The perfect summer dresses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 42. My perfect summer dress is:

1. A light, 100% woven cotton, and NOT a knit jersey that get too hot, but mustn't be too see-through. If gauzy, it has to have a cotton lining at certain areas. Linings are often not cotton, so that reduced options.
2. It has cap sleeves or similar to protect my shoulders from the sun.
3. It has a waist because that's my best feature.
4. It goes down below the knee because I don't like my knees but not too long because it gets in the way when I walk the dogs.
5. It's a nice color or pattern.

Which is why I don't have a lot of summer dresses!

Same. I don’t know why this is almost impossible to find.

“Impossible to find” poster here, and I found these at Talbots. They’re pretty traditional, but I bought one and they’re cool and comfy while looking put together. They have the first one in a couple of different prints. The third one doesn’t have sleeves, but it meets the other requirements.

These are dresses my grandmother would wear. Why does everyone want to look so old?

I mean, it's Talbots. It was geared at women aged 30-40 two decades ago, and now those women are in their 50s and 60s. The people who want to wear these dresses are not trying to look old, they are just older than you and have slightly different taste. It's not my thing but in DC I encounter women who dress like this a lot and you know what? They look polished and comfortable so good for them, even if it's not what I'm looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m short (5’1”) and I never wear dresses because I feel SWALLOWED in them. So much fabric! And they’re never slimming on me. And my thighs get sweaty in summer.

Are you a plus sized 5’1? I’m 5’2, size 2 and I live in dresses. I don’t need to be “slimmed”.

I'm 5'5 and size 0 and while I do live in dresses, a lot of those posted I think would swallow me because I don't have the height for them. ANYTHING midi is in that category. I don't think it looks good unless you're 5'9+ or you jack yourself up so high in heels it's no longer a comfortable option.

I'm 5'7 and can do midi just fine, but I agree that maxi looks best on very tall women with long legs. I mean, everything looks great on 5'10+ and 125 lbs., hence why models look like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 42. My perfect summer dress is:

1. A light, 100% woven cotton, and NOT a knit jersey that get too hot, but mustn't be too see-through. If gauzy, it has to have a cotton lining at certain areas. Linings are often not cotton, so that reduced options.
2. It has cap sleeves or similar to protect my shoulders from the sun.
3. It has a waist because that's my best feature.
4. It goes down below the knee because I don't like my knees but not too long because it gets in the way when I walk the dogs.
5. It's a nice color or pattern.

Which is why I don't have a lot of summer dresses!

Same. I don’t know why this is almost impossible to find.

“Impossible to find” poster here, and I found these at Talbots. They’re pretty traditional, but I bought one and they’re cool and comfy while looking put together. They have the first one in a couple of different prints. The third one doesn’t have sleeves, but it meets the other requirements.

These are dresses my grandmother would wear. Why does everyone want to look so old?

hahaha I thought it... you said it.

I'm sorry, but I refuse to ever me "talbots" years old. (or lands end or chicos of Ann Taylor for that matter)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 42. My perfect summer dress is:

1. A light, 100% woven cotton, and NOT a knit jersey that get too hot, but mustn't be too see-through. If gauzy, it has to have a cotton lining at certain areas. Linings are often not cotton, so that reduced options.
2. It has cap sleeves or similar to protect my shoulders from the sun.
3. It has a waist because that's my best feature.
4. It goes down below the knee because I don't like my knees but not too long because it gets in the way when I walk the dogs.
5. It's a nice color or pattern.

Which is why I don't have a lot of summer dresses!

Same. I don’t know why this is almost impossible to find.

“Impossible to find” poster here, and I found these at Talbots. They’re pretty traditional, but I bought one and they’re cool and comfy while looking put together. They have the first one in a couple of different prints. The third one doesn’t have sleeves, but it meets the other requirements.

These are dresses my grandmother would wear. Why does everyone want to look so old?

hahaha I thought it... you said it.

