As much as I love bundling up in a cozy jackets and sporting a pair of sophisticated heeled boots (my weakness) in the fall and winter, I can’t help but look forward to the more minimal, effortless outfits of spring and summer. Search my closet during those warmer months and you’ll find an abundance of sleeveless tees, jean shorts, bralettes, and low-heeled sandals and sneaks. I guess you could call it ‘minimal-chic’, but deep down it’s about comfort, practicality, and simplicity. 😉
Lately though, I’ve been shopping around for what’s probably the most effortless piece of them all – a dress. Slip one on and you’re set. There’s no matching involved, not to mention some styles are so soft and comfy that they practically feel like nightgowns. 🙂 They come in so many styles too that you can practically get away with wearing them all summer long – from sophisticated shirtdresses for work, to sexy cocktail dresses for parties, floral romantic dresses for picnics, and even sporty dresses for running errands. Here’s a round-up some of my personal favorite styles…
The Strappy Button-Down
Starting off on a more romantic, feminine note, I’m loving the look of the strappy button-down midi dresses that seem to be widely popular at the moment. I recently purchased a few from Urban Outfitters, including this one here. (I picked up both the white and striped versions, the latter of which I’m wearing here).
It’s really no wonder this dress is top rated on UO’s website! For one, it’s made out of a lightweight linen material that’s very comfy and breezy. And yet, it’s thick enough to where you don’t have to worry about wearing a bra (even the white version provides enough coverage on the top, without being see-through). It also hugs all the right places, and really shows off your curves around the waist and hips All-in-all, it’s definitely one of the more flattering dresses I’ve tried out thus far, with its shoulder-baring straps, deep v-neck, curved wooden button design, and front slit that comes to just the right height on the leg to be sexy, but classy. And bonus, it comes in even more colors, like red, black, and dark green!
Of course, there are tons more strappy button-down dress styles online. Here are just a few others I’ve been eyeing…
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The Shirtdress
From work to church, the shirtdress is so versatile, and frankly one of my favorite styles because it’s a bit androgynous. The most classic shirtdresses are essentially men’s button-down shirts, only extended in length so they can function as dresses. To make them look a tad more feminine, I’ll typically pair them with a belt to bring in the waist a bit, and I’ll also unbutton the top few buttons just enough so that it creates a flattering v-neck.
When it comes to this particular style, Everlane offers some of the best in my opinion (at a decent price-point too), like this just-above-the-knee cotton jean shirtdress, and this just about knee-length linen shirtdress. For a bit more vintage, romantic look that’s modeled more off a women’s shirt, I’m loving this ivory dress with a yellow floral pattern from Urban Outfitters. And probably the most sophisticated little piece of them all is the Lexia dress from Sézane.
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The Athleisure Dress
And finally, when it comes to comfort, you just can’t beat an athleisure dress. Pair with some Converses (other really any type of sneaks!) and a baseball hat and you’re got yourself a cute and comfy outfit to wear while running errands, hanging out with friends, or even hiking and camping. I’m currently obsessed with this one from Z Supply, with its contrasting striped sleeves that give it such a cool, sporty look. Alternative Apparel also has a very similar one here, which I ended up picking up at a steal over on Amazon ($16 during a random markdown!) and wear almost every weekend!
For a slightly less sporty and more feminine look, I’m loving this basic black one, also from Z Supply. With its v-neck and curved bottom hem, it creates a slightly more flattering silhouette, but just like the sporty one, it’s made out of a super soft jersey material that’s perfect for lounging around in. And for a more relaxed fit that still screams cool-girl with its cuffed sleeves and front pocket, I’ve been eyeing Madewell’s Pocket Tee dress, which comes in my two favorite colors – black and white. 😛
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What are some of your favorite summer dress styles?
