Three smocked summer dresses I’ve been wearing lately
Happy Wednesday!
How has your week been so far? Guess what? Tomorrow is June’s first birthday! 😭 She also took her first steps this week!! BIG things happening over here. I just want to bottle up time and keep her this age forever. So many emotions!
More on that tomorrow, but today, I’m sharing three summer dresses I’ve been loving lately, if you’re in the market for a versatile number you can throw on and run out the door, or dress up for date night! I live in dresses in the summer (there’s nothing more easy or comfortable, in my opinion!) I hope you’ll love these three! Let’s jump in 🙂
First up, THE #1 dress of the summer, in my opinion–the Hill House Ellie dress. I purchased one of the latest patterns that released a couple weeks ago (most sizes are sold out but in this one but they still have a couple left, and other sizes in other patterns that are equally as cute!) This is actually a slightly updated design from the earlier Ellie style. The biggest difference is that this one has pockets! 🙌🏼 Additionally, the smocking is slightly longer than the older style was, but to me it’s honestly not that noticeable. The pockets though are definitely a huge added perk.
I love this dress because it’s REALLY lightweight. It’s unlined, which I really love because it makes it very cool on hot summer days. I also love that the smocking is thick enough to where I don’t have to wear a bra. (But if you do want to wear one, the straps of the dress are thick enough to cover your bra straps without them showing!) Note that while they’re unlined I haven’t had issues with any of them being see through (this is the third one I own now) HOWEVER, I have heard that the white Swiss dot one IS somewhat sheer.
I have dressed it down with sneakers and Birkenstocks to run June to daycare or work from home, and I’ve dressed it up with heels for a party. I also use it as a “throw on” item in place of a bathrobe in the summer–like a true house dress! For that reason, I would say this dress is my #1 postpartum wardrobe staple! If you’re looking for a nice gift for a new mom, get her one of these dresses!
Sizing: Runs BIG. Go down at least one size. I have XS.
More cute Ellie Nap Dress color ways: (Shop them all here!)
Another cute and versatile option–especially if you’re looking for a dress with sleeves! Another differentiating factor with this dress is that it’s a bit higher cut on the neckline, which might be appealing to you depending on what you’re looking for! It has smocking on the body but I wouldn’t say it’s snug enough to go without a bra. I think this would be the perfect thing to wear to a shower or a casual summer rehearsal dinner. It would also be a great dress for travel because it can be worn with sneakers for sightseeing and also to dinner! Here I’m wearing it with my super comfy Madewell heels, which I HIGHLY recommend!
Sizing: TTS: wearing small
More cute gingham colorways: (Shop them all here!)
You’ve actually seen this dress before, but I wanted to re-circulate it because I’ve been loving it lately! I got it earlier this spring and fell in love with the cantaloupe color. This is another one that can easily be dressed up–I wore it most recently with these heels (pictured above) for a date night, but have also worn it with flat sandals like these. I love the ruffle details and puff sleeve. It makes me feel like a princess! Tip: Make sure the ruffles are BEHIND the bow, otherwise it sticks out and looks funny!
Sizing: TTS, wearing small
More cute colorways: (Shop them all here!)
