If you’ve been thinking it’s time to put away the summer dresses, think again! This transition from summer to fall is the perfect time to squeeze some more mileage out of your summer dresses. Today I’m partnering with ModCloth to inspire you to do so!
ModCloth has an amazing selection of dresses that work across many seasons. This orange shirtdress caught my eye with its beauutiful floral print. (Also, nursing mamas, this dress is breastfeeding-friendly!) I’ll admit I hesitated to get it, thinking that this bright dress would only work for summer and worried that summer was ending soon. But I quickly remembered that you can style many dresses, whether solid colored or bright with summery prints, for colder weather with the switch of a few accessories!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually size 6/8 or S/M in clothes, size 8.5 to 9 in shoes. I wear this dress in M.
LOOK #1: SUMMER OR SPRING
This dress has short sleeves and is very lightweight, making it great to wear alone on hot summer days with sandals, wedges, or nude flats. It comes with a stretchy orange spaghetti strap lining all the way through.
I added lighter colored accessories like nude flats, white earrings, and a light grey bag to maintain an airy feel. In case of chillier summer nights, I paired the dress with a bright blue cardigan as a fun, colorful layer that keeps in line with the brighter and lighter feel.
BTW, if you don’t know about ModCloth’s signature cardigans, you should check them out! They are super soft, a sturdy medium thickness, and come in 19+ colors! (Different colors rotate in and out all year.) See them HERE. (Heads up: Most of the 9,000+ reviews for the cardigan are really good, but some of them talk about inconsistent sizing across colors. I have this cardigan in 4 colors and so far mine are all consistent.)
Tip #1: Choose pieces that feel lighter, whether in color or texture or both.
Tip #2: Pair the dress with brighter completer pieces.
Shop for the Look:
Dress: c/o ModCloth (exact–wearing size M)
Cardigan: c/o ModCloth (exact–wearing size M)
LOOK #2 – FALL
For the fall look, I swapped out the bright blue cardigan for a darker navy one. Also, whereas in the summer look the name of the game was lightweight and airy, for the fall look I used heavier duty accessories to give “weight” to the whole outfit. I added a leather belt, suede boots, a brown leather watch, and a brown crossbody bag. Not only are the accessories darker in color, but they also just feel heavier and more substantial than the pieces in the first look. Together they create a fall look, even with a brightly colored dress that is very lightweight on its own.
Tip #3: Choose darker colored accessories and completer pieces.
Tip #4: Include pieces that feel more heavy duty, like leather or suede riding boots.
Shop for the Look:
Dress: c/o ModCloth (exact–wearing size M)
Cardigan: H&M (super similar)
Boots: Lucky Brand (exact)
Belt: H&M (super similar)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar, similar)
Dress: c/o ModCloth (exact–wearing size M)
Cardigan: H&M (super similar)
Boots: Lucky Brand (exact)
Belt: H&M (super similar)
Bag: Nordstrom (similar, similar)
So, don’t give up on summer dresses just yet! And, if all the stuff about lighter weight pieces versus heavier duty pieces is too confusing, when in doubt add boots and a darker cardigan and it’ll probably work!
Like I said earlier, ModCloth has an amazing selection of dresses that work across many seasons, so here are a few more that you could totally wear in both warmer and cooler weather. I personally loooove Option 3 and Option 1. And for fun, you should check out Option 6 and look at ModCloth’s last picture for that green color to see how they styled that dress for fall. Would never have thought to add all that print to the dress!
