Author Archives: allisongrande

Ode to the Sporty Dress

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Three cheers go to one of summer’s best and comfiest fashion trends: the sporty dress!

Sporty dresses are extremely easy to wear and provide an effortlessly polished daytime summer look. Plus they’re comfortable, cool and usually pretty inexpensive.

Here are my top 4 picks ranging from pricey to dirt cheap. All are versatile pieces that can be paired with a wedge sandal, flip flops or your favorite runners.

1. Rag & Bone Diem Paneled Knit Dress: $450 USD

This mesh and solid knit dress is more structured than most sporty dresses and allows for a slightly more sophisticated and figure-hugging look. The mesh adds a nod to athletic wear. The color (hard to detect from the photo) is a fresh summer mint – to go along with your julep.

2. Lacoste Retro-Tipped Polo Dress: $150.00 CAD

Lacoste pretty much wrote the book on the sporty tennis dress. This version adds a bit of visual interest by including a tipped collar and sleeves in addition to the cinched but relaxed waist. It comes in the classic navy/white combination but the one pictured in Persian Rose Pink utilizes another summer trend: shades of coral and chili pepper.

3. Gap Drop-waist Jersey Shirtdress: $64.95 CAD

This smart little number screams comfort and style – black and white, yet another summer trend, keeps you current. The weight of this jersey is slightly heavier for those who shy away from super light clingy fabrics. The banded collar, cap sleeves and hidden Henley placket set it apart from your typical pique polo dress.

4. Roots Layering Tunic: $28.00 CAD

It doesn’t get simpler (or more affordable!) than this – layer it, top it with a cardigan, or add some faux (or real) pearls. The cobalt blue is a classic summer shade though it is also available in black and white. Enjoy it poolside with a fruity cocktail, statement sunglasses and a juicy romance novel. Cheers!

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Pulling Off Prints

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It’s summer. Bring on the prints! (sigh)

If you’re like me and tend to stick to a more or less monochromatic wardrobe three seasons out of the year (black, gray, camel, navy), summer fashion can be feel a bit intimidating with designers’ insistence on flooding their collections with prints. While I like the idea of changing things up at least

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one season per year, I have a hard time committing to what I find in contemporary designers’ summer collections for two reasons: 1. Many prints require sunglasses simply to view them, 2. Prints can make me feel like the pod me when I try them on (not a good feeling).

That said, here are four contemporary designers who seem to have gotten it right this season with prints that are fun, fresh, feminine, and slightly understated.

Milly’s printed mesh top dress, which made it to their Spring 2013 Runway, features a fitted silhouette, cut-in shoulders and a tonal mesh top that adds a bit of sexy to your summery look. The print is artful and just plain pretty.

Tory Burch tends to get prints right – and this blue print floral jersey dress is no exception. Florals are often a bit too prissy, but the added rouching at the waist and fitted silhouette keep this daytime dress out of your Nana’s closet.

Diane von Furstenberg has seemed a bit lazy with prints in the past few seasons if you ask me. But this geometric colorblock take on a low-waisted dress (perhaps Gatsby-inspired) redeems her. The bias-pleated swing skirt adds a bit of whimsy to an elegant office dress.

Michael Kors is, well, Michael Kors. Classic American styling. Georgette elegantly observes summer temperatures while a lace-up chain necklace adds sophisticated detail to this ultimate summer dress – easy breezy summer style. And at $140 USD, it’s a bargain!

All four dresses available at neimanmarcus.com.