I have a handful of clients who wear dresses more than any other wardrobe item, and as a result we successfully shop for dresses throughout the year. But the majority of my clients are infrequent dress wearers and shoppers and here’s why. 

1. They are Hard to Fit

Structured dresses are hard to fit because they assume that the top and bottom parts of your body are perfectly in proportion, that you have a defined waist, a flat stomach, a fuller bust, a round bottom, and a broad shoulder line. Unstructured dresses are hard to fit because they can make us feel overly large and shapeless, or the neckline is all wrong. The former can be unforgiving, and the latter too forgiving. The in-between happy medium is like a needle in a haystack. 

Dress alterations can make the world of difference, but we don’t always have the time, budget and energy for them. Separates like skirts and tops are generally easier to fit, and that’s certainly the case with most of my clients. 

2. Too Many of them are Short, Clingy or Skimpy

It’s been fashionable for what seems like forever to wear short dresses that are well above the knee. Sleeveless and strappy styles also remain extremely popular with designers. Not to mention the influx of silhouettes that require fussy bras in order to look good. And there’s the body-con frock that makes you feel like you’ve been shoved into a sausage casing. Not so fab. 

The more revealing and alluring dress shapes can work for date night, vacation and leisure settings, but they don’t work in work settings. They also don’t work for the majority of women who prefer to wear their regular bras and sport a little more coverage on their legs and arms when they wear an everyday dress. 

3. The Good Ones Often Suit Imaginary Lifestyles

When we do find a dress that fits beautifully and isn’t too skimpy, it’s often too dressy, bombshell or corporate for my clients’ lifestyle. There’s definitely a dearth of flattering casual dresses that aren’t too short and skimpy. 

4. They are Less Practical

Dresses can feel too constricting and precious, even when they’re quite casual. Grabbing a pair of jeans, pants or shorts with a top is a more robust option. Easier and more comfortable when walking fast or crawling around on the floor with kids. Dresses can also be too breezy to wear in air-conditioning. 

Dresses that require shapewear can also be a deal-breaker. So can their “dry clean only” laundry instructions, and the need to wear a higher heeled or less comfortable shoe because that’s the style of footwear that looks best with the style. These days sneakers and all sorts of flats can look great with dresses, but those combinations aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. 

5. They are Seasonal 

Most dresses are suited to warm weather, and in many cases are the ideal item to wear in a hot and humid climate. Because dresses are very seasonal, most clients will really only wear them in the Summer, unless they have a Winter function that requires a dress. 

Personally, I love wearing dresses and I’m wearing them more frequently in the Spring and Summer. If our Autumns and Winters were warmer, I would wear dresses more frequently then too. That said, I can’t tell you how many dresses I’ve passed up because they were many inches too short. Retailers seem to be giving us sleeves, but not length — and I don’t want to wear a casual maxi dress. I also prefer to wear woven dresses, which aren’t as popular as knitted dresses. Slowly but surely though, I’m adding to my dress capsule and being very patient with my purchases. 

Over to you. Do you also have a hard time finding and purchasing dresses?

Spring makes me think of pastels and bright colours, but of course neutrals work just as well and might be your preference. When you wear neutrals with white, they look instantly more crisp and warm weather appropriate.

Here are some neutral items that caught my eye. They’re “quiet” but can pack lots of punch.

