CASUAL SUMMER DRESS PLUS MORE NORDSTROM SALE PICKS

We’re in the dog days of summer now, with high heat and humidity every day, and this dress has been on repeat. I notice that the dresses I wear the most are the ones that are comfortable, don’t require too much styling and are machine washable. Not to be gross but on a 90 degree plus day there’s inevitably some sweat involved and anything I can’t machine-wash is much less likely to be worn.

Also, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opened to the public today and there are some major deals to be scored. Last week I linked some of my first round picks and after going through the sale some more I’ve rounded up 3 super cute dresses, an amazing skirt for work, and a couple of gorgeous Fall jackets (I can’t resist coats and jackets!) If this dress doesn’t interest you all that much and you want to get straight to the sale stuff, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the post to see my Nordstrom picks!

DRESS: TARGET x WHOWHATWEAR | SANDALS: LUCKY BRAND | SWEATER: OLD, similar ANN TAYLOR one is under $40 with code SUMMER60 | NECKLACE AND BRACELET: MADEWELL | SUNGLASSES: STELLA MCCARTNEYThe dress is lined down to the mid-thigh, which I really like because for everyday wear I don’t want to have to think about a slip. The lining only being a half-length makes it really nice for summer and super breezy. Other features of this dress that I love are the elasticized high-waist (makes your legs look longer) and the blouson top which makes for a nice drape. I wore it un-belted here but you could always add a belt to give the look a little more oomph. A white belt and white caged sandals would easily transform this into a dressy outfit. Or for a casual, cool-girl vibe, swap out the sandals with sneakers. I have yet to take the white sneaker plunge because I’m just more comfortable with a little bit of heel but I adore the look and will probably sacrifice comfort for style one of these days and do the dress/sneaks combo.The dress comes in black block print in addition to the red, with a collarless neckline that can be worn as a v-neck or crew, depending on how you button it, and elbow-length sleeves. Don’t get dissuaded by the Target guest reviews which only give this dress 3 stars. I saw that some of the low stars were due to sizing issues which was definitely not my experience. It runs true to size – I bought the XS, and for $35 you’d be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable and cute casual summer dress.I styled it with two different layering options because cooler temps in the evening sometimes making layering necessary, even in the summer. My two favorite summer layers right now are my Loft denim jacket and any neutral summer sweater (this one is my current favorite). Both layers are well suited to casual wear and like most of my clothes, both are ultra-soft. With either of these pieces you can knot it around your waist when you’re not wearing it – cute, chic and convenient all at the same time. My espadrilles were an early-spring buy (bought for full-price but I noticed they’re on sale now). They’re truly my equivalent of sneakers in terms of comfort. The low wedge heel makes them beyond comfortable – I can and have walked for hours in these. They’ve been worn so much they’re starting to get ratty so, time for a replacement soon. Other than these, I also love this and this pair of low-heeled sandals. For accessories, you may have noticed I tend to stick to the same ones almost everyday. I rotate sunnies by outfit but only ever have 3 or 4 per season. For jewelry I really prefer not to have to change earrings, bracelets and necklaces often, at least for day wear. My dream is to find a perfect delicate necklace I can wear every day and it goes with everything but I haven’t found the right one yet. In the meantime I like Madewell’s selection of simple gold-toned necklaces and cuffs and like that they go with almost everything I wear. This open (and adjustable) cuff has been like a uniform almost all summer.Thanks for reading and if you want to shop this look, the key pieces and a few similar favorites, are linked below!