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Home » Weekly Timeless Wardrobe #13 – a summer dress

Weekly Timeless Wardrobe #13 – a summer dress

June 7, 2021

Dresses! I wear a LOT of dresses in the summer time, because they’re fast, easy, and modest but still cool…

I know that the list of garments that I wrote years ago specifically says “shirtdress,” but we can be flexible… I like shirtdresses because you can wear another top under them, or use them as a swimsuit coverup, or as a duster jacket over another outfit etc.

Let’s look at some ideas!

Sunglasses – Kate Spade; cotton poplin shirtdress – J.Crew; tank top – L.L.Bean; bag – Melrose And Market; espadrilles – Nine West

For those of you who are saving the individual garment images, here’s the glorious dress all on its own:

cotton poplin shirtdress – J.Crew

I often see women wear button-front dresses with a contrast top underneath, and the dress itself unbutton down to mid-torso. It’s a nice look…

And I’m picturing this scarf tied around a pony tail!

Earrings – Roxanne Assoulin; linen shirtdress – J.Crew; scarf – Echo; tank top – L.L.Bean; espadrille sandals – David Tate

Maybe you just want a dress that does NOT button down the front? This dress looks like it would be so easy to wear – carry your cardigan for air-conditioning chill, and color-coordinate your scrunchie!

Earrings – Kendra Scott; scrunchie – Sweaty Betty; juniper leaf dress – L.L.Bean; white mesh cardigan – Nordstrom; sandals – Sam Edelman

This oh-so-neutral dress is perfect with nothing more than gold accessories. I keep telling myself that I do NOT need this bracelet…

Linen dress – J.Crew; earrings – Talbots; bracelet – Talbots; sandals – Nine West; tote – Chico’s

If I were in the market for a new dress right now, this next one would be the winner!

Cotton poplin gingham shirtdress – J.Crew; earrings – Bling Jewelry; black linen cardigan – Tommy Bahama; bag – Eleanor Ofori London; sandals – Schutz

This next outfit is both casual and dressy kind of all at the same time; I would tie the waist of the shirt over the dress, roll the shirt sleeves, and show off this pretty bracelet and sparkly sandals:

Silver hoop earrings – Nordstrom; icy orchid linen button-back dress – J.Crew; icy orchid linen shirt – J.Crew; pink quartz bracelet – Shubhra Singh; rhinestone sandals – Jeffrey Campbell

For those of you keeping track of where we are in this process, here’s the list:

Wednesday I’m going to try to assemble 13-piece wardrobes from the 13 Spring garments that we’ve seen. Should be a great base for a Garde-Robe du Mois, or just an easy travel wardrobe!

love,
Janice

p.s. Four years ago, our heroine was headed to the beach with an 11 piece wardrobe and a couple of swimsuits…

WEEKLY TIMELESS WARDROBE #13 – A SUMMER DRESS

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06.07.21 16 Comments

Tags: dresses, warm weather, Weekly Timeless Wardrobe
<<Are You Ready? Stress Dressing for Warm WeatherTwo Spring Capsule Wardrobes, Using the Weekly Timeless Wardrobe>>

Comments

  1. Beth T says

    June 7, 2021 at 5:38 am

    Oh I’m so ready for dresses and skirts. I favour maxi length so I can wear a variety of footwear – lace-up walking shoes, ballet shoes, heels or sandals.

    Thanks for the look-back. You are a genius (or psychic).

    My wardrobe for my birthday weekend away will be based on that colour scheme, though I’m swapping the beige for pale grey. I’m going for 4 days (mainly travelling on two of them). So I reckon on nine garments or a Six Pack
    Two pairs of trousers – grey and navy or poss two pairs of grey reducing the need for grey and navy shoes.
    Three tops – turquoise, lilac (tees), grey/turquoise floral tee, and an ivory self coloured floral top (probs only wear three)
    One floral cardigan (ivory with turquoise and purple flowers and butterflies)
    A lilac casual jumper
    A grey or lilac cardigan
    A purple floral dress for my birthday dinner with grey dress shoes.

