By 
I’m teaming up with the other seven ladies of the Magnificent 8 again today to showcase that you can’t put an age on style. This quarter’s theme is ‘linen’, and boy did I have to dig deep! As much as I love the idea of linen shorts or billowy white linen pants for the summertime, I don’t own any such pieces, and I actually thought I might have to go buy something to fulfill the theme. I admit that I’m not well-versed in my fabrics, but I just so happened to wear this beige dress to work a few weeks ago—the thought crossed my mind to check the tag, and lucky for me, it was linen!
I guess that explains why this dress is always so wrinkly… As much as I love the look and lightness of linen for those hot summer days, I hate how much it wrinkles! I’m pretty lazy in the mornings (I usually lay in bed too long trying to solve the Wordle and then have to rush to get ready) so any extra step like steaming a garment is pretty low priority for me. Guess I really need to get back into the habit of laying out my outfits the night (or even week) before…
As for today’s dress, I really struggle with how to style it! My mom brought it home for me one day several years ago after picking it up randomly during a huge Dress Barn sale. I really like the simple style, the fun leopard detail on the pockets, and the coolness of the fabric. In fact, I actually think this dress looks like a potato sack—a very cute potato sack. Perfect for a girl from the potato state.
What I don’t necessarily love about the dress is all the little things that make it difficult to style. For example, the beige color seems very classic and easy for summer, but it kind of clashes with all the other standard brown shades of my purses and sandals (hence the red snakeskin sandals in today’s look—a fun alternative, I think!). The leopard-detailed pockets are really cute, but they make it impossible to belt the dress. Without a belt, the options for re-styling the frock in new ways greatly decreases. Not to mention, the pockets look a little awkward with additional layers, like a jean jacket.
The other day at work was only the second time I’ve ever worn this dress, and this is the first time it’s appeared in a blog post! I really do love it, I just always feel so stumped when trying to wear it. Do you have any suggestions??
I do really like how today’s look came together, though. It’s still simple, yet a chic, effortless simple that matches the vibe of summertime. I think the dress would look good with black sandals, but I don’t have the right kind—one of my pairs is too edgy and the other is too sweet/girly. I opted for the red snakeskin sandals instead for a little pop of color. I also added a long pendant (I feel like shift dresses always need pendant necklaces to break up the fabric) and my retro-feeling sunglasses. Usually I would take more photos and try to showcase some of the details of the outfit, but these few were all I could snap yesterday afternoon before a huge thunder storm rolled in! The evenings have been so dark and rainy here the past few weeks, which I kind of love.
Now be sure to check out my blogging friends down below to see how they’re styling linen this summer!
Let me introduce the other seven ladies of The Magnificent 8.
Mica of Away from the Blue // Roxanne of Glass of Glam // Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge // Rena of Fine Whatever // Eugenia of Age of Grace // Lesley of Jodie’s Touch of Style // Charlotte of Jodie’s Touch of Style
We are showing that you can’t put a number on style!
As always, thanks for stopping by the blog today. Let me know what you think of today’s outfit, and I hope you’re having a good week so far!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
Linen Dress: Dress Barn, $24 ($12.00 per wear) | Red Snakeskin Sandals: DSW, $30 ($5.00 per wear), last worn here | Sunglasses: Sungait, gifted by brand, last worn here | Black Elephant Clutch: Francesca’s, $20 ($0.36 per wear), last worn here
Oh my goodness, Grace, this dress is so stinking adorable! I love the little leopard detail on the pockets and your fabulous sandals! I have a few dresses like this and also find them very difficult to style in any way other than by themselves. Top layers hide the shape of the dress and tend to make it really look like a sack. Belts are usually my styling alternative for this sort of dress, but like you said, that doesn’t always work when the dress has unique details like the pockets on this one. Maybe a cropped jacket or cardigan would work. It would have to hit above your waistline though so you don’t lose the shape of the dress. Or maybe you can layer a top underneath it on a cooler day? Or a shirt layered on top but knotted at the waist? You would have to experiment and see what looks right! But it is a really cute dress and totally worth having even if you can only style it one way!
Shelbee
Oooh I like your thinking, Shelbee! Thanks for those fun ideas – I’ll definitely try them out.
This is such a cute dress, you definitely should wear it more! I’d definitely add a light scarf or big statement necklace – in any colour really, this dress will work with anything! And maybe even try layering a long sleeved tee underneath when it gets a bit cooler? It would work so well with ankle boots too! All the cold weather suggestions from me as it’s winter here, haha! I wore a linen dress for this challenge too but had to add quite a few layers!
Hope you are having a lovely week 🙂
Ooh great idea about the scarf Mica, can’t believe I didn’t think about that! Shelbee also mentioned layering something underneath – I’ll definitely have to try that. Thanks for all the ideas!
So now that you see the dress from our perspective, do you like it better? Because I think it’s just amazing? I know you are focused around those pockets but I really think you can layer over it and just ignore them.
You should check out how I styled a tiered dress because the magnets might work or even a long vest to cover the pockets.
https://www.jtouchofstyle.com/7-ways-to-wear-a-tiered-dress-news-you-can-use/
Definitely play with it. Heck, you can layer under it too, right??
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks for sharing Jodie, that post gave me so many ideas!
I love this dress on you Grace you look amazing in it. Although I see your reason for wanting to add to the style I think it looks very good just the way you wore it. 🙂
Thanks Aunt Jo!
I for one love this dress and I love how the pockets make it unique. I would worry about wearing it a bunch of different ways but would use accessories to make it look different.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
It’s definitely in the accessories – Mica mentioned trying a scarf with it, which I hadn’t thought of!
This dress is beautiful and I love that it has pockets. Your sandals are cute.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks Lovely!
Oh, I can’t believe I missed this post! Shame on me. But here are my ideas now, should you want them. I personally would wear a belt even with those pockets. It doesn’t work with everything, but I think they’re low enough that it could work. Also, a shorter layer over like others have mentioned- I don’t have many personally, so I would wear a cardigan I already have upside down. Maybe a brooch at the waist or a kimtuck (https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2015/01/how-to-style-your-loose-tops-with-a-rubber-band-the-kimtuck-revealed.html) for shape? If you added layers under, maybe it would work with tall boots, or even heels if that’s your work environment. I’m hoping to see more of it in future!
Thanks for all your great ideas, Violet! I’ll have to try them out!