Welcome to This Is Cute. We’re Jenna, Jayna, and Verena. We text all day about cute stuff so you don’t have to. If you’re interested in seeing the previous and equally unhinged editions, they’re here.
It’s summer! Most of us are thrilled, some of us (Jayna) are miserable, but we can all agree that one good thing about stiflingly hot apartments and swampy subway platforms and risking a shark attack in the Rockaways just to feel alive (any guesses as to who is writing this intro??) is getting to swan around in a summer dress. Though they do seem to be creeping up in price like everything else in the world, we still managed to find a collection of cutes that run the gamut from seriously affordable to “you’ll throw it on when the idea of wearing even a shred of fabric is appalling” worth the splurge. Summer dresses! Let’s go!
LAUREL LINEN-COTTON UTILITY DRESS, BANANA REPUBLIC
How cute is she?? I love the subtle texture and v-neck and notched collar (is that what that’s called?) and also the fact that it’s a loose silhouette but not too billowy because I’ve realized that even though I adore a billow, sometimes it’s nice to strike a bit of balance between fitted and an actual burlap sack. I love the tobacco color (and ordered it so I will report back once it arrives), but the black and white versions are also very chic and feel like the kind of dress I could get a lot of mileage out of. Especially with a cute puffy slide or platform sandal. - JM
Unlike JM and VVP, I have never Christie Dawned. And I don’t know why, I normally do everything those two do! The brand’s dresses are easy breeze, flattering, and GOOD FOR THE EARTH. Also, they’re well priced, especially if you sign up for email and score the additional 15% off for newbies. I really do love the signature Dawn Dress—the sleeves, the neckline, the ditsy, dusty prints are all things I look for in vintage designs, in fact!—and feel like it’s the perfect gateway into Dawn-ing (does that makes it sound like I’m joining a cult?). The cut comes in 15 different prints and colors, and you have to click through since there are only a smattering of sizes available in some options, but that’s part of the fun I think. - JG
This is one of those a little bit snoozy, not super exciting dresses that you might initially scroll right past at first glance. It’s a basic but flattering cut in a basic but flattering color—and that is exactly why it’s all-but-guaranteed to be a secret workhorse in your closet. It’s the kind of dress you can wear without ever having to think more than two seconds about how you’re styling. It will always look elegant and a little timeless, and you can dress it up with tons of gold jewelry (I love the idea of a heavy wrist of bangles) or pair it with some Havaiana flippies and a structured tote (should we bring back Longchamps?) to run errands and channel your inner Caroline Bessette.
TIE-STRAP POCKET MIDI-DRESS, OLIPHANT
There’s just something soooo sweet about tie-strap anything. Maybe because it sort of reminds me of baby clothes, but not in a (super) weird way. It’s just a little detail that I will never not be drawn to. I doomscrolled my way to discovering this brand, and though a lot of it sort of falls on the frillier side of what I normally go for, this loosey-goose midi with big patch pockets and fun birds (including the grossest and most majestic of all — the pelican) totally won me over. I recently wore it on a magical trip to Jamaica and could tell it was going to be my summer dress. Cute with a colorful sandal, cute with a boat shoe, she can do it all. It also comes in a few different prints—I feel like this one has VVP written all over it. - JM
I love a little torso rouching—it's so romantic in a renaissance fair (faire?) kind of way. Same goes for a boob shelf. Like, couldn’t you just see Maid Marion (the fox) prancing around her honeymoon, skirts in hand, wearing this? I honestly hope Ciao Lucia designer and style influencer Lucy Akin understands I mean that as the biggest compliment of all time. - JG
HIGH NECK LINEN BLEND MINI DRESS, ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
Cue up the LFO, because Abercrombie & Fitch is back… in the form of this cute cute cute linen mini (and also apparently the brand’s stock price too, I guess?). I love the dress’s ‘60s-style neckline, little back keyhole and butt-grazing hem (sorry), and want to wear one (black? maybe cream?) throwback Alexa Chung-style, e.g. with ballet flats and some cat-eye sunglasses. -JG
MIRROR HORSES FRONT TIE DRESS, THE TINY BIG SISTER
I absolutely cannot stay away from this brand with the most bonkers name in all of retail. We’ve talked about them before, we still don’t fully understand them (is it a kids brand that also does women’s? Is it the opposite? Is it called Tiny Cottons or the Tiny Big Sister or what? WHAT IS WE ARE GOMMU?? It’s all deranged and I love it, and I also love this dress, which is very vintage Italian grandma housedress meets Lisa Frank but doesn’t tip over into full silly territory thanks to the chic and subdued color palette. Horse Girl Summer, let’s go! -JM
I have truly been inundated with ads featuring this dress, and guess what—it’s working. I love how Deiji Studios blurs the line between sleep and wake wear, because no one really wants to get dressed dressed in the summer. This particular nightgown-ish style takes dream-state dressing to the next lev with the impractically plunging neckline (if you have boobs). Though I’m thinking its nakedness means it would make make for the cutest-ever bikini coverup. -JG
