Welcome to the 2nd part of my series on warm weather essentials. Last week’s topic was white bottoms and I am pleased to say that at least one reader (okay, it was my mom!) took the plunge. She switched out her normal black pants for a pair of white! That’s huge for her and I am so proud of her for changing things up.
It goes without saying that dresses are an essential item in everyone’s wardrobe. Even if you don’t wear them often it’d be a safe bet that you have one or two for “special occassions” – like funerals or weddings. I get that! When my boys were younger I didn’t wear dresses as often because it wasn’t practical. I was on the floor playing with them, bending over, climbing on things (like the time Collin got stuck at the highest platform in the climby thing at the mall and I had to take off my shoes, leave all of our belongings and go rescue him). Pants and shorts were the mom uniform and for good reason. Now I’m in a new season of life and dresses are in heavy rotation!
*this is a great time to grab some new dresses from Target – you’ll score a $10 gift card when you purchase $50 worth of women’s clothing and shoes
Why a dress?
Dresses are cooler and more comfortable in hot, humid weather than shorts and pants. About 5 years ago I developed an awful heat rash on my mid section that would not go away. I went to two doctors until finally getting the proper diagnosis. It was so uncomfortable it kept me up at night. I thought I had shingles at first but turns out it was an extreme case of heat rash. At the time I worked in an elementary school and being outside for car duty everyday exacerbated the symptoms. As you can imagine, I am cautious about anything touching my midsection during the warmer months.
Dresses are also so easy – especially if you’re packing for a trip or you feel somewhat overwhelmed at the thought of putting together pieces of an outfit. I love a dress on days I am wearing my self tanner too. No rubbing off on my clothing!
The Downside (but it isn’t really, I promise!)
Do you tend to think when you wear “that dress” that you’ll look exactly the same? That maybe there is only “one way” to wear it? Or dare I say, style it? Go ahead, allow yourself to say, “style it” because that is what you do when you put on clothes and add your shoes and accessories! Let’s focus on some basic and versatile dresses that you can easily style different ways to compliment your different moods. I like to save money on dresses and invest in accessories that I’ll use year after year with dress after dress (and more). I believe it’s how we achieve our personal style!
Short Dresses
Short dresses are so versatile! They work with a variety of shoe options easily. Heels? No problem! Sneakers? Bring ’em on! Sandals? Of course! Flip flops? Why not! See what I mean? Just switch out the shoes and the accessories and voila – a wardrobe workhorse has been born! Here are some of my favorites:
That black dress (above) is only $15 and comes in so many pretty colors. I’m ordering a few more (light purple and teal). I am wearing it in a size small – it has a generous cut, I say it fits TTS.
It’s safe to say I have a type, right? Colorful dress and fun accessories make for an easy outfit formula!
Midi Length Dresses
A midi length dress can be just as versatile, again, so many shoe options! This type of dress is wonderful compromise between a short dress and a maxi dress. You may feel more comfortable showing less leg and this a great option. My sister has some pesky spider and varicose veins so she opts for longer length dresses like midis and maxis. Also? The woman refuses to try the leg make up I have begged her to use! #stubborn
Maxi Dresses
When maxi dresses hit the scene some years ago I believe all the women of the world celebrated because they haven’t waned in popularity, In fact I am having a hard time thinking of anything that seemed to go from “trend” to “staple” so quickly. I believe, in large part, it’s due to the fact that while maxi dresses are long (like pants) they’re still cooler and more feminine. I don’t know anyone who can’t wear a maxi dress, do you? That being said, just make sure the length is correct. From personal experience I can say that you may find yourself getting caught up in the length and (practically) falling. Needless to say, I opt for more midi length dresses and don’t currently own many maxis.
Special Occasion
Special occasion occur in abundance in warmer months it seems; weddings, graduations, showers, etc. Depending on the event, you may need to spend a bit more for something special. I was very fortunate to be the recipient of this stunning JCrew dress that my friend bought. It was non-refundable, on super sale ($10-ish), and didn’t work on her. I’ll be wearing it for all the special occasions! One of my pet peeves is spending a bundle on a dress that I’ll only wear once. I look for sales – especially end of season sales at JCrew and buy pieces that have a more classic cut that I know I can wear year after year. Generally these pieces are so well made and I can score them at a fraction of the price. Of course that is simply my opinion and that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t splurge on a dress you want. I know lots of women who head straight to Lily Pulitzer when graduation season hits!
The Accessories!
The good thing about accessories is that they always fit, right? Covid weight be damned, accessories are always welcome here! I’ve mentioned before my love of all things Accessory Concierge. Yes, they may appear a little pricey but the quality cannot be beat. I’ve been buying from them for more than 5 years and I am still wearing the same pieces. You can use the code I shared on Friday, Natasha20 to get 20% off. I cannot wait to share the pieces I recently ordered!
Thanks for reading friends! If you ever need help finding a dress (or anything else) and you’d like my help just email me. I am happy to shop for you and send you links to things you might be interested in!
