Happy Tuesday my awesome blogger family, it’s June 25th already, can you believe it? I have 3 more days of major deadlines and then I am officially going into slow down mode for the summer. And let me tell you I couldn’t be happier! I have realized that being a CPA, CA that works in public practice is very much like being in school – you can’t wait for summer break and usually by the time September hits you are looking forward to a little bit of excitement.
With my summer slow down at the office I always take a more casual approach to my summer wardrobe. Not only is it time to bare my arms and wear all my favourite dresses but I also get to ditch the suit jackets and the more “professional” looks. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my power looks but when the temperature rises being comfortable is most important to me. But being comfortable doesn’t mean loosing my sense of style.
For this post I partnered with Catherines to show you how to keep cool AND look stylish all summer long with this easy care free look. So while this post is sponsored by Catherines, remember all opinions are my own and always will be, xoxo.
I am sure most of you that know me well will not be surprised that I chose a dress but I think part of dressing comfortably is sticking to pieces that are true to you and your personality. If that is pants for you then wear the pants, if skirts are your jam then bring it on. Personal style is just that, personal, it is what makes life interesting. I mean can you imagine a world where everyone wore the exact same thing every day? Wouldn’t that be boring, no matter how fabulous the outfit was?
I chose this Ever Ease A-Line Dress for several reasons but mainly because of its simplicity. But in this case simple doesn’t mean they skimped on the details. This dress is the perfect A-line cut but it has strategically placed seams that help emphasize your shape and define your bust and waist. It is also made of a super soft knit fabric that has just the right amount of stretch. Its the perfect weight for summer and will take you from day to night very easily with the right accessories.
The scoop neckline was also a bonus for me because while I love a v-neck, sometimes I just don’t want to have to worry about whether I will be showing too much cleavage at the office. And this dress does have pockets for all of you that love them. I personally would be okay without them as I find I have a hard time getting them to lay right with my hips but I can’t deny that they are a handy feature. I am wearing the size 4x or 30/32 and I was happy with the fit. This is my standard Catherines size as I find in comparison to Lane Bryant, the sizing runs a little smaller.
I went with navy for the colour of this dress because I am a little obsessed right now with this colour and it being the “it” neutral this year. It is such a crisp and fresh alternative to your traditional blacks and greys. And wearing navy always reminds me of summer. It always reminds me of the water and all things nautical.
But if you love your black dresses don’t worry, it also comes in black, heather grey and fuschia. The other exciting news is that this piece is available in a size 6x or size 38. I was really happy to see this for all of my fellow extended size babes and I hope they will continue to increase the styles that are available in this new size.
So while this dress could easily be worn on its own I decided to pair it with a kimono to add an element of interest to the look and introduce some print which I love to do. Kimonos are another hot item this summer and you are seeing them all over the place in varying lengths, fabrics, colours, prints etc. They are a versatile piece that can make any outfit a little more special, I love wearing them with jeans, shorts, over my bathing suit, with a pencil skirt or a sheath dress.
I do tend to choose ones which are made of lightweight materials so they don’t add extra bulk and keep the look fresh for summer. I loved the geometric blue print on this one, it reminded me of Greece and it kept the look very tonal with varying shades of blue and a little bit of white which is also perfect for summer.
It has a relaxed fit, elbow length sleeves and a longer length at 39 inches to provide coverage if you want it. I liked how it lined up nicely with the hemline of the dress. And you can’t go wrong with a split side hem, especially for comfort when sitting down. I got the 5x in this because I wanted it to be loose and over sized. This would also look really cute with a belt if you wanted to define your waist.
To pull this look together I kept things simple and stuck with blue and white accessories and some classic silver. These white sandals from Catherines have been on heavy rotation already this spring. They are so comfortable and the little bit of bling gives just the right amount of sparkle. The earrings and bracelet are also from Catherines. I love being able to shop for everything all in one spot. Finally I added this cobalt blue bag from my personal collection to keep with my signature style.
While there you have it, my take on easy and comfortable summer fashion that is stylish and also won’t break the bank. Especially since Catherines is currently having their semi-annual clearance sale. Now is the time to score a great deal and add some last minute pieces to your summer wardrobe. Happy shopping!
This post is sponsored by Catherines but all opinions are my own, as always.
Special thanks to Rebecca of Rebecca Northcott Photography for capturing these images.
Kimono by CATHERINES | Dress by CATHERINES |Sandals by CATHERINES | Bracelet by CATHERINES | Earrings by CATHERINES |
