MOST fashionistas believe a woman can never have too many dresses - some say one is enough.

New Zealand designer Annah Stretton has come up with a budget-conscious dress which puts functionality into fashion.

And you can even make it yourself.

Just like the lizard it takes its name from, the Chameleon Dress can morph into 10 different looks with a few twists and adjustments -- literally changing colour, design and style from casual beach wear to an elegant bridesmaid dress.

"It is about ticking a whole lot of boxes in a woman's life whether that is picking up the kids to a cocktail party, " Stretton said.

While the dress retails at $360, the sew-your-own version is cheaper at $280 and will be on show at the Sydney CraftExpo.

"Sewing is coming back not because of the frugal option like it once was but because it is about reconnecting," she said.

"There is a huge market of women that are going back -- the slow food movement, the vegetable garden.

"It is about reconnecting to the skills of yesteryear."

It is this reconnecting with and revamping once-lost skills that is being shown off at the CraftExpo, on until Sunday at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse.

- The Daily Telegraph