Casual Spring Dress 3 Ways

Hello and welcome to Dressed for My Day. My goal here with each and every post is to help women 50 and above simply to get dressed for our unique days – beautifully and appropriately – so that we can show up big and influence the world around us. I believe that women our age have so much to offer, and if we want those around us to take us seriously and hear what we have to say, then we need to put ourselves together so that we look authentic, individual and modern. Today I’m simply sharing how you can wear a casual spring dress three ways. Versatility is such a key in the modern woman’s wardrobe.

Recently I was asked to do a social media campaign for one of my favorite local shopping centers. My social media posts were to feature two of my favorite stores, Chico’s and Talbots, so of course I said yes. We shot the photos last Saturday, which was a gloriously sunny, warm spring day. I wore this paisley jersey knit dress for my photographed shopping trip, and it was so comfortable and fun to wear that I thought I’d share with you three different ways to wear it.

So excuse the mask, but I was simply complying with our local ordinances. I got it at Banana Republic and it’s currently deeply marked down. But let’s focus on the dress!

I actually love wearing a simple dress like this when I shop because it’s easy on and off in the fitting rooms. Plus this breathable jersey knit half placket shirt dress is so comfortable. I’m wearing my true to size medium.

The vista blue paisley dress features a half front placket that can be buttoned to your comfort level, 3/4 length sleeves that can be cuffed and a traditional collar. It can be machine washed and dried (though I won’t dry mine in the machine).

Now let’s talk about three ways to wear this fun dress. In fact, the styling tips I’m sharing (and they’re not complicated!) will work with most any spring dress you might have in your closet or purchase for the season.

In fact, I guess I’m really sharing four ways to wear this dress. Obviously you can wear it just as I did Saturday, simply with pretty neutral colored sandals and a little jewelry. I purchased these Madewell Kiera Mule Sandals last year, but they’re still available. If you don’t mind a little bit of a heel, these flesh tone (at least for me!) double strap mules are a great versatile for dresses, skirts and pants through the hot months.

I’ve detailed all my jewelry in the captions and the shopping widget. But I will point out that I’m absolutely loving these thick gold hoops. I think they make quite the statement with very little effort. Oh, and they’re quite lightweight.

My first variation on this dress is simply adding a denim jacket. You know I love a denim jacket! I’m wearing my classic Levi’s blue denim trucker jacket (in Sweet Jane), but a pretty white denim jacket would work beautifully, too.

I love the juxtaposition of wearing a pretty dress with a “rugged” denim jacket. And your classic blue denim jacket works like a neutral, so you really can wear it with every color…even black. I think a pretty spring dress with a denim jacket is the perfect outfit for a casual lunch out with friends, a date night or a vacation outing.

Next up I topped the paisley jersey knit dress with a simple, traditional cardigan. My Biscayne blue charming cardigan from Talbots is turning out to be quite the versatile piece this spring. And since it’s a 3/4 length sleeve cardi, I’ll be wearing it into the summer, too.

You’ll notice I’m carrying my Brighton straw satchel with both of these looks. This classic summer bag is feminine enough for the classic cardigan duo, but also casual enough with the jean jacket.

I love this look for work, a club meeting, volunteering or church. Some will say that these traditional button up cardigans are out of style, but I think they are classics and never go out of style. But the key to wearing one and looking stylish rather than frumpy is simply to pair it with other modern elements. Well, that and confidence. A little self-confidence makes everything you wear look a little more stylish!

Style Tip: For a more modern way to wear your traditional button up cardigans, check out this previous post.

Next I topped the paisley half placket shirt dress with my baby blue blazer. My blazer is no longer available, but the exact blazer is not important. In fact, this twilight blue knit blazer would work perfectly. But I’ll have other options in the shopping widget below, too.

Of course, when I switched into a blazer I also swapped out my sandals for dressier footwear. I think the combination of a fitted blazer and nude pumps really elevates this dress. My nude pumps are one of the 5 Shades of Nude pumps offered by Ally Shoes. I’m wearing the Bossy Beige leather pump. Ally offers custom sizing and at-home trials offers because they want you to love how your pumps fit and feel. These are amazing, hand-crafted shoes…worth every penny if you frequently wear heels. Use code KAYHEELS to save $40 on your first pair of heels or KAYFLATS to save 10% on a pair of flats.

I also changed out my straw handbag for a slightly more polished shoulder bag. The bag is no longer available in this color, but if you’re looking for a soft neutral like this I can highly recommend this hobo bag from Banana Republic.

I think adding heels, a polished bag and a blazer to this dress makes it a great choice for a spring or summer day at the office. But it’s also a nice look for church.

I’m including everything I’ve shown today (that is available) in the shopping widget below. But I’ve also gathered up a few other dresses that would work in all of these style formulas, too. Do you enjoy wearing your spring dresses in a variety of ways? I’d love to hear how you top your dresses to keep them versatile and fresh for each occasion.

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You can shop the look through the links in the copy above or through the shopping widget below. Sale prices are not always reflected in the widget, so click through to get pricing info. Remember, if you purchase anything through these links I potentially earn a commission, but at no cost to you. Thank you for shopping through Dressed for My Day. I am grateful!

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Blessed for My Day

Not only did Jesus give us grace, amazing grace, when He died on the cross for our sins. But He also died gracefully. He showed us how to die to ourselves each and every day. He showed us how to give grace on our hardest days, in our most difficult circumstances.

Yes, there absolutely is a time to speak up. Christian women do not have to be doormats, and there’s no room for abuse. But we all know that there are times when the Holy Spirit nudges us to close our mouths, to speak no words. There are situations when our God compels upon us to allow Him to defend our reputations or set the record straight rather than fighting our own battles. And those are the times when we can remember the way our Lord did not open His mouth or retaliate with words. Those are the times when we can learn from His example of grace.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth. ~ Isaiah 53:7