The Search for the Perfect Summer Dress
Awhile back, Tara Denise did a TJ Maxx try-on haul and I saw a dress I knew would be perfect for summer. It was a loose-fit, button-front, 100% linen sleeveless dress from Tahari. It set me off on a TJ Maxx/Marshall’s wild goose chase all over Long Island!
Here’s my criteria for summer dresses: casual and easy enough to wear out to dinner with friends or boozy drinks at the beach, but still appropriate for work. Not the other way around! I don’t want any one trick ponies that can only go one place or the other.
Obviously, I looked for the dress online, but it wasn’t available in my size. I don’t know why TJ Maxx has online shopping but Marshall’s doesn’t. Anybody know why? Anybody? Anybody?
So…I had a couple in-store try-on sessions. And while I never found THE Dress, I did get something from what I’m showing here today. See if you can guess! I haven’t shown it yet on the blog or Instagram.
This little rayon top from Lucky Brand was cute and a decent fit…and looked really nice with the mustardy yellow hoody. I’ve been feeling a little short on summery tops that aren’t tee shirts. This is a 3x.
100% linen mustardy-gold hoody by Tahari, size 3x. In other colors here.
These next two items IÂ thought were dresses when I took them into the fitting room. But they turned out to be tunics with side slits.
Such a shame, they would have been really cute dresses! Lightweight rayon, very floaty and easy. Cute over leggings!
And look how nice this one looks paired with the mustard hoody!
This is the Tahari dress in a 2x. Much too snug. I really need the 3x!
And at another store, another time, I got to try the full-button short sleeve version (comes in several colors and patterns) in a 2x. It was a better fit than the sleeveless 2x but just a tad too snug at hips and bust.
So. I still haven’t found the linen Tahari dress in a 3x…but I did buy one of the above items. Care to take a guess?
Sorry for no new fashion content recently. It’s been just so hot for shooting outdoors. It’s all I can do to get one OOTD pic a day.
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Barb
I’m thinking that “mustardy” hoodie has your name all over it!
bettyewp
DING DING DING DING Give the lady a cigar! Mustard hoodie it is!
jodie filogomo
I love that first top with the print mixing in it!! I hope you bought that one??
And how funny those “dresses” had slits. Although I bet you could sew the slits shut?? Especially with your new sewing talent that you’ll be practicing soon, ha ha!!
I do wonder why Marshalls isn’t online yet…maybe soon??
Have a great weekend Bettye
XOXO
Jodie
bettyewp
The slits wouldn’t have closed up neatly as I think they “openings” were rounded at the bottom. Plus, sewing them would have made them a little snugger and I NEVER need that!
I DID, however, just wash my fabric tonight at the laundromat. The fabric I discovered in The Fabric Box in Box Mountain that I think might work for The Practice Dress.
Now I just need to find my sewing machine!
Clover
The second, more tropical, tunic/not-dress? That looks great on you! You can make it work! 🙂
bettyewp
Oh, so close, Clover! I went with the mustard hoodie 🙂
Pauline starsmore
Love the two print tunics on you they don’t look too tight, but I suppose you know how they feel, hope you bought one.
bettyewp
Oh, the tunics weren’t too tight, that was the linen dresses. I’m disappointed to have never found that blue one in a 3x. I bet I would have worn that a MILLION times this summer.
Laurie Elliott
I hope you went with tropical slit top to wear with comfy leggings and yellow hoodie for beachy drinks. Comfortable, flattering and I think it fits your personality. When do we find out what you DID pic?
bettyewp
Mustard hoodie! I WISH the tropical print thing had been a dress, it was SO cute with the hoodie. And I’m too hot for a long tunic over leggings. So. THANKS FOR PLAYING! 🙂
Karen
I’m thinking you went with either the mustard yellow hoodie or the Lucky Brand top. The top looks really good on so I’m secretly going for that one but I think the hoodie follows your criteria due to being more versatile. Hmmm, I’m waiting to see.
bettyewp
Ding Ding Ding Ding we have a winner! The mustard hoodie it is! It has proven quite versatile and useful. No regrets on that purchase.
Ashley
The mustard hoodie? Such a great layering piece! Shame those were actually tunics and not dresses- I get so annoyed when that happens, haha! But over leggings, so cute!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
bettyewp
Yep, the mustard hoodie was the winner!
Karen P.
I hope you got the Lucky top AND the mustard hoodie. (Two things!) That Lucky top is so cute!
Karen P.
Just looked some more. Hope you ALSO got paisley side slit tunic to wear with leggings. So 3 of the items. Those are my favorites!
bettyewp
THREE THINGS?!? Oh, I’m way too cheap for that! Ha. I have SUCH a hard time spending money on clothes, seriously.
bettyewp
I had a hard time leaving the Lucky top, it was *very* cute. But in the end, I just got the mustard hoodie…and I have no regrets 🙂
Ruth Josey
Why did you limit yourself to one? They all looked great on you! The tunics!!! You MUST have at least one of those. Sew up the sides if you need a dress; otherwise, wear them with leggings, skinny jeans, white shorts….whatever! I’m partial to the paisley one but they’re both super pretty! I definitely wouldn’t have left there without that mustard hooded cardi. But that first shirt you tried on looked wonderful too. Just one?!?
Ruth
http://www.VogueFauxReal.com
bettyewp
Ha, I’m way too cheap to buy multiple items usually. It’s all I can manage to buy ONE thing. I ALWAYS have buyer’s remorse, I have to talk myself into keeping things. “Hey! You Have Nothing to Wear in the Heat!”
But yes, I did get the mustard hoody. I’ve already worn it a bunch of times.