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Spring weather is upon us and soon the warm summer days will be here as well. Consider switching out of your loungewear pants and leggings as the temperature warms up for a cozy and comfortable dress that you can wear now and later as well as dress up or down. I rounded up 10 of the most comfortable and stylish dresses that you can continue wearing when the quarantine lifts. I divided them up into three categories by length to make things simpler depending on what you are looking for in a dress.
Knee Length
Easy, breezy, and flowy materials help create that cozy feeling. A big part of loungewear dresses that double as cute summer dresses for women is to wear materials that don’t feel restrictive or make you sweat. I currently live in the southeast and it gets very hot and humid here during the summer months. I already feel sticky, so I don’t like to have clothing that sticks to me too hence the argument for flowy material. I pre-ordered this Blue Stripe Royal Shirt Dress from Tuckernuck before quarantine was in the picture. I was so excited when it arrived because it is comfortable, flattering, and can be just as easily worn with sandals as with a pair of espadrilles for a summer night out.
I am also including the same Shirt Dress in black, as well ivory, and a fun green and white print. There is also a swiss dot version and a sleeveless version. It’s an ideal piece to have in your wardrobe for a casual yet pulled-together look. I chose the blue and white stripe because I am partial to stripes and surprisingly I don’t have a striped dress like this in my closet, shocking I know. Problem solved!
Another similar dress that is a bit more form fitting with an a-line cut is the Winpenny Dress from Persifor. I just ordered it in black and can’t wait for it to arrive. I think it will be a perfect piece to dress up or down. It’s made of a ponte material which makes it comfortable, stretchy, and easy going but also very versatile. If you prefer a print instead of the solid black or navy colors, the Winpenny also comes in various prints here for colorful summer dresses that won’t disappoint.
The third dress in this section is from the Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific collection through Nordstrom. This is part of the latest collection in a collaboration between the iconic Blair Eadie and Halogen. I enjoy Blair’s blog (Atlantic-Pacific), her styling is phenomenal and her photographs are inspirational. She loves to play with color and always has fun pieces that she highlights on her blog and Instagram. This floral smocked utility dress is no exception. Another option that is flowy but easily dressed up or down. I ordered the dress this week as well and looking forward to its arrival. I’ll be sure to share my thoughts once it is here. I’m excited to add this to my cute summer dresses collection.
Midi Length Dresses
Starting out the midi length with this Everlane Luxe Cotton Side-Slit Tee Dress available in three colors. I included the dress in black in the pictures. This is such an easy dress to wear casually around the house as a loungewear dress and it also works wonderfully for the office or a night out. The cotton material makes it feel soft and comfortable while the modern classic cut gives it a more sophisticated feel. It does not appear to come in petite sizes currently like so many of their other items at Everlane. This might be a bit more of a maxi for those of us on the petite side.
Last summer, the Amazon nightgown dress was sweeping the internet and the dress sold out multiple times. I ordered it and while I thought that I wouldn’t actually like it or keep it, much to my surprise I did and I am really enjoying this dress. Check out the full write-up over here on this blog post for all of the details. It comes in lots of color combinations depending on your favorite colors and your size. I wear it as it is for a more boho feel and also belted to define my waist. Similarly, there is a colorful summer skirt (fully lined and with pockets) from Amazon in that same prior blog post that is lined and works really well for easy spring, summer, at-home vibes. Same deal as the dress where it has many different color combinations. Both are a great colorful summer dress and skirt option and also very comfortable.
Looking for something with a feminine vibe that has classic lines? This dress from Draper James is a lovely floral midi wrap dress. It has major garden party vibes all over it but it’s also comfortable enough to wear all day and dress it up when we start to venture back out into the world. The linen material gives it a breathable light texture and looks just as lovely with sandals as it does with espadrilles or pumps. In the category of classy summer dresses, I would give this one a gold star. I also have a huge crush on this blue and white maxi dress at Draper James. But unfortunately, it does not come in petite and it is too long for me. But I did order the blouse in the same print during the anniversary sale, yay! If I was a few inches taller, I would absolutely order the blue and white maxi dress.
Just like I never saw a stripe I didn’t like, I have to say the same about a puff sleeve. I love this trend and I hope it is here to stay. It’s such a fun, feminine detail that many brands have given a modern update. This Tuckernuck Sussex Dress is no exception, plus they added pockets so it’s sure to please. Personally, I think all dresses and skirts should have pockets but that’s a completely separate post. It’s fitted in the torso and then adds a tiered flowy portion in the skirt area. Another great choice for now and later, for all those summer events we’re dreaming of attending. Great for daytime or evening and similarly it works well with sandals or espadrilles. It comes in black, sage green, or mint green gingham. All great choices depending on your preferences.
If I was going to splurge on a midi dress this year, I know exactly which one it would be. Without a doubt, it would be this beautifully designed G. Label Kaci Drawstring Dress. It gives me major nautical vibes, which I absolutely love, but in a very modern way. The design of the dress is very classic so the silhouette will stay in fashion forever. The material is a silk blend and it has the iconic Goop “O” linked in a chain throughout. The sleeves have a small cuff and the waist is cinched with a drawstring belt. Besides the budget, I talked myself out of this one because it doesn’t come in petite sizes and I told myself that it won’t fit me. A girl can still dream though. This is the kind of investment piece that I would cherish today and pass down to my daughters later on to enjoy. What’s the next best option? To watch and wait for it to appear on The Real Real as a consignment purchase for a fraction of the cost. I will do a separate post on this process, but consigning some of my own luxury goods through this organization was a major eye-opener about retail value.
Maxi Dresses
Due to the incredibly hot and humid summers in the southeast, I rarely wear a maxi dress because I feel like the hot air gets trapped under all of that material and then I overheat. However, I love the look of the maxi dress and if I lived on the west coast or back in the northeast again, I would definitely add the maxi dress back into my wardrobe.
I have two choices for you. The first is the Amazon Essentials Maxi Dress which I am showing in black but comes in several colors. It’s a really soft material and has some stretch to it. You can’t beat the cost and it’s a classic style that you’ll wear from year to year. I have a few other Amazon Essentials t-shirts in the same material and they have held up really well.
Depending on your climate, you can even add a sweater, jacket, or boots to it for an all year round look. If you are looking for a classic maxi, this is a perfect fit.
The second choice is from Athleta as the Marlow Maxi Dress. I am showing two of their colors here, but they have a few others to choose from on their website. I love the jade and violet colors as both are fantastic colors for video calls. The material feels very light and flowy and the cinched waist adds definition and shape to this dress. The v-neck also provides for a flattering neckline and of course, there are pockets that make me happy. One of the design elements for this maxi dress is that both sides have slits for more airflow and it also comes in Regular, Tall, and Petite sizes (rejoice!). I wish more brands would include different heights in their sizing, so when I see it, I like to share my findings with you too! This dress is casual but I think you can make it very elegant with the right shoes and accessories. Versatility is the name of the game for a hard-working closet!
That completes the round-up of comfortable dresses that are also stylish for now and later and a bonus skirt mention. What are your favorite summer style dresses? Do you have a dress in your closet that you don’t wear? Ask me a question in the comments below and I can help make suggestions to style it!
