March 18, 2026
I’m sitting here right now in a dress and a velvet jacket, with black “sneakerinas.” For no good reason – I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not going to see anybody outside of my building. (which is not to say that my doormen aren’t tremendously important to me!)
So I’m in a rebelliously “wear whatever you blinkin’ well please” mood. And I think that almost every woman should have a fun dress..
How about something like this?
(I know, it’s sleeveless. Your arms aren’t perfect. YOU HAVE LIVED YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR ARMS REFLECT THIS. IT’S OKAY!)
I’m really on a rant…
First, it’s easy to wear this dress with a classic cardigan and the normal accessories. This is the kind of outfit you can wear almost anywhere, although sometimes people might be surprised to see someone dressed so nicely. Surprise people!
Dress – Boden; earrings – Anthropologie; cotton cardigan – J.Crew; scarf – Jessie Zhao New York; sandals – Dolce Vita; tote – Conscious Yoga Collective
If you have a navy base in your closet, you almost certainly have the necessary accessories to wear either of these dresses with ease:
Dress – Boden; scarf – Emily Carter; bracelet – Edge of Ember; crossbody bag – Belle & Bloom; navy cotton cardigan – J.Crew; sandals – Donald Pliner
Now I’m going to branch out a bit into unexpected ways to wear your new dress. I’m particularly enjoying wearing my dresses with sneakers…
Necklace – Chico’s; earrings – Latelita; dress – Boden; sweater – Alex Mill; floral sneakers – Betsey Johnson; orange bag – Anthropologie
I’m particularly smitten with this soft pink for spring. Imagine it with navy. Or black. Or gray. Or white…
Earrings – Farra; Dress – Boden; sunglasses – Anthropologie; pink sweatshirt – GAP; tote – The Somewhere Co; sneakers – Sam Edelman
If you have a dress like this in your metaphorical hip pocket, you’re always prepared for those dressy things for which you don’t really want to buy something. Well, you could always treat yourself to a new hair clip, or a delicious wrap:
Dress – Boden; bow barrette – Ettika; earrings – Leeada Jewelry; wrap – Elizabetta; bag – Nina; sandals – Dolce Vita
Take a closer look at these earrings – they’re really cool!
Hair clip – Anthropologie; earrings – Michael Nash Jewelry; dress – Boden; wrap – Echo; clutch bag – Dolce Vita; sandals – Life Stride
I’m going to try to wear ALL of my summer clothes, no matter what my plans for the day might be. Well, I’m not going to wear all of them at one time; that sentence came out quite wrong!
But you know what I mean; why am I saving things for a rainy day? I’d say it’s already pouring…
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we started with a wardrobe in grey, blue, lilac and black, and added accessories! Accessories are the important stuff…
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Janice, you are speaking my language here. I am a dress wearer in all, but the coldest months (which is half the year in Maine!). Dresses are great because they’re a ‘one and done’ without worrying about it. I am a die-hard dresses with sneakers wearer….and honestly, it’s no longer taboo, but truly an accepted fashion choice, particularly for those of us who are on our feet all day.
I did want to make one comment about Boden dresses: These are of the best quality, particularly in their knit jersey. They don’t fall apart after a year, like most knitwear does. Boden does a fantastic job with offering a variety of cuts for many women’s differing body shapes. Once you find a shape that works for you, you will be able to find it in fall/winter (long sleeves), spring (short sleeves) and summer (sleeveless) in seasonal colors and pattern choices. It’s very much a ‘choose your own adventure’ way to dress. I have the same cut in dresses that work for my pear shape for all seasons, so I’m totally covered. It’s just something to think about….while I understand these dresses are not inexpensive, I have ones that are ten years old and still look good! So, the price per wear does drop when you look at the cost over time.
Shorts either don’t look quite right on me, or the legs ride up and annoy the heck out of me! I wear dresses or skirts all summer. Everyone asks why I’m so dressed up. I love it.
I’m so glad I’m not the only one. I have a smallish waist, but thighs. I just feel very uncomfortable in shorts….I don’t judge others who wear them, they’re just not for me. I have found that Skorts work well too!
Shorts and my knee high compression socks are not something I can ever see myself wearing, either. I can still get by with socks from places like Sockwell rather than the medical looking ones, but at 70 I don’t really want to look like a Girl Scout. How do I even wear a dress in warmer weather?
I have figured out that in the winter I can wear a dress by putting on my socks, then a pair of opaque tights, and add boots. Less than 1/4 inch of the sock is above the top of the boot, but the opaque tights keep them from being noticed.
This is wise advice, Ellen. Which Boden styles would you recommend for pear shape?