• Topshop Zip Back Sweater: A cropped pullover with good drape and sleeve length. Nice back zip detailing. Its 100% acrylic fabrication might surprise you. Easy to launder. Runs small.
• Topshop MA1 Bomber Jacket: A simple yet effective bomber jacket with no bells or whistles. Will work on cool Spring and Summer days and straight into Fall. All three colours are fab. Looks best left unzipped.
• Treasure&Bond Tie Dye Open Back Tee: A roomy banded bottom tee with a peek-a-boo back.
• Bobeau Mock Neck Sleeveless Top (Regular & Petite): A Modern Retro top to wear with pencil skirts or pants. The collar can be folded up or down. Forgiving on the midsection despite the semi-fitted silhouette. The rounded hems add more structure. Crease-resistant and easy to launder. Best on a small or regular size bust.
• Joie 'Coastal' Lace Inset Blouse: Boho Inset Lace Fabness. Gorgeous fabric and romantic sleeve silhouette.
• James Jeans Slouchy Cargo Pants (Shadow Combat): Camo cargo joggers in a heavier fabrication. Works best on a straighter figure, but can also work on a fuller thigh. Not good on petites. Read the rave reviews.
• Splendid Ruched Crop Drawstring Pants: Super soft and comfy athleisure joggers. Fits a variety of body types. Can work on taller petites. Read the rave reviews.
• Karen Kane Asymmetrical Hem Faux Wrap Top: A repeat silhouette that works on just about everyone, although it's best on those with a shorter neck. Magical diagonal lines, great drape and a streamlined roomy fit make this a winner. Good on petites. Might need to size down.
• Nic + Zoe 'Summer Fling' Flirt Skirt (Regular & Petite): A repeat style flared skirt that looks best with a semi-tucked or tucked top. Or a short fitted top. Best on a longer waist. Size down.
• FRAME Linen Blend Sweater: This pullover works surprisingly well on a larger bust. Great neckline and fabulous fabrication.
• BP Cuffed Sleeve Denim Shirt: Boxy Denim T-Shirt Fabness.
• Summit 'Beverlyn' Sandal (Women): Beautifully made sandal booties which can work for a narrower foot.

Browse the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.

I haven’t worn sandals for years, and that’s not because I want to hide my feet. I like my feet and have regular pedicures to keep them looking well groomed. I’m happy to bare my ankles, heels, arches and insteps, but drew a line at the toes. I simply prefer to wear closed toe footwear year round because it’s very comfortable, insulating in air-conditioning, and protective of my toes. Closed toe footwear is also a LOT easier to fit when you have boney, low volume feet. It’s hard to fill out a pair of sandals unless the styles run narrow, or you buy a narrow width size. All this to say that although sandals are a go-to footwear style for most in hot weather — they’re quite the wildcard for me. 

I’m not in the habit of wearing sandals, but I do like looking at them, trying them on, and admiring them on others. I am frequently helping clients find sandals during warm weather shopping season. So each year I think to myself: perhaps I’ll join the sandal party this season and get a fun pair. 

Gladiators are my favourite style of sandal, and since I adore white shoes I made a beeline for Shelly’s London Bea Buckle Sandal. Miraculously, it fit my low volume feet in a regular size, which never happens. I loved the way they looked and felt, and they followed me home. 

These gorgeous sandals sat in my closet for months, unworn despite Seattle’s record high temperatures for Spring. I’ve had ample opportunity to wear them, but haven’t. Every time I styled them into my outfit for the day — I took them off. The question was WHY? I loved the way they looked and felt on my feet. Trendy, stable, grounding and comfortable. They are great with my flared cropped jeans, of which I have several pairs in blue and white.

I was just completely out of my comfort zone wearing the Bea Buckle sandals. I can identify a few reasons for this. First, I’m not used to seeing my toes in outfits. Second, I tend to wear simple and streamlined shoes, and the sandal is chunkier and more ornate with its multiple straps and buckles. Third, I’m in the habit of wearing lightweight shoes, whereas these are quite heavy. 

For a split second I thought about returning them, but my stubborn nature and the challenge behind “figuring them out” made me keep them for a little while longer. I compared them to a pair of sandals that are closer to my comfort zone: the Naturalizer Lanna sandals, which I ordered in a narrow width. They fit perfectly, are blissfully comfortable, and I loved the way they looked on my feet. Neat, refined and pretty. Their broad straps and velcro fastening makes them look sufficiently modern, and they’re also very lightweight. Their daintier silhouette made me more accepting of baring my toes. I also loved them with my skirts, dresses and flared crops. 

Now I had a pair of sandals that were easier to wear, but I wasn’t yet ready to give up on the sandals that challenged me. And as the gal who doesn’t wear sandals, I was not going to keep TWO pairs. 

In the midst of all this decision making, J.Crew’s citron Teddie pants arrived on our doorstep. Their fit and fabric is amazing and the colour delicious. I was definitely keeping these fun and happy streamlined culottes. I tried them on with the Bea Buckle sandals, a white boho-lite shirt, and very faded blue denim jacket with white buttons. 

