Posts with tag sundresses

We're at that strange time of the year when we're very likely to be sitting by the pool reading fashion magazines filled with the sophisticated clothes of the fall collections, those gorgeous knits in rich colors that make us wish for cooler weather - until we remember what a pain scraping ice off a car's windshield can be. Then we take another sip of ice tea and promise ourselves to enjoy what's left of the season and maybe treat ourselves to one of those summer treats - the simple, easy sundress, all the while promising ourselves that this fall will be the fall that we start dressing like An Adult.

We say this: Why not do it all? This week we brought you everything from the lightest of sundresses to a sophisticated Theory dress made for layering - because every season has its advantages, and we should celebrate them all.

Dresses like this are made for the last hot days of summer - it's an easy style that you can just as easily wear on top of your bathing suit or out to a casual lunch. We like the "nude rose" shade pictured here, because it's as refreshing as a fruit sorbet. Pretty!

Made of 100% cotton, the roomy tiered style and empire waist won't stick to your skin (an important consideration when the mercury soars) while the scoop neck and elasticized back will show just enough skin to still look hot. Pair this dress with dainty jewelry and strappy sandals and get out and enjoy those lazy summer days!

$48.99 at Gap.com

Since we have Monday off, I'm assuming that you're going to a BBQ of some sort today, and will be hanging out on the backyard patio with a tall iced tea (whether it's spiked is your call) until sundown. You need a cute little sundress!

Now normally, I think of Roxy as a fairly young brand, and usually associate it with surfing teenage girls, but for this Memorial Day weekend, Roxy's Little Miss Printed Babydoll seems so perfect, especially in this gorgeous red and white floral print. The cotton dress has a thin band to create an empire waist, and falls to a flirty mid-thigh length. At just $49.50 at Nordstrom, you won't feel bad if you get a little spot of BBQ sauce on it.

The dress also comes in the same print, but in green.

In yesterday's New York Times Style section, Ellen Tien noted the revival of a recurring fashion trend: underwear as outerwear. But instead of, say, wearing a camisole as a top (so last fall!) or sporting a bustier under a jacket (so Madonna in 1989), this look takes a nightgown and makes it into a sundress.

This will sound a little risque at first -- especially if when you think of "nightgown" you envision Joan Collins in Dynasty. However, the chemise nighties at stores like Anthropologie could plausibly pass as regular summer sundresses. My favorite is the Orion nightgown, which has mother of pearl buttons on the placket of the empire-waisted "dress". In a chocolate brown cotton voile, this nightgown-turned-daygown could easily make the transition into fall when matched with a pair of boots and a feminine cardigan.

Hey, we're not saying you couldn't wear white into the fall and winter, but a white sundress might be a little iffy. Since it's all of, oh, about 100 degrees here in sunny southern California, it's the perfect time to snap a little white dress and wear it until you can't wear it no more. And there is certainly no need to spring for a super expensive fabric - cotton is the coolest fabric of them all. Bluefly has them all right here - summer dresses in white. My personal favorite? Why the strapless white eyelet minidress from Susana Monaco, called "Sarah." ($222)