Hey, friends! I’m currently sitting in our living room as Andrew works on his taxes and I type out this post. It’s been a slow Saturday morning full of coffee, chill playlists, and open windows. Isolation has been weird and full of lots of unknowns, but in the midst of it all, there have been moments of rest and stillness (like these) that I’ve been trying to soak up. I hope you’ve been able to find moments of joy in the midst of this chaos as well!
As I mentioned at the beginning of the week, Andrew has been home this week on a “one week on, one week off” rotation as his hospital and, specifically, residency program, works to minimize exposure and prepare for the unknowns ahead. Selfishly, I’ve loved having him here these past few days, especially since time off is so rare during residency!
We’ve sought to really and truly rest this week, cooling off on work, catching up on sleep, getting outside at a safe distance, and it’s been the best mental and physical reset. But yesterday, we headed out to our front porch to shoot a fun little project with Nordstrom! It’s been a few weeks since I’ve shared an outfit post, and doing something normal and creative immediately lifted my spirits.
So today, I wanted to share this post centered around something incredibly simple that also manages to lift my spirits… the act of getting ready and putting on an easy dress, especially during this season!
A couple of weeks ago, I shared in my 7 tips for fostering joy during your day the importance of getting ready each day. Don’t get me wrong, I love a lazy day as much as anyone else, and have definitely indulged in a few of them this past week. But here’s the thing: it always amazes me how much more productive and confident I feel when I take a few minutes to put myself together!
My outfit of choice is always an easy, feminine dress. Why? For one, a dress is such a comfortable option, especially when working from home. (I don’t love working at my desk in jeans all day, especially with all of the social distance snacking I’ve been doing recently. :) But best yet, they make me feel lovely with hardly any effort.
So today, I’m excited to share 5 easy dresses to brighten your day. I hope these pieces put a smile on your face whether you find yourself working from home, a newly-appointed homeschool teacher or simply trying to figure out what this new season means for you. They’re all under $100, and are styles that deserve to be taken out on the town once this is all behind us!
(FYI – With times being tight, Nordstrom is offering site-wide sales on a large array of their inventory. Not only are many of these dresses included, but you’ll find different daily deals. Today, jeans for the whole family are 25% off!)
5 easy dresses to brighten your day
One of my favorite trends this season is the blousy midi dress. It gives you a glamorous look and such a cozy feel! This piece, in particular, looks perfectly sophisticated and is made with lovely, weighty fabric. Dress this down with sandals for the beach or up with heels and fun statement earrings!
Size Details: I typically go up two sizes to a US 4 in Topshop, but went down to a US 2 due to the billowy nature of this dress. It fits perfectly! I’d recommend wearing a slip underneath the white shade as it isn’t lined.
There’s something about a classic shirtdress that simply doesn’t go out of style. The beautiful pink floral pattern on this one in particular, along with the sweet collar detailing, instantly got me! If you haven’t checked it out yet, this brand Court & Rowe is giving me all the classic, french vibes.
Size Details: I ordered my usual size, an XS, in this dress. It fit perfectly, but without a lot of wiggle room! I’d recommend going up one size to be safe in this line.
An easy mini dress will always be one of my favorite go-to styles. Effortless, easy, and ladylike, you can wear this cute coral style with everything from sneakers to sandals to wedges! Andrew claimed this was his favorite out of the bunch.
Sizing Details: This dress comes in small, medium and large. I ordered the small (I usually take an XS) and while it was definitely a bit roomy, it works for the style!
Talk about a dress that instantly puts a smile on your face! This flouncy number from Free People is so much fun to wear. I honestly had a blast even photographing it for this post! Nordstrom is having a fabulous sale currently, and this dress is 40% off.
Size Details: I ordered my usual size, an XS, and it fits perfectly!
Soft enough to camp out on the couch with, easy and classic, this dress is one I’ll own for years. I love the pleated skirt detailing and the relaxed fit. Adorable with sneakers and wedges alike! It also comes in white, which would make for such a cute closet staple.
Size Detailing: I ordered my usual size, an XS, and found this dress to fit slightly large. The style is roomy by nature, but I think you’d be able to size down one if you’re on the shorter side!
Here’s the thing. You don’t need to spend a dime if you don’t want to! I’m sure your closet has a few treasures you haven’t worn in a while, and I hope these five dresses inspire you to take a few extra minutes every day to put one on. That simple action always adds a bit more joy to my day, and I hope it does the same for yours!
Over the years, working with Nordstrom has been one of my favorite partnerships and opportunities. I’m so grateful for their continued support during this uncertain time, and so grateful for your engagement!
Sending lots of love to you, and an extra hug to those who don’t have the ability to stay home and put on pretty dresses, but rather are on the frontlines keeping us all safe. You are our heroes.
Love from the Sunshine State,
Kate
Thank you, Nordstrom, for sponsoring this post!
The way of your presentation amazes me. You are looking stunning. Dressing up means being comfortable and confident. we are happy when a dress suits us and Otherside we are sad when it doesn’t suit us. I would say if you want fashionable and comfortable dresses then visit our shop.