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Nothing is easier than a dress for spring/summer. It’s pretty much one and done… Just add sandals and a few complementary accessories, and you’re good to go! Nordstrom has a lot of new styles right now, so I ordered a few to try, and these are the ones that made the cut.
A t-shirt dress makes a nice shorts alternative in the summertime, and there’s nothing basic about this twist waist midi t-shirt dress. The waist detail takes the classic design up a notch, but it’s still casual and comfortable.
Caslon Twist Waist Organic Cotton Midi T-Shirt Dress (M) // Birkenstock Madrid (39) // Jenny Bird Puffy Faye Knocker Earrings // similar pendant
It’s made of breathable 100% organic cotton, and it has a wide crewneck and short sleeves that are cut at a slight angle that create flattering lines. It’s those small details that make all the difference.
The midi length keeps it current, and the placement of the slit makes for easy movement and creates an extra point of interest.
FIT TIP: One thing I’m always careful about is the length of a midi dress. I don’t like it when the hem of a dress or skirt cuts right apart the widest part of my calf, and this one a couple inches below that point, which is perfect. If it was any longer, it crosses over into maxi dress territory, which would drag me down, but this one has a really nice balance of proportions. I’m 5’5″, for reference.
This dress also comes in a black and white stripe and a pretty sage green stripe, and it runs true to size, or size up if in between. I went with the medium for a little extra wiggle room.
I styled this black dress with my Birkenstock Madrid slides in the metallic black. I had the wider Big Buckle version last year, and I still love those, but this more narrow buckle has a more delicate appeal while still providing all the support of the iconic Birkenstock footbed.
This dress would also look great with a white street sneaker, a raffia wedge sandal, or a strappy metallic slide.
Another casual dress that caught my eye at Nordstrom is this knit v-neck midi dress. It comes in rust, olive, and this navy; and I really like the v-neckline and sleeveless design. The wide straps fit easily over a regular bra.
Caslon V-Neck Midi Dress (S) // Dolce Vita Selda Raffia Slides (7.5) // Jenny Bird Puffy Faye Knocker Earrings // similar pendant
The fabric is a modal/cotton/spandex blend that’s little thicker than the one above, and it’s really nice and soft. I love that the drawstring waist, but it’s a tad snug in the size small. I would recommend sizing up, if in between.
This time, I wore my Dolce Vita raffia slides. They have a comfortable molded footbed, which I especially appreciate these days with my injured ankle. These don’t require breaking in the way the Birkenstocks do, and they offer a good amount of support. Plus, they’re super cute, and the raffia upper is very much on trend right now.
A slightly more elevated option is this Ming Wang Abstract Floral Knit Dress. This dress has such a nice and easy fit and feel, and the navy and white gives the bold abstract floral print a classic appeal.
The comfortable knit fabric skims the body without clinging, and it has such a flattering fit, with cap sleeves that create those pleasing vertical lines I mentioned above.
Ming Wang Abstract Floral Knit Dress (S) // Nordstrom Carolina Slide Sandals (8)
The shape and fit of a sleeve can make or break a garment, and this one is designed particularly well. Notice how these sleeves are solid navy, with white trim, rather than carrying over the print of the dress into the sleeves, which could be awkward and hard to place, due to the large abstract print. I appreciate thoughtful details like that.
This is a dress you can easily dress up or down, depending on your choice of footwear, and I went with flat slides since I’m still nursing an ankle injury. The interlocking straps create a nice visual interest, and the gold metallic plays into current trends.
When I’m back in heels, I’ll wear this with white block heel slides or a neutral wedge sandal.
Finally, if you have a wedding or special occasion coming up this spring or summer, this Mila Mae Abstract Floral Maxi Dress is one to consider. I love the swirly abstract print, and the shape is super flattering. Plus, it’s regular bra-friendly!
Mila Mae Abstract Floral Maxi Dress (M) // similar slides // Jenny Bird Puffy Faye Knocker Earrings // similar pendant
This dress just slips on over the head, and it has enough stretch to slide over the body, which makes getting dressed nice and easy. It’s fully lined, and the medium fits me perfectly, so I’d say it’s TTS or size up if in between.
Since it has some gold in the design, gold footwear is the perfect complement. If I could wear heels, I would wear this dress with strappy gold heels like the Sam Edelman Kia. They’re my go-to for dressier looks, and they would be perfect with this dress. But if you’re relegated to flats, as I am right now, a simple gold slide works too!
Whether you just want to level up your everyday looks, or you have a special occasion you’re shopping for, Nordstrom has a dress for that!
Shop more of my favorites here:
As always, when you shop at Nordstrom, you get their free shipping and free returns. And don’t forget about their BOPUS (Buy Online Pick Up in Store) and contactless curbside pickup options.
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