If the socks are a requirement I hope you can get them in a nude colour that is less visible? If so, then how about linen trousers and loafers. Canvas or woven loafers look summery but cover most of your foot so the sock isn’t so visible as in a ballet flat or sandal. Of course you could do sneakers with the linen trousers.
Hi Vicki, I’ve found palazzo pants are great for summer (and are a more flattering profile for me than the equivalent fullness of fabric in a skirt).
The suggestion of nude stockings with ‘covered-toe summer-y’ shoes is excellent.
We are all maturing in our ability to observe someone else’s needs without passing opinion or judgement. Besides we’ll be too distracted admiring the beautiful accent colours elsewhere in your outfit to notice your lower legs, ankles or feet.
Thanks, Ellen.
Janice, only you could find a pair of Sputnik earrings! And they’re lovely!
Hope you and Belovedest are having a wonderful time in England.
I’m all in for dresses that can show up at a backyard wedding or a day shopping or a ranges of places.
The blue earrings and wrap are stellar!
This 365-day/year Canadian dress and skirt wearer always loves a post featuring dresses. Thank you, Janice!
These options are terrific and I especially like the joyful colours of the dresses. I sometimes like to wear a lightweight cotton button-up shirt over a sleeveless dress or shell, tying it at the waistline. It gives protection from sun and A/C.
I’m so happy for you and your Belovedest getting away! I hope you’re having a wonderful time. 💕
I love dresses and these are lovely! I may be in love with those floral Betsey Johnson sneakers even more so than the dresses.
This was a great post. I bought a green sleeveless dress that I love last year from Eileen Fisher but I haven’t ventured too much into styling it in different ways. This post gave me some great ideas.
I am quite smitten with the style of the Painterly Landscape Wrap in Idea 6. What would you do with it, Janice, in the Pebble colorway?
I loved the Pebble color way; it is very nice in person lol. I plan to use it as a neck wrap, shoulder cover for cool air conditioned locations.
I love the attitude in today’s post, Janice!
Cynthia
What a sweet distraction this morning! Wow! Love the colors. I was on a short trip last week and almost all I saw on other people was black. And more black. As much as I like dark neutrals, it just seems to add to the gloom. So, on to….Arms and ankle bits. Deep breath. Maybe they can come out from under cover-ups this summer? Not sure. Sigh.
Thank you! It’s nice to know that there are more folks who wish more people more colours. There’s just so much black and I think it drags down the general feeling.
Colour really does impact our emotions. Marketers know this very well and deploy that knowledge in their campaigns.
Vicki you are not alone wearing compression socks. I have found some fun colours patterns on Amazon and they do not look that out of place under a nice flowy maxi dress for summer. You can also buy sandal compression stockings, yes pricey but worked well for a wedding I had to attend and got to show off my pedicure and wear a shorter dress all at the same time. Hope this helps a little.
Dee and Jenny, thanks for the suggestions.
OK honest questions. My arms are not perfect so I can wear a cardigan or big shirt to deal with my insecurities there. But my thighs are the problem. The dreaded “chub rub” or thigh chafing, especially when it’s hot.
I used to wear skirts and dresses all the time, with spanx or cotton bike shorts, when I worked in an office. But now that I work from home, I’ve lost that habit. I find it supremely annoying when these garments roll up at the leg hems, or down at the waist, and it has put me off dress wearing altogether, except for special occasions.
Are there really any under-dress shorts that don’t get annying as $#$@ about an hour in, and for the rest of the day? And no, Mega Babe does not work for me. My thighs are much more determined than that allows for. (PS I’ve had chub rub at every weight. it’s just how I’m built)
Are thin cotton boxer shorts a possibility?
I’ve tried on men’s boxers before for this purpose, but I have too much junk in the trunk! Men aren’t shaped the same way.
I swear by Jockey Skimmies – but the longer ones (short ones ride up on me). Consider trying those? Although for “ultra hot” days when I need pure breathability and no extra layers, I’m 100% going for linen wide-leg capris rather than a dress…
Also – same comment on the chub rub… sometimes even with trousers that have more of a dropped crotch. Also – my trousers seem to die rapidly with the additional friction causing pilling etc… I feel your pain!
You can be as rebellious as you like in England – no-one bats an eyelid, though there might be the odd raised eyebrow. It is the height of bad manners to comment loudly on someone else’s outfit choice. English weather is doing it’s Spring-thing – warm during the day but very cold at night. I would be joining you wearing my velvet jacket.
I love the cut of these dresses with a clear area around the waist to add a belt.
I love the look-back too as a way of building accessories for different outfits.