The perfect summer dresses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Oh I like both of those so much. And the first one has pockets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This dress is completely shapeless and has zero appeal as a going out to dinner or drinks with a DH. Maybe as a run around during the dress. Where are your legs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You can't wear a bra with this, unless you're OK with the straps showing.

[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)

Me too. That is why shopping is so hard in DC. I buy most stuff on line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This dress is completely shapeless and has zero appeal as a going out to dinner or drinks with a DH. Maybe as a run around during the dress. Where are your legs?

You can't wear a dress unless it shows people where your legs are? I think they know.

It's fine you don't like it but my DH does and so do I so I thought I'd share. Please feel free to share your own favorite dress that makes sure everyone knows you have legs and where they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You can't wear a bra with this, unless you're OK with the straps showing.

Some of us don't need to wear bras or can get away with stick on bras in something like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

These matronly clothes age you by at least 10 years. If you are 42, you are going to look at lot older than you are.

These tips might help:

https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2013/08/how-to-avoid-looking-frumpy-or-matronly.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This dress is completely shapeless and has zero appeal as a going out to dinner or drinks with a DH. Maybe as a run around during the dress. Where are your legs?

You can't wear a dress unless it shows people where your legs are? I think they know.

It's fine you don't like it but my DH does and so do I so I thought I'd share. Please feel free to share your own favorite dress that makes sure everyone knows you have legs and where they are.

DP and I like that dress (and similar ones, which I posted), too. I have great shoulders and arms, and am tall enough to pull off a dress like this. Why not wear what works for me?

And to the other PP - strapless bras exist for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

These matronly clothes age you by at least 10 years. If you are 42, you are going to look at lot older than you are.

These tips might help:

https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2013/08/how-to-avoid-looking-frumpy-or-matronly.html

Whoo boy that blog is out of date - all the clothes she's holding up as non-frumpy now look super frumpy.

[Anonymous]

Gap has a ton of options that meet, or come close to meeting, this criteria:

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=856728012&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=30&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23366&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=856784012&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=37&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23366&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=814646022&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=50&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23361&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=797182002&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=49&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23361&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=801857022&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=67&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23361&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=856729012&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=72&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&cvar=23361&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=814679002&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=101&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=814627012&cid=13658&pcid=13658&vid=1&cpos=156&cexp=2711&kcid=CategoryIDs%3D13658&ctype=Listing&cpid=res22051113261950865044235#pdp-page-content

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread, definitely following for ideas as I am looking for the same.

Curious if anyone has this dress and can tell me what they think. Right now I'm looking for dresses that will minimize how much sunscreen I have to put on -- I have a number of cute sundresses with thin straps that expose a lot of skin on my chest and upper back, and I'm just tired of always having to be very careful about applying sunscreen to these parts of my body every time I leave the house in the summer. Hoping I can find some lightweight dresses that offer more coverage but are still sleeveless and comfy in DC summer heat:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09TVTQ55R/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2

This is adorable. I need this, too, also for when I was not careful enough and am already a bit pink! May look frumpy on, but I think I will try it.

[Anonymous]

This is a great thread! I should not buy another piece of clothing - but I think I have just been introduced to a new favorite brand!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This dress is completely shapeless and has zero appeal as a going out to dinner or drinks with a DH. Maybe as a run around during the dress. Where are your legs?

You can't wear a dress unless it shows people where your legs are? I think they know.

It's fine you don't like it but my DH does and so do I so I thought I'd share. Please feel free to share your own favorite dress that makes sure everyone knows you have legs and where they are.

DP and I like that dress (and similar ones, which I posted), too. I have great shoulders and arms, and am tall enough to pull off a dress like this. Why not wear what works for me?

And to the other PP - strapless bras exist for a reason.

I like it, too. Some of the others posted would look terrible on me.

[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.

Exactly. Even if they look cute on a 25-year old (who is six feet tall and weighs 90 pounds), a thin 50-60 year old woman wearing these flowing shapeless gauze spaghetti strap dresses looks like a time-traveling refugee from the hippie commune. If she is less than thin, she looks sloppy & like she’s trying to hide her weight in a muumuu (even if she has a waist). Different things for different phases of life.

[Anonymous]

There’s a lot of shapeless stuff this season. And lots of stuff with tiers. As a 50 year old petite woman, I just can’t do any of that. I’d look like a bag lady in a sack. When I was 18, sure! I feel like there’s probably an age limit on smocked chests too—I’m not sure what it is, but I feel like I’m past it.

I’m just not feeling any of the fashion again this year. I got a couple of those wide leg linen pants and will wear those with fitted tank tops or sleeveless shirts. And a cute pair of gaucho type stretchy pants that you will pry from my cold dead hands.