My little sister recently got married. I couldn’t hold the tears back as she walked down the aisle with my parents. I’m seven years older than her, and she calls me “second mommy.” It was incredibly bittersweet and a huge blessing to be able to be there for her special day. In addition to helping to design her dress and style her, and giving color guidance to the groom, parents and bridesmaids, I also had to pick my wedding guest dress.

Well, I was also a bridesmaid, but we went the “same color family, different dress” route. My goal was to find a timeless dress that I could wear beyond that day in less formal situations and improve the cost per wear.

A Stunning Wedding Guest Dress You’ll Actually Wear Again

Enter the Gaia Midi Dress by ASTR the Label, available in amazing colors and floral prints. I needed either a rust or terracotta dress, and after getting a ton of terrible dresses, I found this one when Googling “rust dress.” I’m familiar with the ASTR label, so I placed an order without a thought.

Gaia Midi Dress by ASTR the Label (different cowl neck at Nordstroms)

It met every need, got a ton of compliments, and my sister-in-law ordered it yesterday in the stunning cornflower color for a wedding she’s attending in May. It’s that good! You can scroll all the way down to see more color options, but before…

What Makes The Gaia Midi Dress A Must-Have?

1. It’s Cut On The Bias

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Probably my favorite thing. Bias cut = fluid curves and soft drapes. The dress will stunningly fall over your body, hugging your curves without constricting you. As someone who’s gained some weight in the past year, I love how this cut will be forgiving if my weight fluctuates in any direction.

Style tip: Wear higher torso Spanx shorts to avoid panty lines and, of course, add some shaping. Or try these that only come up to your waist.

2. It Has A Cowl Neckline

Different cowl neck at Nordstroms

Another dress I loved had a very open neckline I didn’t feel comfortable with for this occasion. But this one? The cowl neck is more covered yet sexy. I wore a stick-on bra and then used topstick tape (the best tape) to make sure it stayed in place when dealing with my kids/nieces or helping the bride with something.

3. It Has A Stunning Back With adjustable straps

Another feature to make sure the cleavage is perfect for you. The back is is also subtly sexy.

4. It’s The Perfect Length

No need to get it hemmed! especially if you’re petite. I’m only 5’2″ and didn’t have to do any altering. Of course, if you’re taller you can expect a true midi-length, which also looks stunning.

Petite style tip: wear heels in a color that elongate your legs. I initially got gorgeous strappy black sandals, but the black was cutting my leg length. I thought it wouldn’t do it because the leg slit and the dress color weren’t too contrasting with my skin color; still, I looked shorter. So I went for these metallic ones I had from a previous wedding, and they worked perfectly.

5. It’s Timeless & Versatile

Gaia Midi Dress by ASTR the Label (different cowl neck at Nordstroms)

Just as any other slip dress, this dress is something you’ll wear forever, even in cooler seasons layered. I plan on bringing it to Cartagena late this year and wear it with more casual sandals. And come fall and winter, I can see it with heeled boots and a jacket. I saw a pic of a blogger wearing it with sneakers and an oversized blazer, and it looked great too. It really depends on your lifestyle and personal style.

Shop The Gaia Midi Dress by ASTR The Label

Find your perfect color or print. You can find most of the color options on their site, but you can also try this newer version on Nordstrom with a different cowl neck. And some limited sizes on Amazon.

What’s your favorite color?

Besos,

Julieta

Ps. This is my nutty family

For more of this dress and more pieces you can wear over and over, you can follow me on Instagram (@julietatorresd). I’d love to see you there.