LOFT is killing me with its current color palette, mauves and burgundies, but not-quite-for-work quality in a lot of the pieces. That's another story, but throwing it out there. And I'm supposed to be saving toward the JC jacket.

However, in my LOFT-ing last month I came across the B& W print dress below and brought that home. It is not only long enough ( bottom of knee or slightly below, swirly, and good "sitting" skirt due to fullness), but very comfortable and forgiving and the type of dress I would take on summer vacation. I've already got it outfitted with topper and sandals for an upcoming vacay in Deep South in early fall. I can also see wearing it as an alternative to shorts or pants for occasions where lots of my group wear casual dresses, I have noticed. I have sleeveless "issues", but less so for casual and outdoor occasions, and it works with a variety of cropped toppers or cardigans.

Little did I realize it also comes in the gray. That one is even more casual since it's heather-gray-T-shirt look, but is a great blank slate, with any color footwear or toppers. Can do toppers or wear a slouchy pullover to get a skirt look, kind of a beachy look that I love. It also works better with sneakers than the print, and of course wedges and sandals or most anything. The neckline is higher and length longer on me than shown on the model.

These are inexpensive (on sale natch) jersey dresses and don't pretend to be fancy, and yet the blouson and length give that slightly elegant vibe that I like, and they're washable for summer heat.

So I'm thinking of duplicating while the sun shines, so to speak, and using them to launch me in this direction for some occasions, because I already have footwear and toppers/pullovers that work with both.

I've mentioned before I have a VC dress in similar style but dressier and in a hotter, polyester fabric, requires fancier footwear, so it functions for more dressy occasions, not walking around town.

So, since I have not been a big casual dress-wearer, these might help me do that, or they might not work out. Also with some added boost from YLF culling posts I have figured out some items and outfits that are no longer working and would prefer to try these instead. I see this style as not so much trendy but made for my body type and so more classic, or so I hope (not in the "investment" sense, but in the, wear what works for you sense).

Please feel free to share any stories of "striking" when a given style of item shows up, or showing more restraint, or add-and-toss lessons.