issue #84: a quick little dress edit for people that don't like wearing dresses
give me pants or give me death
I am not a dress person. I want to be. Badly. But I’m not. I never fully feel like myself in them, and although a couple did get me through the late stages of my pregnancy during a blazing hot summer here in NYC, they aren’t regularly my go to.
But they serve a purpose (again, third trimester in a sweat box of a city), and on occasion I do like to wear them, if the mood strikes.
Except for weddings, you likely won’t find me in anything floral. And due to the fact that I have a toddler, I definitely will not be wearing anything mini. Also because I’m entering middle age and have a fear of my ass cheeks hanging out unknowingly on the city streets, even though that seems to be a thing these days. Also, I am lazy and like to sit on the subway, but you’re out of your mind if you think I would let my bare legs touch that seat.
So with all that in mind, here is a little edit of some dresses I would wear, sometimes, on occasion, when the vibe is just right.
Dresses for Denim People (TM)
You guys know I love denim, and that applies to the dress form as well. Fortunately, it seems as if we are living through a golden age of denim everything, so there are a lot of great options here.
Back to basics
There’s nothing better than a really simple dress. Easy to wear, nothing fussy. Every closet should have at least one of these.
The Shirt Dress
I love a shirt dress. They’re super versatile and comfortable, and if I’m wearing a dress at all, it’s probably in this category.
Shapeless yet satisfying
Give me anything shapeless and frumpy. I don’t care how unflattering they may look in photos, I want comfort people.
Prints that aren’t florals
It’s not that I don’t like florals, I just like to see something that isn’t a floral for spring and summer sometimes, you know?
Show it off
Ok fine sometimes I want to feel a bit sexy. Of course, sexy for me mostly just means feeling good. I know you get it. But I also love a little bit of sexiness without giving too much away, so if I’m going for something a little tight, I want it long and maybe with sleeves . Or of it’s backless, I want a higher neck on the front. And no, I’m still not wearing minis.
How I’m wearing it
You guys already know by now that I prefer to keep things simple. I’m not fussy with my style, and I need everything I wear to be comfortable and practical - this means sneakers or flat shoes, layers, washable fabrics, easy shapes. This doesn’t change just because I’m throwing a dress into the mix! Our temps here can go from 80 to 50 in the span of like, 30 seconds, so having a sweater or jacket to tie around the waist or throw over the shoulders is crucial, and I am always walking so my shoes need to reflect that. Otherwise, simplicity is the name of the game, especially when the temps climb and everything starts to smell like rotting trash. New York is the best, isn’t it? (PS I didn’t include any bags or jewelry here because I carry nothing these days except this Baggu crossbody and only wear this signet ring, a couple stackers from Catbird, this necklace, and my engagement ring and push present - both from WWAKE)
fingers crossed for warm weather!
xx
jen
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Would just LOVE a similar skirt roundup cause I find those more wearable sometimes?! Like instead of my usual jeans and a t shirt I just swap the jeans for a skirt.
LOL- I’m also working on a dress post! Great minds!! You had so many good finds here!