I was feeling particularly bloated and blah this morning, so I basically wanted to wear a tent — but you know, a tent that would still make me feel pretty.
This dress was exactly it. The deep-v in the front and back felt elegant, while loose, flowy shape gave me all the comfort I needed.
Now that we are in the 100°F stretch of summer, my wardrobe is really moving into summer mode. I’m a gal who actually loves the heat, but I’ve got to do it in the right clothes or else I get grumpy. Here’s my checklist:
- Loose clothes — nothing tight!
- Natural materials like cotton, cotton poplin, linen, or a linen blend. No polyester or else I am a sweat machine.
- Clothes that allow me to go braless. If I DO have to wear one, it’s got to be lightweight and quick drying, like the Alo Airmesh Venus Bralette or the Negative Sieve Mesh Wireless Bra.
If I’m ever shopping for something new this time of year, I stick to this list religiously.
It’s taken me years to stop buying clothes that LOOK cool but FEEL terrible (too tight, too sweaty, too fancy, etc). But this summer! This summer my wardrobe has become my happy place since everything actually feels good on my body.
Highly encourage you to NOT buy the cool, uncomfortable thing.
And hey, do you run your purchases through a criteria before you buy? I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments.
Getting to do one-on-one styling sessions with you guys has been an absolute JOY for me.
One client, Jasmine, texted me and shared:
Initially, I felt apprehensive about working with a stylist due to my post-pregnancy self-consciousness. However, your guidance empowered me to see my wardrobe in a new way, aligning with my desire to feel artistic, colorful, and free. Working with you was an absolute dream. You possess a natural teaching ability, intuition, and passion, which made for an enjoyable and enlightening experience.
I’d love to work with you next! Go snag your spot!
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OUTFIT DETAILS
(If you see something you like, you can shop it and support my blog at the same time by using the affiliate links throughout this post.)
Reformation Aubene Dress (wearing XS) | Similar: Buck Mason Mainstay Cotton Slip Dress & DIISH Capri Linen Sheer Dress
Madewell Broken In Baseball Cap
First Light Books Tote | Similar: New York Tote
Roxy Gabbie Flip Flops (old) | Similar: Madewell Gabi Thong Slide Sandal
JEWELRY
Madewell Sculptural Droplet Earrings
Monica Vinader Heirloom Chain Bracelet
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at this point, i don’t buy anything that is dry clean only. between work, kids, and all other adult responsibilities, going to the cleaners is a chore i’d rather avoid, so i’d likely never wear a dry-clean-only item because i wouldn’t want to worry about getting it cleaned! that makes it a wasted purchase.
no tees/tanks with tags: tagless only. i’m also picky about the stitching on the neckline of crew neck tees – they must lay flat after laundering.
after literal decades of cutting and cuffing my own jeans to fit my petite frame (since grade school), i refuse to pay a premium for denim with a “raw hem.” If i want it raw, i’ll do it myself.
Love hearing your thoughts Chantel! I agree about nothing dry clean only.
This dress is beautiful! It looks a lot like the Gary Graham one that I own/love and is currently on Amazon for $23! (search Gary Graham slip dress)
Thanks for the rec Lynn! :)
There’s that “new” fabric called Lenzing EcoVero? That stuff is a dealbreaker for me. It’s Viscose, but even more evil. Feels gross on, makes me sweat even worse than polyester, which is another deal breaker. Your strategy is pretty similar to mine. We already sweat enough :)
I get more picky every year and my list of criteria / questions I ask myself gets longer and longer but it means I get more enjoyment out of my wardrobe :)
1. Can I get away with buying this second hand?
2. Is it vegan?
3. Is it ethically made?
4. Is it made from natural fibers?
5. Is it comfy enough to have a big dinner when wearing it? (Marriage does this to you!😅)
6. If it has long sleeves, are they long enough?
7. Is it pet hair resistant?
8. Does it fit within my budget?
9. Does it make me feel attractive?
10. Does it fit my lifestyle? (Got that from you — Life changer!)😊
I just turned 40 this month and I’ve really become an intentional shopper over the years. This past year especially, I’ve noticed an inclination towards elevated basics in natural fabrics.
1. Online – I always refer to the size charts. I know my measurements. It doesn’t matter if I’m “usually” a medium or “usually” a size 8. If the size chart and/or buyer reviews tell me otherwise, I use that information when purchasing. I also research their return policy before purchasing. Most online retailers have a generous return/exchange policy but it’s always smart to check in case the thing I buy isn’t the right fit (literally and figuratively).
2. Materials: I see this as the equivalent of an ingredients list/nutrition label. The appeal of natural materials such as silk, cotton, wool, linen, cashmere, etc. is strong and the biggest factor in this newer preference is the fact that if I’m about to pay $300 for a top, it better not be 100% polyester and feel like I’m sweating in a plastic Hefty bag at the end of the day (looking at YOU, 3.1 Philip Lim pleated mushroom top, you broke my heart and you just couldn’t stay).
3. Care. I wash everything I own on the coldest most delicate wash and line or flat dry nearly everything. I have 2 steam options on the dryer which is also handy because I hate ironing – most of my things don’t need ironing but sometimes I can’t avoid it. I have a handful of dry clean only items that I take in every 6 months to a year.
4. Shoes. I’m almost entirely done with heels. I have a nude pair of pumps and a pair of black sandal wedges. That’s it. The rest are all flats. I have really narrow and small feet with very high arches so it was a bit difficult at first but I’ve got so many flats now that it’s hard to choose/remember what I have sometimes (but I use the Stylebook app so that is helpful).
5. Laura made great points above and they almost all apply to my own list of criteria. Namely the sustainable/ethical practices, is it comfortable, how often will I actually wear it/does it match my lifestyle, does it make me feel attractive, natural fibers, can I get it secondhand –
6. Secondhand. A huge sticking point for me! I began thrifting with my grandmother when I was very young and it is a hobby of mine. A fun pastime which I share with my dearest friends and my own kids as well. Online second markets have become my new favorite. There have been times when an item I loved was suddenly nowhere to be found and I could find it on Poshmark, almost always at a significant discount. One of my most favorite dresses (a Derek Lam 10 Crosby silk slip style with a loosely gathered waist and ankle length surplice skirt – it’s a beautiful ivory with huge black polka dots in a random scatter pattern so it doesn’t look twee but instead feels sexy and playful) went on a huge sale and I missed it. But I found it for half price on Poshmark.
7. A tailor. Everything I own gets brought to my tailor. Everything. Ok. Not my undergarments. But all the other stuff. She has added in seam pockets to dresses, tucked and hemmed things, even let out a couple items. Coats, jeans, dresses, trousers, t shirts, she’s even made entire dresses for my daughter. Get a tailor. They’re shockingly affordable and can make even your $30 Target chinos look like you paid $300.
8. Jeans. I have become really picky about jeans. I think they are a really personal thing. For me I’ve become a fan of rigid denim. At first…yikes. 1% elastane at most is not a fun time. But now my Levi’s 501s are my favorite pair. I wore them for a year before I washed them. I did as suggested: wear for 6-12 months, wash then let them air dry to damp and then put them on and wear them until they dry completely. I now refuse to drop a ton of money (or any money really) on jeans that are more than 5% elastane. The stretch is nice at first but they do not last and I want my clothes to last as long as possible. For me they get baggy in the knees and saggy in the butt and I don’t like that. So the less elastane the better. I know this is an extension of the materials list but felt it was important to specify.
Aw thanks Sass! I also agree with you about heels and jeans! ☺️
That’s why I always prefer trialing my dress before purchasing. I don’t care whether I look good or not, it should be comfortable.