SLEEVELESS MAXI FOR DAY OR NIGHT

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DRESS: NORDSTROM | TEE: NORDSTROM, similar HERE | HAT: FOREVER 21 | SHOES: VINCE CAMUTO | SUNGLASSES: LOFT

I appreciate hot weather so much more now than back when I lived in LA. In Boston, I try to get the most outdoor time possible because I know that in a few short months I’ll be surrounded by snow and will never want to leave my couch! This weekend I’m packing in a mix of city and beach activities and will be relying on my printed summer maxis for easy weekend style. I tend not to spend over $50 for any one printed summer item and this dress is no exception, currently on sale for $28 (almost half off).

This dress comes in several prints so take a peek and see what you think of the others. Although the length is great on me, the neckline is way too low. I liked the colors and didn’t want to bother with tailoring for a dress I plan to mostly wear casually, so I’m styling it with a tee layered underneath.
STYLE TIP: This is also a great way to get more wear from this dress as the weather turns cooler. I love to layer thin turtlenecks under my summer dresses through October-November and can mostly push off having to throw on a serious coat by wearing several thin but warm layers.

The neckline issue will only be a problem if you’re under 5’2″. I have a friend who’s only an inch taller and the neck wasn’t too low for her. If the low decolletage isn’t a problem for you, this dress is really pretty worn by itself and is easily dressed up. I’m thinking something like roof-top cocktails or a garden soiree or just your coffee get together with girlfriends. The cutaway back and deep front vee give the dress an alluring look. I also like that it’s lined down to mid-thigh so there’s no need for any additional coverage under the skirt part of the dress. The side slit is a perfect feature for leggy ladies and also helps to visually elongate legs on those of us with shorter legs.

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DRESS: NORDSTROM, also love THIS | STRIPED TEE: SIMILAR | HAT: FOREVER 21 | SANDALS: VINCE CAMUTO (last year), new and SIMILAR here | SUNGLASSES: LOFT

The striped tee I layered underneath is so soft. It’s actually a little cropped so it’s great for wearing under a dress or with high-waisted bottoms. It can be a pain to tuck in tops of regular length into high-waisted skirts and pants because there’s more material to deal with and everything bunches up. I have a couple of cropped tees that I’ve been wearing with everything this summer. And pin-stripes are great because they go with solids as well as prints. It’s the perfect mate for so many casual summer outfits. I’ve worn this top with slouchy jeans (one of my current favorites!) and over-sized shades for a weekend morning coffee run and it was an easy yet cute outfit that I didn’t have to put any effort into.

I’ve been wearing my black suede platform sandals so much this season. I styled them with my pink pleated skirt for a pre-Fall look a couple of weeks ago, which you can see here. I never thought I’d be wearing so much suede in the summer but the platform makes it so leg-elongating that I always want to wear these. It also toughens up and anchors all my girly clothes, which makes it one of the most useful pair of sandals in my closet. This pair is from last year and I linked it, but I also linked a new very similar pair in the outfit details section that are more current. Platforms are a major shoe trend this year and this pair is a great option if you don’t want to shell out over $800 for the designer version.

I’m headed to the beach this weekend and hoping that this perfect summer weather holds! My three-year old loves the beach and it’s always fun to watch her be so deeply absorbed in simple things like digging holes in the sand, looking for shells, and chasing waves. I’m trying to enjoy all of it because she’s growing so fast and soon she won’t be a baby – so sad! What are your weekend plans?

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