I'm sorry, but I refuse to ever me "talbots" years old. (or lands end or chicos of Ann Taylor for that matter)

I don't disagree in general. I would through J.Jill into the mix. But Ann Taylor is just basic work separates? I don't shop there anymore but I bought things there even in my 20s because they had affordable suits and work-appropriate separates that were more affordable than Theory, and often more appropriate for my office than J. Crew or Banana Republic. I don't love their clothes but I don't think of them as old, just kind of conservative and boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've just bought this one from J Crew Factory and will report back after I try it on. I'm 46 y/o, 5'7 and 130 lbs., hourglass with big boobs. I hope the strap is thick enough for bra - I can't go without a bra. I need defined waist, otherwise I look pregnant.

That would look terrible on me. Too much material. I also don’t like it with the sneakers. I wonder why retailers don’t try to style their products better? Sigh. That’s another thread!

How tall are you? It doesn't look too puffy on the model.

5’2”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 42. My perfect summer dress is:

1. A light, 100% woven cotton, and NOT a knit jersey that get too hot, but mustn't be too see-through. If gauzy, it has to have a cotton lining at certain areas. Linings are often not cotton, so that reduced options.
2. It has cap sleeves or similar to protect my shoulders from the sun.
3. It has a waist because that's my best feature.
4. It goes down below the knee because I don't like my knees but not too long because it gets in the way when I walk the dogs.
5. It's a nice color or pattern.

Which is why I don't have a lot of summer dresses!

Same. I don’t know why this is almost impossible to find.

“Impossible to find” poster here, and I found these at Talbots. They’re pretty traditional, but I bought one and they’re cool and comfy while looking put together. They have the first one in a couple of different prints. The third one doesn’t have sleeves, but it meets the other requirements.

These are dresses my grandmother would wear. Why does everyone want to look so old?

I mean, it's Talbots. It was geared at women aged 30-40 two decades ago, and now those women are in their 50s and 60s. The people who want to wear these dresses are not trying to look old, they are just older than you and have slightly different taste. It's not my thing but in DC I encounter women who dress like this a lot and you know what? They look polished and comfortable so good for them, even if it's not what I'm looking for.

Nah. The "impossible to find" poster said she was 42 -- she's not in her 50s or 60s. Sorry, but those are matronly for a 42 year old. Just no.

[Anonymous]

What if you have lumpy legs?

[Anonymous]

This thread just shows how stupid fashion has become. We should make our own fashion brand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you have lumpy legs?

MIDI dresses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm 42. My perfect summer dress is:

1. A light, 100% woven cotton, and NOT a knit jersey that get too hot, but mustn't be too see-through. If gauzy, it has to have a cotton lining at certain areas. Linings are often not cotton, so that reduced options.
2. It has cap sleeves or similar to protect my shoulders from the sun.
3. It has a waist because that's my best feature.
4. It goes down below the knee because I don't like my knees but not too long because it gets in the way when I walk the dogs.
5. It's a nice color or pattern.

Which is why I don't have a lot of summer dresses!

Same. I don’t know why this is almost impossible to find.

“Impossible to find” poster here, and I found these at Talbots. They’re pretty traditional, but I bought one and they’re cool and comfy while looking put together. They have the first one in a couple of different prints. The third one doesn’t have sleeves, but it meets the other requirements.

These are dresses my grandmother would wear. Why does everyone want to look so old?

I mean, it's Talbots. It was geared at women aged 30-40 two decades ago, and now those women are in their 50s and 60s. The people who want to wear these dresses are not trying to look old, they are just older than you and have slightly different taste. It's not my thing but in DC I encounter women who dress like this a lot and you know what? They look polished and comfortable so good for them, even if it's not what I'm looking for.

Nah. The "impossible to find" poster said she was 42 -- she's not in her 50s or 60s. Sorry, but those are matronly for a 42 year old. Just no.

I'm a little older, later 40s, and I don't see what's so wrong with these dresses for a woman in her 40s. They look pretty classic. It's not like it's all polyester, support hose, and white orthopedic shoes. And frankly those of us in our 40s are matrons, as in we're middle-aged women (I mean, I would totally love to stop seeing 40s as middle-aged now that I'm here, but...). I have friends my age who still love wearing ripped jeans, short and/or tight dresses, clothes with cutouts, short skirts or shorts, etc. and many of them look fabulous and good for them. But it's not like everyone can't tell they're, you know, in their 40s. Doesn't matter if they're wearing a mid-thigh length Athleta dress or a knee-length cotton wrap dress with pockets.

