When I have those, “I have nothing to wear” moments, I always reach for a shirtdress. Not that they are a throwaway outfit but because they are simple, put-together, and always appropriate.  They are the first thing (besides a white t-shirt) that I throw in my suitcase before a trip. Depending on the material you can usually dress them up or down and get away with wearing them just about anywhere. When I bought this Stateside Shirtdress I debated about keeping it. Finally I pulled the tag off and just went with it. Thank the fashion Gods! I have worn this dress more times than not. No joke, my husband now calls it my “uniform.”

Because every closet needs a good shirtdress, I have found a few below that I think would be amazing! And all are under $150! Also, something to remember, a shirtdress looks great with sandals now and a scarf, boots, and blazer later (or even under a sweater)! So don’t be scared to spend money on one in the late summer. They are always a staple!

shop the shirtdress (by clicking on the image below)

Outfit Details // Stateside Shirdress (on major sale / size down), Superga Platform sneakers, Lacoste hat, Karen Walker ‘Helter Skelter’ sunnies

I can’t say that I have spent much time in the desert but it is a place I always wanted to visit. In college my roommate and best friend was from Arizona. She was studying abroad a semester and needed to bring her car back home. I happily agreed to tag along on the drive from Dallas to Scottsdale. I couldn’t wait to see a different part of the country. I remember thinking how much I loved the landscape. My friend, who grew up with it, was less than impressed. But I loved the wide open spaces, the muted colors, and the random mountain of red rock. Growing up in Houston this was all so new and beautiful to me.  All I could think about were the cowboys and Indians back in the 1800’s and how they would ride their horses on those same exact fields. I know that sounds nuts, but I love making up stories and relating them back to history.

This past weekend my husband surprised me with a trip to Arizona to check off some major bucket list items (more coming on that). To me, desert style means boots, hats, scarves, and minimalist clothing. I know the desert can get cool at night so I tied a denim shirt around my waist in case I might need it. The desert and our trip was so calming and re-centering. I can’t wait to go back!

GET THE LOOK // Blank Denim Saturated Shorts, Modal V-Neck t-shirt, J.Crew Panama Hat, Ankle boots, Ray Ban Aviator, Silk Scarf

GET THE LOOK // Blank Denim Saturated Shorts, Modal V-Neck t-shirt, J.Crew Panama Hat, Ankle boots, Ray Ban Aviator, Silk Scarf