A friend reached out to say she was overwhelmed with all the summer dress options. She’s right! The flood gates have opened on the season and fashion production and while some might say we are ‘spoiled for choice’, others feel immobilized by it all. Let’s drill down a bit on how to navigate to the options best for you.

Current styles are more widespread than they used to be in decades past due to the new manufacturing calendar; instead of four set seasons of new styles a year, designers make what they want when they want, and often in smaller batches. This allows them to make a wider set of options more frequently.

Right now, the biggest trends in current spring/summer dresses are:

Color. We are getting all the colors of the rainbow, lots of pastels, in solids and prints galore.
Hyper-feminine silhouettes from smocked and string tie to ruffled sleeves to décolleté revealing, and the more structured (but no less sexy) shirt dress.
Fitted and floaty- body con tank dresses and loose-fitting quasi-caftans. (The latter can always be belted for an additional look.)
Length is all over the place! Mini, knee-length, midi and ankle!

Image One Source : Emerson Fry || Image Two Source: Madewell

How to choose? I eschew hard and fast rules across the board and instead teach clients to ask themselves the following thoughtful questions:

Do I really NEED it?
Do I already have something similar (or am I building a uniform with similar pieces)?
Do I really LOVE it, or am I attracted because it’s on sale or is undeniably pretty (but perhaps better suited to someone else)?
Does it suit my lifestyle (ergo, will I wear it for a real, current purpose)?
Will it flatter (not just fit) my current body? (e.g. does voluminous fabric swallow my frame whole or too little coverage leave me feeling uncomfortably exposed?)
Can I picture it working with accessories or other pieces I own?
What is the fabric content? (I prefer natural only for breathability and longevity, but you know what works for you.) Does it require care that I will realistically take? (e.g. machine vs dry clean)
Will/can I wear it multiple times and seasons?
Is it worth the money to me (even if it’s super affordable)?
Does it haunt me days beyond the initial ‘I want it’ moment?

and most importantly:

Do I feel like myself – or the self I want to be – when wearing it?

Image One Source: Doen || Image Two Source: Anthroplogie

I know it can sound like this process of self-talk must take all the spontaneity (aka ‘fun’) out of shopping, but the more you practice, the more instinctual it becomes and the more you will learn to identify what is right for you without the mental gymnastics. The more you run everything you own and consider buying through this checklist, the more you minimize the overwhelm to a simple ‘Meh” or ‘Yay!’ feeling that will be the impetus to choose what’s right for you.

- Stephanie

@composed_co