Belle,
I just bought this black maxi dress from Old Navy, and I was wondering if you could give me some tips on how style it. I like that it’s so simple, but I’m hoping to be able to dress it up a bit. Thanks, and I LOVE your blog!!
-KL
Maxi dresses are one of my favorite things for summer. Why? Because it’s nice to have a little extra fabric when the restaurants crank up the A/C. Here are a couple of ways to style a simple tank dress.
From Left, Chloe Oversized Sunglasses ($98) // Stephanie Kantis Turquoise Necklace ($275) // Milly Oversized Clutch ($123) // Steve Madden Toe Ring Sandal ($59)
From Right, Shoptiques Tassel Scarf ($28) // Saks Emma Tote ($50) // Ray Ban Aviators ($150) // 1969 Denim Jacket ($69) // Fergalicious Sizzle Flat ($35)
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Date Night. The inspiration for this outfit comes courtesy of Jessica Alba. I love the breezy maxi dress with the large, chunky necklace.
I’d never heard of this Stephanie Kantis line before, but I love the look of her large, airy chains. If you’re looking for a turquoise necklace for under-$75, this Color Karma long necklace is hot. It also comes in your choice of eight colors with different natural stones mixed in.
I went with an oversize clutch. This Milly bag brings a nice lightness to the look. I’m also feeling cork clutches for summertime.
For the hair, loose waves are perfect. I like this tutorial from Not Your Standard. Have shorter hair? Cloudy with a Chance of Wine has collected the best YouTube tutorials out there.
Farmer’s Market. The denim jacket is a highly underrated player in the summer wardrobe. It’s the perfect thing for chilly evenings. This Paige jacket looks great, and don’t miss this Tommy Hilfiger jacket for $69. Plus-size? Lane Bryant has you covered.
I love a tassled scarf with a maxi dress. It just adds to the boho chic. This one from Shoptiques is lovely. I’m also a big fan of Kate Spade leopard-dot scarf.
A simple shopper tote and flat sandal complete the look. I’m also feeling this grey hobo bag from Matt & Nat.
For the hair, a messy updo is always nice. This “messy pretzel chignon” is a great updo. I also like this twisted updo.
Belle do you consider a denim jacket a piece that you should spend a little money on to get a flattering cut, or a save type item? I see a few nice ones on ThredUp and one is Theory for a Theory price but a great look in black denim with knitted cuffs and hood, and another is GAP and more of a standard denim jacket look, boxy and blue.
A lightweight jacket is great for our cool California evenings in the summer, but I’ve never been a fan of the blue denim type.