The absolute perfect one-and-done piece for summer in the city…? A breezy black dress. From the cobblestones of Lisbon to the waterfront of Philly, this dress delivers. Weekend trip to New York? Black breezy dress. Packing for Paris? Black breezy dress. Street food tour in Mexico City? Yep…black breezy dress.
If it’s hot and sticky and steamy and you’re dealing with the concrete jungle effects of a city, there’s nothing I’m going to recommend more than the stylish, comfortable, and versatile black breezy dress.
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This particular absolutely lovely black summer dress looks WAY more expensive than it is. And it is on MAJOR sale right now for under $60 with code FRIEND. Yep… under $60! Scoop it up while sizes are still in stock, so you’ll be ready for that first gloriously warm sunny day in the city, or keep scrolling for more black breezy dress options.
Sizing Details: I’m wearing an XS here. It has a nice comfortable stretchy bodice and the sleeves can be worn up or off-the-shoulder. I often take an S in dresses, but I have narrow shoulders, and the shoulders fit better in the XS for me on this one. For reference, I’m 5’2, 138 lbs. The slit looks pretty high here when I’m sitting, but I feel completely comfortable with the height of the slit (compared to Reformation dress slits that I get my seamstress to close up a bit).
This effortless closet staple is a total workhorse in my warm-weather travels as well as my day-to-day city life here in Philadelphia. It’s that magical piece of clothing that I never travel without. I wear it as the centerpiece of my easiest summer outfit formula at home as well.
It may be a little cool in Philly right now, but I’ve already started shopping for a new breezy black dress for summer. If you keep scrolling you’ll see several contenders in the Summer In The City collage. Since I absolutely LIVE in this type of dress as soon as the weather turns warm here, I like to have a few options in my closet ready for action that very first day of warm sunny weather.
The Ultimate Summer Dress: Why Long, Dark, and Breezy Is the Way to Go
Why is the black breezy dress SO perfect for summer in the city? So much so that we talk about it here at TME year after year?
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Let’s start with when you’re visiting or living in a city, you quickly realize that wearing light-colored dresses can be challenging. It CAN be done, but you have to be FAR more careful than I EVER care to be. I like to be able to sit on any random park bench without worrying, lean up against various food stall eateries, and plop myself down in the middle of urban grassy spots. You can do this in black. VERY difficult to be this carefree in white or beige.
Speaking of plopping down when you need a rest…I strongly prefer a generously cut midi or maxi dress for this specific reason. Minis and straight cuts are way too complicated for impromptu sitting situations and the minis can often result in the back of your thighs sticking to yucky surfaces on really hot days. No good.
Along with the flowy or generously cut style, select a dress that’s actually breezy. Either a nice slit in the front or a comfy gauzy or linen-y breezy material…something that moves, lets some air in, and/or breathes. When you’re walking the city on hot sticky days, the more airflow and movement in the dress the better.
And then there’s style, of course. There’s obviously a reason so many of us gravitate to the little black dress in general. Chic and easy. Easy to accessorize, easy to spot clean, easy to dress up for the evening, and easy to insert into SO many outfit formulas.
Summer In The City Outfit Formula:
Black Midi Dress, Comfy Sandals & And A Straw Bag
Some of you, who have followed The Mom Edit for a while, may have seen my selfies in summer and spring and know that I pretty much wear the same thing over and over with only slight variations. I LOVE to follow a really good outfit formula on repeat.
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Although Shana wears her black breezy dresses with sneakers (you can see her post on how she wears a breezy black dress to New York City here), I prefer my breezy black dresses with comfortable walkable sandals and straw bags (yes, my feet sometimes get gross on the city streets, but a quick rinse when I get back home or to the hotel works just fine…and I find many comfort brand sandals JUST as comfy as sneaks).
My MOST worn warmer-weather uniform is definitely the combination of something black and breezy (my fave jumpsuit, a gauzy maxi, or a linen-y midi dress), a pair of neutral-colored Birkenstocks (or ultra-cushiony Fit-Flops or walkable wedges), a pair of simple gold earrings, and an interesting straw bag (small or large). Simple, easy, pretty, and suited for food tours, wine-tasting, museum explorations, shopping, urban playground time, walking tours, nights out, you name it.
There’s a wide range of black breezy dresses out there. Tons of simple ones, but it’s fun to have a breezy black dress with SOME type of interest. Maybe it’s off-the-shoulder or has puff sleeves or cut-outs or a gorgeous square neckline. Something with a little bit of drama is a great way to make it feel special, especially if you’re using this piece for travel.
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This Lovely Puff-Sleeve Dress Is On Sale For Under $60
dress | bag | similar wedges
This particular black breezy dress was an easy win. It’s one of those dresses that is nice enough on the hanger but REALLY shines when you’re wearing it. As soon as I wore it outside and saw how it looked with some movement and a bit of a breeze, I knew it would fit in perfectly into my black breezy dress warm-weather rotation.
Sizing Details: I’m wearing an XS here. It has a nice comfortable stretchy bodice and the sleeves can be worn up or off-the-shoulder. I often take an S in dresses, but I have narrow shoulders, and the shoulders fit better in the XS for me on this one. For reference, I’m 5’2, 138lbs. The slit looks pretty high here when I’m sitting, but I feel completely comfortable with the height of the slit (compared to Reformation dress slits that I get my seamstress to close up a bit).
Now I just have to wait for my warm sunny day.
-Linzi
Hey, Pinners…