Absolutely a splurge, but look at this gal! I’m usually not a fan of a trompe l’oeil style — don’t try to trick me! Just be normal, clothes! But I really am in love with this dress made to look like an oversized sleeveless button down thrown over a long lace skirt. It’s partly the unexpected pairing and the fact that it’s a long-on-long situation, which as we know is a TIC fave, but honestly I just think it’s super chic and cool and sexy and versatile. Again, cannot shop, especially not on splurgers, but I will be keeping an eye out in case this beauty somehow ends up on sale and I can scoop her up and wear her and trick everyone. -JM
It doesn’t get any more throw-on-and-go than this easy, breezy number from the GAP. A perfect shade of interesting but versatile green, a full suite of sizes, an eminently reasonable price, minimal (but extremely breathable) fabric for sweltering days. Guarantee this one will sell out soon. -VvP
VINTAGE SHIRT DRESSES
The quickest way to give your summer wardrobe a healthy dose of Lelaina Pierce—and who doesn’t want to do that??—is with a pre-worn, practically threadbare shirt dress, preferably in a playful print or moody solid. Fortunately, Ebay is chockfull of them (I have this one! Let’s be twins! Also love this, this and this, which hits a slightly preppier, but still ‘90s note). I prefer to wear mine loosey goose (tailored shirt dresses feel less grunge, more Talented Mr. Ripley, which I fully endorse but under different circumstances!), often with loafers and sometimes even over bike shorts. - JG
I can’t really pull off the mod look, personally, but if I could, I’d absolutely buy this dress and wear it with cute loafers or jellies in the city or almost-naked sandals on vacation. I know this wee little whisp is $598 but just think how rich of a bitch you’d be sauntering down to sunset cocktails with the Simkhai Oyster purse that I am still thinking about from last year. -VvP
QUAKER LACE CAFTAN, THANK YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY
Okay, while we’re on the topic of lacy rich bitch dresses, I’m going to throw this Thank You Have A Good Day one into the mix, only because it’s absolutely stunning and also one-of-a-kind. This is a special purchase, the kind of dress you hold on to forever, but let me tell you all the ways you could wear it to justify the cost: roam around your neighborhood with a chic pair of ARQ-style (RIP) bloomies or Jenna’s aforementioned bike shorts (which I also own!) and beat up Vans; over jeans and with a chunky cardigan or slouchy knit turtle or sweater in the fall; over a slim-fit, neutral turtle, Uniqlo Heattech leggings (can you believe I’m writing about Heattech leggings in JUNE???), and cowboy boots; to your wedding; as a beach cover up over a swimmy; or honestly, just at home, because LOOK AT IT. I just really think that someone needs to own this dress, especially because I can’t. -VvP
No one does breezy summer dresses better than Ilana Kohn, but also, no one does breezy summer dresses made less breezy by the addition of pants better than ME. I’ve been wearing these pants a lot because the grid pattern is sort of neutral but also fun and interesting, and I feel like pairing it with my embroidered Chava button up was a real outfit unlock. But I think it would be just as cute worn head to toe with the dress as my top. So much pattern! But still showing arms and ankles so it feels seasonally appropriate! I’m currently on a shopping hiatus, but the longer I look at this, the harder it is to resist. -JM
SUMMER DRESS IN PRINT E AND/OR SIMPLE DRESS IN PRINT G, ANNTIAN
This dress (in Print E) reminds me of my favorite ever dress by Mother of Pearl (RIP) but a little more casually wearable. I also love the Simple Dress version in Print G, which is a little warmer toned and has a cute, blousier cut. I’d caveat the sticker price on both except that I spent about the same price on my Mother of Pearl dress in 2013 and I promise you the cost per wear on either one of these will be even better. -VvP
Okay do not kill me. I too see the price tag and want to barf. BUT, I am so in love with this little number. The Aperol color, the pre-crinkled linen, the caftan-but-sexy cut. I’d break out the self tanner and wear it with some strappy black sandals to complement the little licorice rope piping, or—since we’re DREAMING here—tunic-ify it and pair it with the (even pricier, jesus) matching trousers. - JG
THE CUTE CATALOGUE™
Dresses
Banana Republic Linen Utility Dress
Christie Dawn The Dawn Dress
Jenni Kayne Cove Dress
Oliphant Tie-Strap Cotton Midi Dress in Audobon (and in Macaw)
Ciao Lucia Barbara Dress
Abercrombie & Fitch Linen Mini Dress
Sea NY Suzy Combo Dress
Tiny Cottons Mirror Horses Front Tie Dress
Deiji Studios Tie Tuck Dress
GAP Linen-Blend Mini Dress
Vintage Eddie Bauer Floral Dress
Vintage Maxi Swing Dress
Vintage Talbots Sea Dress
Vintage Eddie Bauer Polo Dress
DOEN Tessa Dress
Thank You Have A Good Day Quaker Lace Caftan
Ilana Kohn Roxie Dress
Anntian Summer Dress in PRINT E
Anntian Simple Dress in PRINT G
Attersee Mini Caftan
Tops
Chava Oversized Shirt
Helsa Cableknit Cardigan
Babaa No.17 Jumper
Lauren Manoogian Hand-Knit Plait Sweater
J.Crew Turtleneck
Shorts & Pants
Aritzia High-Rise Bike Shorts
Attersee Corset Pants
Odobody Bloomies
Haikure Korea Jeans
Uniqlo Ultra-Warm Heat Tech Leggings
Shoes
Simon Miller Bubble Padded Slides
BYRY Gigi Platform Sandal
Birkenstock Arizona EVA Sandals
Havaianas Slim Flip Flops
Le Monde Beryl Mesh Ballerina Flats
Eastland Falmouth Loafer
Thom Browne Slingback Loafers
Ancient Greek Sandals Iro Jellies
J.Crew Winona (!) Loafers
TKEES Lace-up Sandals
Vans Classic Checkerboard Slip-Ons
Paris Texas Cowboy Boots
Bags & Accessories
Celine Oval Sunglasses
8 Other Reasons Bangle Bracelet Set
J.Crew Hinge Bracelet Set
Simkhai Oyster Shell Clutch
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