Product Sample: I received complimentary product from Orvis for this review. All opinions are my own, of course! :)

I feel like there’s something that every woman has in her closet. Maybe it’s not the same cut, color, or length, but if you don’t own it, you probably should. It’s the striped dress, and really, it’s perfect for every single body.

I remember being told many years ago by someone who thought they knew everything that stripes aren’t for short people. “They make you look wide and even shorter!” they said. I never took this to heart and have rocked stripes of all sizes for my entire life. Stripes and florals for spring may not be groundbreaking, but they are a classic that needs to be in everyone’s wardrobe. Stripes pair perfectly with florals, both big and small, dressed down with chambrays, white denim, jeans, or sneakers, or dressed up with heels. Honestly, stripes go with just about anything making it a wardrobe essential that I believe looks good on everyone.

So why all the striped dress talk? Because I found the perfect one from Orvis, an outdoor retailer who apparently also carries the softest dresses known to womankind. I’d driven by the store in Bellevue a dozen times over the years and never gave it a second glance if we’re perfectly honest. I happened to be perusing the eBates website one day when I noticed they had an offer for cashback. Being the nosy person that I am, I clicked on it and was shocked to find so many Pacific Northwest staples. Cargo jackets, raincoats, and boots of all kinds were mixed in with cute bracelets, beach totes, and swim cover-ups. If you want staples that will last for years to come, Orvis is your place. They’ve been making outdoor gear for over 150 years, so you know there’s something to it.

How to Wear a Striped Dress this Spring

While I truly believe you can wear this boatneck striped dress just about anywhere and however your heart desires, I thought I’d provide three different occasions and styling suggestions. I always find it useful to create at least three different looks with one piece before I add it to my wardrobe. It’s prevented a lot of impulse purchases, but I’ve also been able to add a lot of style staples to my closet that way!

For running errands

What I’m Wearing

Dress (worn as top): Striped Perfect Tee Boatneck Dress c/o Orvis
Skirt: Chelsea28 (similar)
Sandals: Mossimo (similar)
Hat: Fred Meyer (similar)
Clutch: Colorblock Fiji Pouch c/o Orvis

While a dress can definitely be worn just like that, it can also be converted to a top when paired with a skirt. This is one of my favorite style tricks for getting even more mileage out of the dresses in my wardrobe! I love the way this white skirt breaks up the stripes and adds such a feminine flair to this piece. I paired the skirt and dress combo with my favorite caged sandals as well as this adorable striped clutch. I love how the clutch provides enough contrast to the size of the stripes yet still goes with the outfit. Simple jewelry finished the look, because I don’t know about you, but a ton of jewelry when I’m wearing patterns just isn’t my thing.

Continue reading →