bought the dress when she was pregnant and said she was attracted to the simplicity of it. “It works so many different ways and goes with everything,” she said. “I got more use out of it than I had planned.”

The dress is currently being sold at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas and Benaim said she is continuing to reach out to hotels, cruise ships and other shops in hopes they place orders to sell the dress. “It’s a perfect item for a gift shop in a hotel or on a cruise ship in case someone forgot to bring a dress,” she said.

Benaim calls herself a “self-starter” and said it was “organic” for her to start her own business. She said if anyone is looking to start their own business they have to be ready for the commitment. “I work 29 hours a day minimum,” she said. “If you’re not able to invest your time and soul, forget it.”

Visit www.TheVersatileDress.com or contact Meryl Benaim at Meryl@TheVersatileDress.com.