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Basic Bells and Whistles
This post is dedicated to the super sweet mama of two adorable babies I met at my local coffee shop this morning who was dressed in black leggings and a black T-shirt on an 88-degree-day and offered to buy the $10 embroidered dress from Playa del Carmen off my back. I think her name was Christine.
I apologize for yet another anti-athleisure rant, but here goes. My fellow mamas often say to me, "How do you always look so cute? I just don't have the energy!" Of course if I am heading to a work out I will wear my exercise clothes around the neighborhood before, but once I'm done with the gym, it's nice to ditch the sweaty gear and feel a bit pulled together. I have 6 or 7 dresses I wear on rotation that are casual, comfy, and keep me cool in the summer heat. I love a good Mexican dress (I hoard them!), but my new go-to is the enhanced shirt dress.
So many major designers from Phillip Lim to Zac Posen to Céline have upped the ante of the basic button down with cut outs, voluminous shapes, asymmetric hems, and embellishments. We have seen the same redux with the shirtdress with added elements of interest such as the cold shoulder, the fluted sleeve, and my personal favorite: ruffles. A ruffle-adorned shirt dress maintains its easy quality, but with the intriguing addition of masculine-meets-feminine details. It's basic without being boring, and the best part? The versatility!
Adapting a shirtdress to a specific occasion comes down to thoughtful accessorizing. White sneakers and a cross-body bag are perfect pairings for neighborhood errands or the playground. Pumps and a tote take this frock to a meeting or the office. And bold sandals and a fun clutch dress it up the for a date night. No time for a blowout? Throw your hair in a ponytail and add some shoulder duster earrings! Eye-catching, feminine accessories work alongside this shirt dress because the striped pattern goes neutral--similar to the way a man's striped shirt looks great with a complementing patterned tie. The obvious way to wear this style dress is for a daytime look, so I wanted to use this opportunity to show you how I dress it up for a night out. Would you like to see it styled for day? Let me know and I'll be happy to oblige! You can shop my favorite ruffled shirt dresses at the bottom of the post.