My Favorite Dress Silhouette for Summer
There is one style of dress that I gravitate to each spring and summer, regardless of my age or my size. A fit and flare dress in a crisp fabric with pockets is a summer essential. The crisp fabric allows for airflow, the fit and flare style flatters while remaining comfortable, a print helps hide sweat, and pockets because all clothing should have them. Talbots sent me a link a few weeks ago to their upcoming summer collections and this dress caught my eye. Talbots was kind enough to send it to me as a gift and it's even better in person!
dress | bag | earrings | sandals
Dress: Scenic Rome Fit and Flare Dress c/o Talbots (14 petite) | Shoes: Capri Multi-strap Mini Wedges c/o Talbots (available in regular and wide widths) | Earrings: Zara | Bracelet: Caviar Icon Bracelet c/o LAGOS | Bag: old; similar
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The fabric is a bit heavier with a textured pique-like finish. I appreciate this because unlike regular cotton, it doesn't wrinkle as soon as you have a seat. I love that the belt is the same print; it makes it virtually invisible but still adds polish and waist definition. And I'm all for a dress that lets me wear a normal bra! This dress comes in regular, petite, and plus sizes.
Shop My Picks for Fit and Flare Dresses:
This day, I wore the dress with fun earrings and low wedge sandals so I could dash around town running errands, go to the doctor's, visit my daughter's school. Later in the week I wore the dress again for my daughter's recital; I switched out the sandals for nude pumps and the statement earrings for classic small hoops. For a dressier occasion, I'd consider a nude or soft metallic heeled sandal and pearls.
Both times I wore this dress with my straw clutch (you've seen it in this post, this post, and many others). A straw or wicker bag is such a great neutral for summer. It goes with most anything, and a clutch style instantly dresses up any look. Such bags go in and out of vogue but this season they're a hot trend and you can find them at many retailers in a variety of pricepoints. I've found a few great ones and have them linked below:
Shop Straw Clutch Bags:
As for what is going on underneath, I'm a huge fan of slipshorts which offer modesty and prevent the dreaded chub rub. I know many love using products like Megababe or Monistat. They are great, but I find they often need to be reapplied. I have them, I use them, but especially when wearing a dress like this, I prefer my slipshorts. I have these from Jockey, I've tried and like the ones by Thigh Society, and many love these from Soma because they're very thin and silky (I find if in doubt size up with these). In this post I share how to prevent and heal chub rub.
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I saw this dress at Talbots and passed but am going to reconsider now. You look great and the less wrinkle thing would be a plus for summer dresses.
That looks great and I appreciate all the details on how different accessories could work for different occasions.
My pleasure, it’s important to spend money on pieces that can live different lives!
Allie,
Your outfit has such a Roman Holiday vibe to it. I can totally picture you on a Vespa or a 50s Alpha Romeo Spider convertible.
Thank you so much!
I feel there is a real opportunity for Talbots to upgrade their catalog and general styling. Every time I see you feature something on the blog I love it and make a mental note to shop there. But then I open their catalog or website or emails and I get turned off. It seems so boring and stuffy. I can’t picture those clothes in real life. I wish they used you as a consultant!!
Aww thank you! Each brand has a certain aesthetic and I have to say a passion of mine is to style things in a way that isn’t typical for the brand. It’s a fun game, and I love to show how Talbots is actually quite hip, flattering, and well made AND can work with a variety of personal style aesthetics!
You look so modern in that almost retro dress! Love it on you. I’m making a trip to my local Talbots!
Thank you, and you should! They have some great pieces this season!
I am not a fan of anything that requires ironing, and especially in summer…
Fully agree, love that this dress isn’t one to wrinkle easily.
I just LOVE this print, Alison! We were lucky enough to stay in Rome for almost a week two summers ago and the Coliseum was right down the block from the apartment we rented in Monti. You look so pretty and ready to take on whatever comes your way! Beautiful!
Thank you so much Tara! I haven’t been to Rome since… oh before I got married. I would love to return!
Ok, true confession. I used to see Talbots as just this place my grandmother shopped. But the more staple pieces and dresses you post, the more likely it is I’m actually going to look there the next time I need a dress for something. Thanks, Alison!
Sure, some things skew older, but they have really great fashion. Their dresses, their jeans, a lot of their knit tops, their suiting… I am a fan and I adore their size range!
Think it can be dressed up for a 4th of July wedding?
I don’t see why not! I think it would be lovely at a wedding. Add nude-to-you shoes and jewelry with a bit of shine and a clutch!
like you, i find that this style of dress just feels like summer….but unfortunately unlike you this type of dress doesn’t generally fit me without significant tailoring…
and count me as a huge fan of the jockey slip shorts….
I can see how it wouldn’t work for all shapes. And three cheers for slipshorts!