    Plus in the car, a ight grey trenchcoat (rain not forecast but just in case…)
    Scarf and jewellery

    Thanks a lot Janice for making packing so easy ?

    Reply
    • Shrebee says

      June 7, 2021 at 7:25 am

      Beth T,
      Happy Birthday !

      Reply
      • Linda P says

        June 7, 2021 at 7:47 am

        Happy Birthday to you!

  2. Sheila says

    June 7, 2021 at 7:12 am

    I love the look of a shirt dress, and the idea of it being flexible in it’s use. What I don’t like – esp in summer – is the collar…. i tend more towards t-shirt dresses in the spring/summer… I do really like the icy orchid combo.

    Reply
  3. Linda P says

    June 7, 2021 at 7:49 am

    Hi! I love all the lovely colors, but for some reason the black/white gingham jumps out at me.

    Reply
    • Janice says

      June 7, 2021 at 9:38 am

      Oh, I know how you feel…
      hugs,
      Janice

      Reply
  4. AK says

    June 7, 2021 at 8:22 am

    This is a lovely collection of dresses. That long sleeved shirt dress comes in a lot of colors. (I’m swoooooooooning over that one in the plaid you showed and in lemon chiffon.)

    Reply
  5. Sally in St Paul says

    June 7, 2021 at 10:26 am

    Both the pink plaid and navy shirtdresses are fantastic; I would have a hard time choosing between them!

    Reply
  6. Anon says

    June 7, 2021 at 3:12 pm

    For a comfortable, casual T-shirt maxi-dress, I can highly recommend this Amazon Daily Rituals Lived-In Cotton maxi dress: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Ritual-Standard-Short-Sleeve-Crewneck/dp/B07JK9ZWNK/ref=sr_1_53?dchild=1&keywords=daily+rituals+t-shirt+dress&qid=1623096259&sr=8-53

    I have two: in coral red (I think is called Brick in the US) and in the moss green.

    @betht: It’s available from amazon.co.uk, too

    Reply
  7. Isha says

    June 7, 2021 at 6:02 pm

    That pink and blue plaid and the gingham dresses speak to me! All the dresses are lovely.

    Reply
  8. Elena Rose says

    June 7, 2021 at 10:40 pm

    You definitely need the bracelet. She’s a stunner!

    Reply
  9. Kelly says

    June 8, 2021 at 7:23 am

    J Crew has really upped their game. These dresses are all beautiful and fresh looking. Great post!

    Reply
  10. NATALIE K says

    June 8, 2021 at 11:03 am

    Janice, All the dresses are beautiful! I particularly loved the navy and the beige dresses for me!!

    Reply
  11. Beth T says

    June 8, 2021 at 11:05 am

    My favourite is the juniper leaf dress with the pink plaid a close second, although I would more likely wear it if it was a shirt.

    Love the pink flower bracelet too.
    Summer is the best time to wear flowers (and butterflies). Yesterday, I discovered the remnants of a pearl bracelet in the washing machine…. ? I’m hoping that the rest of it might be in the fluff trap but that is not the easiest thing to get into.

    Reply
  12. Beth T says

    June 8, 2021 at 11:13 am

    My favourites are the teal juniper dress and the pink plaid, though I’d probably get more wear out of the plaid if it was a shirt.

    Love the pink flower bracelet. Summer really is the best time to wear flowers and insects. The pearl bracelet would have my vote if the metal was silver. I found the remnants of a pearl bracelet in the washing machine. I only hope the rest of it is in the fluff trap though that’s difficult to get at.

    Reply
  13. Coach Laura says

    June 14, 2021 at 9:09 pm

    P.S. Janice – that four year old wardrobe you list at the end has the EXACT same dress as this wardrobe today! The LLBean leaf print dress. A true classic.

    Reply

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The Vivienne Files is a unique personal style blog with carefully-selected capsule wardrobes based on color palettes drawn from works of art, nature, and more. It helps women buy less clothing, and to love what they buy. Read more...
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