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How many summer dresses do you need??

harmonica

Veteran

I'm just wondering because I am on the hunt and have finally found a few that seems to fit and work for my lifestyle. I can't buy all though My summers are short max 3 months) and seldom hot, more like average of 18-22 Celsius. I do have a few skirts too, so I have skirt/top as an option too.

Summer vacation is often very, very casual and involves mostly gear and super casual MOTG-like outfits. Dress code at work is very casual, but I like to be somewhere between smart casual and business casual. And summer celebrations - well, very, very few.

I was thinking that I only need 2 summer dresses:

1 casual like MOTG (for playgrounds, running errands, doing gardening, end-of-term events at school / kindergarden ) -- maybe a safari style dress
1 slightly dressier for work / summer celebrations

I want 3-4 summer dresses, though (2 casual and 1-2 dressier - and I imagine some could probably be both). Would you think that was too many? I'd have to buy them all now or have just 2 this season and add 1-2 next season.

I realize that this is an absolute minimum and most other would want far more dresses. What do you think?

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Molly L-R

I prefer to wear dresses at the weekend in the summer and I like to have three weekend's worth of outfits. I have one skirt/top combo that I pull out of the bag at weekends, so that's 5 dresses. Of course, I'd like much more, but this is the smallest number I can work with that leaves me moderately satisfied with my wardrobe instead of dispirited.

Molly L-R

I *want* to replace one of my dresses as the colours and pattern aren't "me" any more, but the length and silhouette are perfect. So I'm not rushing to replace it until I can find something as good or better. I've bought three dresses this summer and I think that's enough. Need to be PPP as two of those dresses were replacements for dresses I bought *last* summer in a panic as I felt like I didn't have enough.

Thistle

Veteran

I wear dresses to work a lot. I have at least 7 I can think of immediately, and close to that many skirts. Dresses and skirts jsut work for my body. That said, I have a toddler, so my weekend wear tends to be gear. Yes, yes, I know how unfashionable which is why weekend posts for me almost never happen.

I have read the posts about MOTG wear, but really, this seems to be MOTG wear of mothers of older children. Or children whose father didn't decide to put sand in one sand of the sand table and water in the other!

My toddler is messy and very active. Gear is machine washable. Gear is comfortable. Gear doesn't show baby hand prints. And gear is what most moms wear by me for trips to the park. Jeans work too, if they are super comfortable. Yoga pants are always super comfortable

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Harmonica, what about compromising and sticking to your lower number initially, but adding a cross-seasonal dress as well (or maybe two - one dressier and one less dressy)?

For your climate, cross-seasonal fabrics and styles seem like a no-brainer. Yes, you want the fun and the fashion switch-up that a true summer dress provides. I would, too!

At the same time, there are lots of dresses that for your climate could work well in summer and then be layered over or under for spring and fall. Perhaps not true winter -- but that would depend on the dress and your other layers.

Speaking for myself...I do like a dress in the heat! But I live a casual lifestyle. So, what to do, what to do?

At the moment, I own: 1 dedicated "summer" dress (cannot really wear it in any other season). Two skirts that are really spring/ summer/ early fall wear only....plus a bunch of coordinating sleeveless tops (summer, pretty much). And a dressy pair of shorts.

But I also have 2 dresses that are pretty much good for spring/ fall and all but the hottest summer days -- they can even work in winter with the right layers.

And I have two "gift" dresses -- one just donated to me by a friend (strictly a summer dress) and one by Shevia, which is so gorgeous but not quite the right fit, so I am trying to decide how to use it.

harmonica

Veteran

Molly - it seems like you have a nice selection and just need to "trim" your dress wardrobe by replacing. PPP is the way to go. Good for you!

Thistle - you have invested in so many gorgeous dresses! They really are your workhorses and a basic for your wardrobe. Those small kids are another kind than older ones My experience is that you can slightly start dressing more up when they turn 4. They are slightly less messy - although my kindergarden boys (4 + 6) are all covered in dirt when I pick them up Gear is great and very appropriate

Suz - I think you are very right. Two cross-seasonal dresses (spring/summer) that can be dressed up and down is what I need. If they can cross over from casual work wear to MOTG, I'm fine. Then I can save up for another one next year. Thank you for your insightful comment! 1 summer dress, 2 skirts + tops and dressy shorts are great as a basic summer wardrobe for your lifestyle and climate. I'll keep this in mind And in our imaginary life, I think most women would want 1001 dresses

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said

qfbrenda

Veteran

I have 5 or 6 dedicated summer casual dresses, but I'm a SAHM. I would probably want that many if I were working but I would make 2-3 of them casual weekend dresses and have 3-4 of them ok for work.

Glory

Veteran

I like what Molly said as well about having enough variety not be to dispirited. I am a WAHM and a MOTG of 3 older children who are mostly involved in team sports. For summer (which has yet to arrive) I have a denim skirt, a cream casual skirt, a fine striped stretch navy/white stripe skirt. These all work with a tshirts or nicer tops. I have a 3 dresses for casual or a tiny inch above casual: black jersey v neck, white/black print, pi.nk print . these can all be dressed up to some extent, work for dinners, grads etc. For weddings and the like I think I would have to buy a new capsule as I have only one fancy shmancy and it is black

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, it would depend on how often you want to wear them. Keep in mind that you sweat more in summer, AND you won't have a second layer underneath them, so they'd get dirty faster.
Right now my summer dress collection is a bit lacking as I have purged several and I'm not really feeling my jersey dresses for summer. I have three pretty casual summer dresses right now (although I can wear all of them to work too, but my work is pretty much anything goes), but I also have several other dresses that are kind of cross season (but probably couldn't be worn in SUPER HOT AND HUMID weather. I'd like to get a couple more lightweight woven dresses this summer.

