A versatile summer dress

White and blue striped cotton sheath dress - The Pastiche

I think it's rare to find a dress that can truly go from outdoor-casual and daytime appropriate to evening event-worthy. I feel like I constantly read proclamations of such on blogs and store websites, but I often won't agree (and am usually perplexed as to what people's days consist of). As a related aside, I have an all-too-real fear of looking way overdressed or over effortful in general, let alone during the day in the summertime. Therefore, I tend to keep the two wardrobe looks entirely separate.

But since I have a work trip to Bermuda coming up, I was determined to find one that could bridge the gap between beach or exploring day with slides and an evening dinner party with heels--I wanted to find a dress that could serve both purposes (less to pack in that sense, as well). I also wanted it to be a really comfortable, no-fuss material, and yet still chic enough to transition into nighttime. My expectations were high, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this little cotton number in white with blue stripes. I think its sheath shape and modern, squared off neckline keep it from feeling too preppy or too little girl-ish. And I love that some unique jewelry helps to downplay the stripes and in this case, give a tiny bit of edge to an otherwise clean, classic look.