[Anonymous]

Oh noo im 37 and I would wear those first two Talbots dresses. I love a shirt dress!

[Anonymous]

It's a little more than you wanted to spend, but I really love these Sundry dresses because they can be dressed up or down and are really forgiving.

https://evereve.com/the-everyday-dress-50656-c# (expect this to shrink a touch)

https://evereve.com/the-everyday-dress-50657-c

[Anonymous]

I like a lot of these shorter dresses but I find I've been gravitating towards midi or longer simple for practicality reasons. I love the Sundry dresses just linked, for instance, and they look generally easy and relaxed. But then I think about needing to bend down to help my toddler with something, or sitting on sideline bleachers at a kid's soccer game, and those dresses might be just short enough to make me feel like I need to worry about. I know you can wear bike shorts underneath but that undermines the "staying cool in the summer" aspect of a dress.

But a midi dress is so nice because if you go with a flared or a-line shape, you can move around in them as easily as short or pants, but look a little more dressed up and it's easier to fit to different body shapes. I like a maxi dress, too. My ideal summer date night dress is something that is really "naked" on top (I don't do strapless, but I like something that exposes a lot of shoulders, back, and chest) but long, maybe with a slit. Sandals with a low heel, maybe a narrow belt and some hoops. I used to wear shorter dresses and skirts but it's so liberating to go longer and not have to think about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like a lot of these shorter dresses but I find I've been gravitating towards midi or longer simple for practicality reasons. I love the Sundry dresses just linked, for instance, and they look generally easy and relaxed. But then I think about needing to bend down to help my toddler with something, or sitting on sideline bleachers at a kid's soccer game, and those dresses might be just short enough to make me feel like I need to worry about. I know you can wear bike shorts underneath but that undermines the "staying cool in the summer" aspect of a dress.

But a midi dress is so nice because if you go with a flared or a-line shape, you can move around in them as easily as short or pants, but look a little more dressed up and it's easier to fit to different body shapes. I like a maxi dress, too. My ideal summer date night dress is something that is really "naked" on top (I don't do strapless, but I like something that exposes a lot of shoulders, back, and chest) but long, maybe with a slit. Sandals with a low heel, maybe a narrow belt and some hoops. I used to wear shorter dresses and skirts but it's so liberating to go longer and not have to think about it.

For your "date night dress", check Reformation, you described almost all their dresses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like a lot of these shorter dresses but I find I've been gravitating towards midi or longer simple for practicality reasons. I love the Sundry dresses just linked, for instance, and they look generally easy and relaxed. But then I think about needing to bend down to help my toddler with something, or sitting on sideline bleachers at a kid's soccer game, and those dresses might be just short enough to make me feel like I need to worry about. I know you can wear bike shorts underneath but that undermines the "staying cool in the summer" aspect of a dress.

But a midi dress is so nice because if you go with a flared or a-line shape, you can move around in them as easily as short or pants, but look a little more dressed up and it's easier to fit to different body shapes. I like a maxi dress, too. My ideal summer date night dress is something that is really "naked" on top (I don't do strapless, but I like something that exposes a lot of shoulders, back, and chest) but long, maybe with a slit. Sandals with a low heel, maybe a narrow belt and some hoops. I used to wear shorter dresses and skirts but it's so liberating to go longer and not have to think about it.

For your "date night dress", check Reformation, you described almost all their dresses.

PP here and while I like Reformation, I'd turn to them for more special occasion -- something to wear to a wedding. I'm talking more about this (it's the Lido dress from Z Supply in a cotton slub):



Could just be a weekend hang out dress, but I can wear it with cute sandals and jewelry and a belt, and easily wear it out to dinner or to have drinks with DH. This is the category of dress I get the most use out of, especially since I can just wash it at home and don't have to be careful with it the way I might with one of my Reformation dresses.