Summer is two-thirds over. Let me take stock:
Daily Ice Cream Cone? Check.
Flip-flops covered in sand? Check.
Bubbles blowed? Check.
Made strawberry jam, gotten sick on Smores, lost bikini bottom playing in waves, built sandcastles, watched a parade? All check.
But I haven't yet gone canoing, or waterskiing or had grilled peaches or counted the stars. Sigh. There's only a month left - I better get busy.
The end of July always gives me reason to pause - summer is almost over. I take August on like a job. And perhaps because of the heat, perhaps because I find myself more focused on campfires, swimming, and fireflies....I ease up on things like makeup, washing my hair, or what I'm wearing. I tend to wear the same 3 outfits in rotation, just adding a sweater for cooler nights, with my hair in a ponytail and an SPF lip balm. August should be easy. And our July mom is wearing a perfect outfit to take on August - one that looks much better than my usual August rotation but one that is just as easy.
Jennifer, our July mom of 3 boys (pictured above with her oldest son, Jack), is wearing a swingy, cotton, navy tshirt dress from Target. She paired it with a colorful Vera Bradley bag, a simple silver Tiffany necklace and nude flip-flops (and you know I love how nude shoes elongate the legs!).
The genius behind a swingy Tshirt dress is that it's comfy, flattering, machine washable, can be worn with a regular bra, and it's one of those outfits that you can chase fireflies in, throw on over a bikini for the beach, or go out for dinner and still look cool. Best of all, paired with tall boots and a cardi, you can wear it long into fall.
A few styling tips:
Consider keeping it dark. Dark dresses (navy, black) may be less exciting, but they tend to look more expensive, hide dirt better, and will transition more easily into fall than, say, bright pink. You can always perk them up with a bright handbag (like Jennifer's) or a chunky necklace or cuff bracelet.
If you are worried about your upper arms, look for a tshirt dress with a slight flutter sleeve. Nice loose sleeves will make your arms look thinner - the worst look is if there's a tight sleeve digging into upper arm flab.
If you have a larger chest, look for either a lower neckline and something that nips in a bit at the waist.
Here are my current favorites:
Above left is the BDG Terry Pleatneck Dress, $48, at Urban Outfitters. This dress looks really fancy in black, but isn't fancy at all. In fact, it's machine washable. I would love this with a simple ponytail and flip-flops. In the middle is the Slub Knit Dress, $50, at Ann Taylor Loft. Avoid this dress if you have large upper arms.
Next, pictured above left is Target's Xhilaration Kimono Dress, currently on sale online for $16. This dress is a great choice for large chests and/or problem arms. I also love that you can still wear a normal bra with this dress. Above right is Old Navy's Embroidered Voile Dress, also on sale for $15. You want this particular dress to be short, short, short. At this price, buy it and have it taken up. Tip: To wear such short dresses in the summer, put them on over your bikini bottoms.
Lastly, we have, above left, the very fantastic Composed Current Dress, $128, at Anthropologie.com. It's pricier, yes, but is amazingly flattering, and would even work for larger chests and problematic upper arms. I love the nipped in waist, and, as promised, it is machine washable. Wear it with with flip-flops anywhere. For nursing mamas, American Eagle's take on the tshirt dress should work (pictured above right). AE's Henley Dress is on sale for $24. The rust color will easily transition into fall. I would err on the side of buying a size or two larger than normal - AE runs a bit small, and you want this dress to skim over the bust and hips.
Gotta go. Ice cream and grilled peaches are calling.
xo,
S
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