I have a bunch of summer skirts too though.

T-Rex

Veteran

Personally, I love wearing dresses. It's faster to throw on a dress than to match up a top and bottom. Depending on the fabric, I also find dresses cooler (meaning temperature) than shorts.

I would pick out at least one "summer" dress that you love. Then, like others have suggested, I would consider dresses that can transition into cooler weather by adding tights, leggings, boots, jackets, sweaters, etc. And remember that the right dress can be dressed way, way down with the right accessories. A casual, cotton dress with cute sneakers could do almost everything that your current weekend outfits do. I'm thinking of a grey and purple plaid shirt dress that I have, which I almost always get compliments on at work. Now I want to pair it with grey or purple sneakers for a day off.

amiable

Veteran

Hmm... you have me thinking (as I've been pining for summer dresses too). I think I need 4-5 casual summer dresses, since it's always over 85 in my house (and often over 90) for at least three months, and dresses are far more comfy than pretty much anything else (I like skirts and tops too though, and I have aspirations toward a pair of shorts).

I think for your climate that cross-seasonal dresses are probably the way to go. I should consider this too. My summers are the same length as yours, but not as warm, and I tend to stick to pants the other three seasons. Maybe next fall I can learn some tricks to keep skirts warm

T-Rex

Veteran

This blog may give you some inspiration. She makes most of her own dresses. There are so many great dresses here that she makes me want to learn how to sew. She also has a thing for dresses with pockets, which I totally agree with.

http://www.dressaday.com/

harmonica

Veteran

Thank you for insightful comments! It seems like most have a few dresses and that it is appropriate to have at least one casual and one dressier for summer. It is also true that if your wardrobe is depending on dresses you need more, because they probably needs to be washed after every use due to summer temp, sun lotion, sweat etc

T-rex - what an inspirational blog!

T-Rex

Veteran

I hadn't visited this particular blog in a long while, until your post reminded me of it. Thank you for jarring my memory!

Take a look at this entry, and read what she wrote below the pic. (It's a great dress, btw.) I love the coincidence of finding an entry which mentions pairing her dress with grey sneakers.

http://www.dressaday.com/2013/.....ses-day-7/

Liz A.

Veteran

I believe that what you mentioned would be the absolute minimum for me. Most of my dresses are cross seasonal, but I have like 5 each of casual, work, and dressy dresses.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

A summer dress haiku

Do I dare confess
Never wore a summer dress
Still time, just forty nine

harmonica

Veteran

Great Rambling Ann!

bj1111

Veteran

i must have some sort of season block because i have summer dresses and dresses for other times of the year. i have three from last year, one has shrunk so that it is a trifle indecent, but can be worn as a tunic over jeans. or shorts--which i am girding my loins to try.

that leaves 2--a muted dark teal linen shirt dress and a really loud flower print cotton shift in orange. i added a deep purple flower print cotton tunic. this will be it for the summer...i will probably wear them a couple of times a week when / if the weather actually gets warm. my mental block over transitioning these pieces into fall or spring even though they all have long or 3/4 sleeves is that i wear/think of them as swimsuit cover-ups so only summer. i wear these to work, although i know i shouldn't.

so, the short answer (too late!) is that i agree with your abbreviated summer dress wardrobe. though your ideal 4-dress wardrobe should give you more flexibility if only in putting off the washing for another day.

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, I have several, much more(!:-)) dresses, all the year round. I have some for dressier occasions, then I wear dresses to the office 2-3x/week, others for beachy holidays or just to lounge around the house in the big heat.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My dresses don't span the seasons well -- they tend to go either full-out summer or not. And I really do like wearing dresses in summer, but they must be casual or have the ability to dress down easily. As you can see from my recent threads, I've been on the hunt. A lot of my dresses from years past don't feel fab to me now -- I put them on and think "meh" and take them off -- so I tend to go overboard in looking for replacements.

So, how many do I *need*? I'm sure far fewer than I have. But I get on a roll where I find something that works and want to snap up other examples of the successful item before they are gone. I guess there is a little of my mother's hoarding instinct in me.

LMFLMF

(website)

Member

I live in dresses so don't really think you should set yourself a limit.

If you find a dress that really suits you and compliments you i think you should always get it, as you will regret it.

I wouldn't go out and buy a dress and settle for one that is second best.

Go for dresses that you can dress up and down as well.

Add black tights to on cold days, but are long enough to go without tights in the summer etc. Add a cardigan to, add a belt, with heels/without heels. Get a cute little number that you can wear with a comfy pair of trainers and socks.

Lisa

Veteran

I like the idea to own at least two casual and two dressier/seasonless dresses. This way you always have one dress to wear on casual days, even when one is in the wash. And you can dress up the other two dresses with boots in the fall or pumps for summer events.

For myself, I don't own any summer dresses, but I am not a dress gal. Instead I have two summer shorts and two seasonless trousers for dressier occasions.

unfrumped

Veteran

I so echo the transeasonal thing. So maybe you keep on hand one dress that just shouts summer because that feels fab for a few months. But other options are something like navy , to which you add white jewelry, watch, belt bag or jacket & summery sandals. Perfectly nautical and summery, but then shift accessories jewel tones, cognac in the fall. Or there have been some good examples of black white prints that as noted above could be worn with whites & summery things and then black tights in cooler weather.
If you run cold, you could go for a dress with a sleeve but in a lightweight fabric. Safari-type styles & colors also to me can swing summery to fall very easily just with accessory changes.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I need less than I have. I could get away with one because there's only one day I'm really out and about and can wear a dress. And when it get's really really hot, I don one of my very fine cotton tops and a skirt. I have, tho, probably 10 sundresses - and that's not counting maxis.