the little red dress you need this summer

it is no secret that summer is my 

favorite time of year. the cold brew;

weekend festivals and street fairs; the bright colors; 

vibrant, seasonal trends - i love all of it.

my mom works as a montessori preschool 

teacher (with a beloved summer break!), but unfortunately, 

i have a limited number of vacation and personal 

days at my disposal. this has yet to slow me down, 

however, as i continue to fill my calendar with 

trips to the cabin, little weekend getaways,

barbecues, brunches, campfires on the beach, 

blogging adventures, and everything in between. 

traditionally, the start of summer 

also marks the beginning of wedding season.

last summer, i attended eight weddings within

three months. it was busy, but i had

a wonderful time celebrating, eating, dancing, 

etc. etc. my favorite part, however?

choosing what to wear!

disclosure: macy's and lauren ralph lauren graciously

provided me with the dress and handbag in this post.

all opinions are my own!

a red statement dress is perfect for a variety

of spring, summer, and fall occasions, 

but i dream of wearing this particular bell sleeve 

dress to a summer wedding!

the length, fabric, and overall fit of the

dress are seemingly perfect. it is modest, yet

feminine and flirty! i love the eyelet detail on the bell

sleeves (you know i cannot say 'no' to a bell

sleeve top or dress). the sleeve length and light fabric 

will keep you cool for a daytime, outdoor wedding, 

but provide some coverage after sundown.

i paired the red dress with simple nude heels, but

these could easily be swapped out for basic

sandals, ankle boots, or leopard heels come fall.

add a gold belt and/or statement necklace for a 

completely different look!

do you have any weddings or other events

this summer that may require a little red dress? 

while i typically enjoy thrift shopping

and scavenging the sale racks at various department

stores, this dress is an investment. the quality

and design of the dress speak for themselves

(it photographs beautifully, too!). 

this dress fits true to size and is currently

available in sizes 4-14. i am wearing a size 4 and do

not mind the looseness. the straight fit allows for

 freedom of movement (particularly when you are on the 

dance floor); i will not feel restricted after having that 

slice (or two) of wedding cake either.

best of all? it is machine washable!

photos by karya schanilec photography

dress: c/o macy's and lauren ralph lauren (exact here),

heels: nordstrom (similar here), ring: nordstrom,

purse: c/o macy's and lauren ralph lauren (exact here)

i hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

and if you are searching for that perfect summer 

dress, happy shopping!

xoxo.