Yesterday we talked about layering on the style even when it’s hot and humid outside. But today we’re going a different direction with our summer style. I’m styling a pretty linen dress that is perfect for a hot, humid day.
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I wore this pretty, pale blue linen dress from J.Jill on our recent getaway to a vintage resort. While we had a pleasantly cool day later in the week, this particular day was sticky and stuffy. But I honestly didn’t even break a sweat in this embroidered and beaded linen dress.
This 100% linen A-line dress comes in a full range of sizes including petites, misses, women’s and tall fits. I think the beading and embroidery around the split neck add lovely interest without looking fussy. And no, it’s not heavy on my chest at all. I’m sure someone will ask, so, no, I didn’t wear my slip underneath, but you certainly could if you prefer. I really just forgot to pack mine. But I did wear these Spanx Everyday shorts. Shoot, while we’re getting all personal I might as well tell you I also had on the Spanx Bra-llelujah bra, too. It’s definitely my favorite for hot, humid summer days.
I do think the linen dress runs large, at least in the misses sizes. I’m wearing a medium, but I really need a small. I’m going to take it to a nearby tailor for alterations later this week. I almost always wear a small in shirts and dresses at J.Jill, but they didn’t have one in the store that day and I was anxious to take it on our trip with me.
This embroidered and beaded linen dress is a little pricey and is not on sale. But it is exquisite and timeless. J.Jill has similar dresses every single year. In fact, I’m including at least half a dozen more from J.Jill in the shopping widget below. But I’ll also have linen dresses from other retailers and at lower price points in the shoppable collection. I can attest to the superb quality of this dress, but I realize you may want something less pricey, especially if you’re looking for more casual wear. The one I wore in Friday’s post from Kohl’s (shown below) is definitely an easy-to-wear contender.
By the way, I’m not including the pintuck linen dress above in the shopping widget below (for contractual reasons), but you can shop it through the text links.
I feel like a summery linen dress like this one really calls for paring back on your jewelry. The dress is simple and the overall vibe should be, too. Plus, the beaded embroidery around the yoke of the dress really takes the place of a necklace. I simply add a simple bracelet that’s no longer available (nice option) and these simple but impactful dogwood blossom earrings. They are marked down.
While I might opt for my metallic sandals with other dresses, I felt like this soft blue linen dress really called for simplicity. So I wore my nude or “makeup” Tory Burch Miller Sandals. These are now available in a softer sandal, too. I sure would love to hear how those feel in comparison. But these from Zappos are a nice alternative at a more economical price.
I completed the look with my J.Crew market tote and my packable floppy hat. No, they don’t have to match. In fact, I think the slightly mismatched look is slightly more authentic and interesting. This is the kind of outfit that I would wear so many places in the summer – out to brunch or lunch, to church, to a bridal or baby shower or even to an afternoon wedding (with different accessories).
I did also order this linen gauze wrap from Eileen Fisher and this linen blend wrap at a lower price to wear with my embroidered and beaded linen dress. But I didn’t have either in when I took these photos. I can tell you that the Eileen Fisher wrap is luxurious, but the linen blend wrap is a very suitable and nice alternative. Both would work nicely for a wedding or other nice event. And they come in multiple colors.
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Blessed for My Day
I have learned the hard way to hold onto the things of life loosely. People and relationships are indeed treasures, but they can never take the place of a vibrant relationship with our Creator. Careers and hobbies can be very fulfilling, but they never fill us up like serving God in whatever capacity He calls us to. And our home, possessions and celebrations can bring us limited pleasure, but they cannot fill the God-shaped vacuum in our souls. Nothing satisfies like God does.
But beyond the fact that those things cannot truly satisfy, they also can rob us of true fulfillment. When we hold onto life or the things of life too tightly, we either lose ourselves to them or we lose the very things we grasp. On the other hand, when we hold our possessions, people and pleasures open to God, He can take them and multiply them for His purposes. He gives those things of life meaning. And He uses them to bring us great joy and Him greater honor.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ~ Matthew 16:25
I love linen in the summer and J.Jill dresses are beautiful. I worked for J.Jill for over 12 years and have collected many pieces that I’m still wearing now. They hold up very well. They do run on the larger side, sizing down is always an option. I have belted some of mine at times, too.
Kay, you look so nice in the linen dress! I hope to add a more economically priced midi length linen dress to my closet. Way to go on deep cleaning two rooms yesterday. Have a great day!
Your blessing of the day was said so well and so, so true!!!
Hi Kay, A very pretty dress! I have 2-3 colorful linen dresses from J Jill that are several seasons old. I wear them every summer when it gets really hot as you can just throw them on with sandals and look polished wherever you go! They are simple, cool and much easier to wear than shorts or capris. All you need is a cute bag and sandals with minimal jewelry. I live in NC and we have very hot, humid summers here.
I bought the JJill linen dress and I’m so excited to have found such a simple, pretty dress. Thank you Kay! It is my first linen purchase so I hope I get used to the wrinkles! After feeling oh so hot at an outdoor event recently, I decided I needed something cool and breathable. (Mind you, I was wearing Bermuda shorts and an elbow length T, but it was too close to my body and just didn’t breath.) Anyway, you mention in your post that with different accessories, you might wear this dress to an afternoon wedding. Maybe in a future post, you can show us how to dress this dress up. Thank you for everything you do!
I do hope you enjoy it. Thanks so much for letting me know. I would love to think that I’ll get around to styling this dress again, but you never know. So I would simply add some pretty nude or white strappy heeled sandals. Even a low heel would be lovely. I’d carry a pretty white clutch of some kind and add a white linen blend wrap. I’d probably wear pearl earrings or something equally elegant.