No wonder that blouse is an MVP as you call it: it has a lot of precious qualities and you look fab in it !

Some years ago I bought a cobalt gauzy cardi without being particularly enthusiastic about it, I just thought "This thingie could be useful in some way". Well, much to my suprise it became one of my best workhorses ever. Nice color, right weight, looked casual/chic, went with everything, could be worn ironed or wrinkled and often received compliments.

You pose an interesting question Suz, how can we identify these precious pieces at the moment of the purchase? I have not found the solution yet. I have often thought to dedicate a post to this question.

This simple navy jersey dress has been a staple on weekends - I've worn it to cookouts, on strolls, to brunches, and just about everywhere. Classic, elegant, and easily styled with dressy or casual accessories.

Love the shirt and your styling, Suz. On the how to predict question:

Pattern: I think a piece is more versatile when it picks up more than one color (unless we intentionally want to cut ourselves in half, which some people can do!)

Color: I think it helps when the colors in the pattern are our staples, and we know we have several coordinating pieces (in your case, bottoms) that go with (in your case, navy and white)

Vertical Proportion: The shorter length is a clue for us short-legged gals that our vertical proportion will be right

Horizontal Proportion: Checks and strips on top are clues to help balance us curvy-bottomed gals

Fabric/cut: Not my expertise, except to say that I pick washable fabrics.

For dresses, I take notes from Penny, above: If it's a solid color, wide or V-neckline, sheath silhouette with tapered skirt or flare bottom that collapses back on the body--or straight shift (not flared)-- I know it's a good candidate.

My pieces that meet the above descriptions are MVPs!

Column, what a great analysis! We should start a separate thread for that. I know we've discussed it over the years but I still find myself endlessly surprised at what pieces end up being winners. This helps.

Penny, that dress looks really versatile!

Sisi, I think cardigans can often become MVPs because they are a "third piece" for outfits and also help us deal with air conditioning or cool breezes and can be easily stuffed in a bag, unlike a jacket.

Coming back to add my answer here : a denim dress. I have 4 different ones - differing weights, shades, shapes, and they are the answer to quick hot weather dressing . I NEVER feel underdressed for work in one, it goes straight from work to cocktails with a friend, it is always comfortable and never requires fussing, and covers all assorted and unwanted body transformations. One or two pieces of statement jewellery (needed to offset the visual weight of denim) , some heeled sandals, and I'm done. And the best part? I do not see myself coming and going with every woman around me wearing one ........which is odd.....;)

OOoh. Lisa, do you have finds or links for some of your dresses? I know I have seen a few of them on you and love them. I think it's something I really need to add to my closet in a dark wash. I have a light chambray shirtdress and it has been a staple the last three summers, but I find that the light chambray is not as flattering to me as a darker wash is now and I would like an upgrade. Do your dresses have tencel in them, too? That would help with drape...

Suz - I have one new one this summer - find below, which is tencel , yes. The others are all from BR,UO, or Joe Fresh, believe it or not, and aren't new. Joe Fresh always seems to have an easy denim dress in their summer stock, and for $40 or $50 - such an easy buy. The last JF dress was tencel too, now that I think about it. Cap cuffed sleeves, shirt dress style, and I cut the belt loops off and wear it straight. The other find is one from UO - actually I think I'll wear that one today !

I LOVE that gingham blouse on you, Suz. Gorgeous in every way. How wonderful when a wardrobe item can surprise us like that. Do you wish you had it in other colours?

Angie, good question. The answer is no. I might wear a solid colour blouse in this same shape or one with a different pattern, but I would't want another gingham. The blue and white is what makes it so versatile for me, plus I tend to prefer gingham in blue or black and white (and sometimes pink or purple).

LisaP, thank you -- those are great dresses. I will be on the lookout!

I tried these on a whim, and they fit like short culottes (so they look a bit like a skirt). I didn't expect to love them, but I did.

I have so many MVPs for summer, it's hard to choose but I'd have to say my Everlane cotton v-neck tees and Madewell Whisper Cotton tees have been going strong for the past couple of years. They wear well, wash well and work for summers when sometimes I am known to go through three different ones in a single day! I own multiples in navy and white.

Definitely my white jeans - a Loft purchase I bought at the end of last season. I was too timid to wear them last year (don't know why!) but they are a twice weekly staple now.

Ha first I wanted to see my fleece topper because it feels like we have barely had a warm day!
However it is a pair of black stretch capris purchased at costco two summers ago. I have been stuck in athletic wear since my ACL surgery 8 weeks ago! Who could have known all this black stretchy wear would come in so handy. LOL

Suz,

You are crazy cute in every one of those outfits!! Plus you have an adorable hair cut and smile!

I haven't had them very long yet and haven't styled them with more than 1 top, but I am in LOVE with cropped, black joggers from White House Black Market! I am so late to the Athleisure party, and I'd resisted the joggers b/c I can't wear heels well, except lately it's been easier (heels.) I tried the joggers on for the heck of it, and now you can barely get them off of me!

Suz, I think you're right that the batwing or dolman tops work particularly well on our wider shoulders and slight frames. Shoulder fit is often hard on me but that style always drapes well. I also need generous sleeves for my upper arms. Definitely my go-to silhouette.

Good strategy. Some things simply look best in very specific colours and patterns.

What a fun and versatile top! For me it would be white jeans. I sport mine as much as I can because they dress up and down so easily in the summer months.

My drop crotch cut-off-sweatpants shorts from H&M divided grey line. I bought them because they have a very gothic street ninja vibe to them & I wanted to try the trend. They have become heavy hitters in my summer rotation because they're long enough for my taste, the drop crotch keeps me from having a bunch of sweaty fabric bunching up in my crotch (sorry for the mental image that probably gives), and they're black so they don't show fruit stains at work. They're mostly cotton, so they breathe well. They're h&m divided grey, which means they're a bit worn looking (I do love me some post-apocalyptic chic LOL), which means that any small damage I do to them kind of looks intentional or just blends in. For h&m clothing, they've held up surprisingly well to some major abuse in the laundry cycle when I've needed to get them washed and dried quickly.

My doo.ri tank top (find) was such a workhorse that I wore it to death--faded, small holes... I got lucky and found a replacement in the same size and color at yoox and snagged it up so I could put it into rotation this summer. It's currently being held in reserve because it's not yet hot enough for me to break out my tank tops yet for anything but yard work (I try and save that for July-september when it's stupid hot in excess of 100F).

And lastly, my black Naya sandals (find). So easy--just poke my foot in and go. Arch support like whoa! I would never have expected to like them as much as I do, and they were worth every moment I spent searching for some weird sandals to buy because I didn't want a flip-flop or gladiator or anything, I wanted something a bit different and these reminded me a bit of UnaUna's 'fin' miles from last year that sold out before I could snag a pair.

Oh, Im in love with that blouse, Suz! I can see why it's an MVP!

I don't know how to answer the question because it seems like summer just start d around here and I'm at a loss but I love reading absolutely it everyone else's favorites!

Nice blouse Suz! My MVP is a newish DVF wrap dress. It seems to work well for travel and for the strange weather we have had so far this summer. It can be worn with pants or with a cotton tank dress underneath. It has the most repeat wears so far of anything in my wardrobe.

Here is a link for it since I don't have a pic in my finds.

http://www.dvf.com/new-julian-.....-wrap-shop

A close second is this linen blend dress by Karen Kane. I wear this one with pants also, although it is long enough to wear on it's own.