Whenever I am out shopping or browsing websites for clothing inspiration, I always cart and try on dresses. I love the idea of throwing a dress on, but I never actually grab them once they are in my closet. If there aren’t jeans and a t-shirt involved, then I rarely want to be a part of it on a regular basis. I’m making it my goal for the spring and summer to get more comfortable in what I actually WANT to wear. I thought about all of the reasons why I end up scrapping the dress for jeans and decided to put together a few tips for the casual girl’s guide to wearing a dress.
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The issue I find with wearing a dress, is I always feel like I am “dressed up.” Too fancy for the park or library. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love dresses and used to wear them all the time. But since becoming a mom, I bend over way more and end up sitting criss cross apple sauce all over town. I need clothes to be comfortable and not feel restricting. And they MUSt make me feel as relaxed as my go to pair of skinnies. I’ve already snagged three dresses for the upcoming seasons that I know will be rotated frequently!
The Casual Girl’s Guide to Wearing a Dress
Material is Everything
The easiest way to still feel like you are wearing athleisure or jeans is to keep your dress material comfy. None of that rayon or mesh or whatever. Jersey and cotton are your best friend! As soon as I felt this dress on the rack I wanted to sleep in it. That made it a contender!
Find a Familiar Cut
I love a wrap shirt. I find they are super flattering on my body and make me feel sexy without putting on too much of a show at drop off. Having this dress wrap around made me a little more comfortable, since it felt like something I wear often. Especially since the material is so soft! Double win.
Keep Your Hair and Makeup Simple
I think this is a big part of feeling casual while wearing a dress. Obviously, rock whatever you want for that day, but if I have a full face on… I feel way more done up than if I just have some bb cream, mascara and bronzer on. Keeping things fresh and relaxed on the face adds to the “I’m not trying too hard vibe” that I can never achieve while wearing a casual dress.
Add in Your Staple Pieces
If I am not sporting a pair of converse, it is either raining or so cold I pull out my Uggs. Converse are my ride or die shoe. I wear them with everything and run through pairs like my kid runs through white T-shirts. Putting a pair on makes me instantly feel like myself. Chill. No matter how out of my comfort zone my clothing is, a cute pair of sneakers grounds me.
You can also throw on your favorite boyfriend cardigan or a cute denim jacket to just keep things from getting stuffy. I also could have worn my favorite moto jacket from Gwynnie Bee for a cooler, evening casual dress. I just happened to have the perfectly matching cardigan in my closet that is like my security blanket. Score!
Fake It Till You Make It
This is kind of a guide I use for all things in life. Aren’t ready for a red lip? No one else knows that. Feel a little bit fancy in your maxi dress? Not a soul other than you knows! Sometimes, it takes time to adjust to a style, a different town, new food etc. So until you do, fake it! Slap on that smile and act like you OWN the dress. Or where it at home a few times or just to run to the grocery store!
Get comfortable! I used to do this all the time when I was branching out with lipstick. I would put a new shade on as soon as I got home and wear it around the house until it didn’t surprise me when I looked in the mirror anymore. Now, I can put on almost any shade and feel good! I am applying my own rule to the dresses waiting in my closet to be worn this summer.
Bring on sunshine and bare legs! Hope you enjoyed this casual girl’s guide to wearing a dress! Let me know if you would like more style posts to come! <3
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