First, meet The Dress. These brightly-colored Spring shift dresses are my new favorite thing. Know why? Two words:
Machine. Washable.
Besides, they look like Spring…which is where my brain has been stuck lately. Stuck on Spring. And I’m not the only one – as I worked on this exact article a few days ago, reader Jenna shot me an email.
I just can’t take the cold anymore and I am dying for an awesome floral print dress for spring holidays. But I want something I can wear now with tights and is transitional for warmer weather too. Any ideas? Ones that can be worn with booties now and heels/sandals later?
Yup. Jenna, you read my mind.
The dress I happen to be wearing is Vince Camuto’s ‘Artful Strokes’ Shift Dress in a 0P. The “petite” part is important – it’s the only reason my knees are showing. Even so, I wanted more of a mod vibe, so I went shorter.
One – Sweaters and Combat Boots
I typically go two routes: layer a cropped sweater over the dress (as I’m doing here, although I wish the sweater was a few inches shorter for better proportions), or go long and swingy with the sweater, leaving only a few inches of hem showing.
Even better if your coat hem is longer than your skirt hem.
I didn’t bust out my fleece lined tights and I WAS SORRY. Next time.
wearing
sweater: Eileen Fisher Organic Marled Cotton Boxy Sweater in XSP
dress: Vince Camuto’s ‘Artful Strokes’ Shift Dress in a 0P
boots: old…but Steve Madden’s Troopa Boots are fab
tights: old
bag: old Kate Spade…but the Kate Spade Cobble Hill Satchel is almost identical and 40% off!
hat: old (and well-loved)…a similar shape/color is Topshop’s tuck back beanie
TWO – Blazers and Booties
Date night, office, etc. – this is how I’d wear it.
(NOTE: I have this dress hemmed pretty darn short for an office environment. If I really wanted to try and pull it off, I’d wear it with super-thick, opaque black tights and a serious flat – like an oxford.)
wearing
dress: Vince Camuto’s ‘Artful Strokes’ Shift Dress in a 0P
blazer: Halogen Zip Pocket Jacket (in XSP)
tights: old, but I should’ve been wearing these super opaque black tights
boots: old, similar Jessica Simpson black bootie (almost sold out)…or I crazy-love these Ted Baker booties with the contrasting wood heel. Simple and stunning.
hat: old (and well-loved)…a similar shape/color is Topshop’s tuck back beanie
THREE – Laters, Baby
Oh, yeah. Sneaker it up.
wearing
dress: Vince Camuto’s ‘Artful Strokes’ Shift Dress in a 0P
sneaks: Superga Cotu Sneaker (blue is long gone, but the peachy-orange are adorbs) – or try these electric blue Converse. I die.
necklace: old Chan Luu…but if you like that sort of tough-girl vibe, this tasseled pendent necklace has it
Now for the best part – the shopping. Here are a few of my favorite Spring dresses. They all meet the following criteria:
1. They are fabulous.
2. They are machine washable.
3. They all can be worn with tights & boots now…sneakers later.
(Some are even nursing friendly, and a ton come in both petite and regular sizes. Love. That.)
Shop Spring Dresses
Enjoy!!
xo,
S
A huge thank-you to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. As always, all product choices, thoughts, and opinions are my own. (Or as Pax would say, “MINE OWN”.) Thank you for supporting the retailers who help support The Mom Edit.
photography credits: Mike Draugelis