And there it was. The turning point for the Bea Buckle sandals. A magic wand had been waved, and suddenly things were as clear as day. 

The chunky gladiators were a match made in heaven with the new citron cropped pants, and I instantly felt comfortable wearing them. I was finally sure that I should keep the darlings that had challenged the voices in my head for a good couple of months. It took this outfit — the exact items are represented in the collection — to expand my comfort zone. 

Trying the Lannas in the interim was an important stepping stone. They helped me get used to seeing and liking my toes in outfits. I showed in-house stylist Greg the outfit, and he gave it a very reassuring thumbs up. Although Greg generally preferred the look of the Naturalizer Lannas on my feet, he did prefer the Bea Buckle gladiators with the new yellow pants. 

As it turns out, 2016 IS my year for sandals because I’m keeping both pairs. It’s taken years for me to find sandals that feel great, both on my feet and in my head. The chunky Beas are more fashion-y, dressy and dramatic, while the daintier Lannas are an easier “every day style”, that looks better with casual dresses. We’re having fabulous weather in Seattle, and I intend to make the most of it. I am now officially back on Team Sandal.

These items have been winners on clients and forum members recently. I added Madewell’s rivet & thread denim ruffle shirt to my own Summer top capsule, and love it. The description of the fabric is misleading because it doesn’t resemble denim or chambray. Instead it looks like a mottled 100% cotton linen, which is a great fabric for Summer. It’s a “final sale” item so think carefully before you purchase. I took a gamble and was lucky. 

I also am thinking about keeping Naturalizer’s Lanna sandal in white. They fit my low volume feet perfectly in a size 6.5N and are extremely comfortable. They also look fashionable and flattering on the foot. I don’t know why the gorgeously made shoe received less than stellar online reviews because my experience was the opposite. 

• 'Sylvia' Stripe Stretch Boyfriend Jeans (Carrolton) (Plus Size): A good pair of jeans for an extremely curvy figure. Ample coverage and the fit narrows at the waist. Comes in regular denim too. Works well on petites.
• 'Blessed' Graphic Tee: Wear this tee because you're blessed.
• Hei Hei Diamant Joggers: A super soft and extra comfy alternative to stiff casual pants. Great length on petites. The fabric does pouf out a little and stands away from the body, so you have to be okay with that.
• Naturalizer Lanna: A beautifully made and great modern looking pair of sandals. The very low wedge prevents them from feeling too flat. VERY comfortable. Comes in narrow and wide sizes and goes up to a size 12.
• Treasure&Bond Grommet Wristlet: A casual wristlet with a harder edge. Nice in the blue.
• Madewell Shorewalk Cover-Up Pants: Very soft and well-fitting joggers with a high rise. The fabric is scrumptious. Nice colour blue too. Casual but polished. Works will with an untucked casual top. Will not work on petites.
• Madewell Rivet & Thread Denim Ruffle Shirt: A beautifully made high-low ruffle shirt that does NOT resemble denim. The fabric looks more like linen, but doesn't crease as much. The white specks in the mottled fabrication add extra texture. Runs true to size, but size down if you're narrow in the shoulder. Not good on a large bust because the fabric is stiff.
• J.Crew Collins mixed metallic leather loafers: A futuristic smart casual loafer to wear with just about anything. Not super soft, but quite comfy nonetheless.
• Topshop 'Valley' Gladiator Sandal (Women): A chunky gladiator with a marvelous block heel. Can work on a low volume foot if you size down half a size.
• Babaton jared dress: A deliciously drapey and breezy unstructured T-shirt dress. Best on a broader shoulder line. Can work on petites with a heel.
• Bailey 44 Isala Wrap Skirt: A fun wrap skirt that works as well on curvy figures as it does on a straight figure because of magical diagonal lines.
• Gap Ribbon Skirt: A fab skirt for a curvier bottom half. Very practical. Breezy yet covered. Might need to size down.

Check out all the colour options and browse the collection page to see the items alongside my descriptions.