Dress me please!

[JRose]

I am searching for some casual dresses to wear this summer. I am primarily a SAHM so I'm looking for dresses that can take a beating and that I won't worry about getting dirty while chasing after a 2yr old. I hate shorts and only have a few pairs of capris--a dress or two would really give me some more choices and I would be able to wear them when I work as well. I like skirts but have a hard time getting tops that match. I am HORRIBLE at knowing if something looks alright and don't even ask me to accessorize!

I found a few options at Target and Old Navy but it seems like all of the dresses are an odd length this season. I'm 5'3" on a really good day and having a dress cut me off mid calf is just not flattering. FWIW, I have narrow shoulders, and a smaller waist/definite hips. Some of the crepe style skirts just make me look like I'm wearing a tent.

Any ideas? Price is also a huge factor--the cheaper the better. Gee, if that doesn't narrow it down :p

[Sposa06]

These dresses are all on sale at Macy's:

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/0/optimized/214570_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/2/optimized/212198_70382_fpx.tif?wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg
(This one comes in three colors)

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/3/optimized/213653_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/5/optimized/213655_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/9/optimized/198919_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/2/optimized/207582_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

[Natrat80]

You're looking for casual right?
This one is on sale at Gap for $24.99
http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/357/357100/big/gp357100-01vliv01.jpg
Target $29.99
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000ANNKRW.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg
Target $24.99
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000DT8NLG.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

[beachlvr]

These are from the Coldwater Creek outlet section:

$27.99

http://image.coldwatercreek.com/IMAGESFLB/R23548_994SB.JPG

$39.99
http://image.coldwatercreek.com/IMAGESFLX/R41351_994SX.JPG

[beachlvr]

From Lands End:

http://aka.landsend.com/is/image/LandsEnd/26935_A805_A1_BYB_M.jpg

http://aka.landsend.com/is/image/LandsEnd/26931_A806_A1_BIO_M.jpg

http://aka.landsend.com/is/image/LandsEnd/26849_AH06_M1_TUU_M.jpg

[ivansbabe]

For something super casual (and warm weather):
J Crew
http://www.jcrew.com/images/nov299/emstyle/76033_BL8318.jpg

Free People
http://www.freepeople.com/images/products/_images/62Y0733.12.z.a.jpg

http://www.freepeople.com/images/products/_images/61Z0342.30.z.b.jpg

http://www.freepeople.com/images/products/_images/61Z0342.30.z.c.jpg

Tommy Hilfiger
http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/0/optimized/208380_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

[maplekitty]

cute casual dresses from Victoria Secret

http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V254726.jpg
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V254702.jpg
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V254703.jpg
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V252046.jpg
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V253725.jpg
http://www2.victoriassecret.com/images/prodlgvw/V252034.jpg

[laura]

I hate shorts, too, but I prefer regular Tshirts and casual skirts vs. dresses. Last year I got a bunch of great casual skirts from the Gap to wear w/ their basic Ts. A-lines look great on everyone, so I would try some of those. Sort of like this:

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Outfit/032/OUT03205/outfit/gp-otf-out03205odv01.jpg

Or -

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Outfit/032/OUT03209/outfit/gp-otf-out03209odv01.jpg

Or similar:

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Outfit/032/OUT03204/outfit/gp-otf-out03204odv01.jpg

w/ a white T:

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/351/351192/main/gp351192-00p01v01.jpg

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/396/396325/quick/gp396325-01qlv01.jpg

These skirts are all full price at the moment, but I would give it a week or 2 and they will probably all be about $20.

[laura]

A couple of Old Navy ideas:

http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Outfit/033/OUT03347/outfit/on-otf-out03347odv01.jpg

http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Outfit/021/OUT02187/outfit/on-otf-out02187odv01.jpg

This skirt comes in several colors (better than the green, IMO) :

http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Outfit/026/OUT02663/outfit/on-otf-out02663odv01.jpg

[Sposa06]

I tried to do a range of ones that were really casual to ones you could dress up a little.

Here's one that's really casual and looks easy to wear. It's $21.99 at JC Penney:
http://a583.g.akamai.net/7/583/175/2006030212/cache4.jcpenney.com/images/large/0900631b80e52b5dL.jpg

This one is a little less casual, and is still full price, but will probably be on sale in not too long. It's really cute, and it's $40 right now (also JC Penney):
http://a583.g.akamai.net/7/583/175/2006030212/cache4.jcpenney.com/images/large/0900631b80e52b79L.jpg

This one's cute, too, and looks comfy (on sale for $40 at JC Penney):
http://a581.g.akamai.net/7/581/175/2006030212/cache4.jcpenney.com/images/regular/0900631b80dc4a4dR.jpg

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

This is cute, from Eddie Bauer. On sale for $19.99.
http://images.eddiebauer.com/is/image/EB/EB06IA_0175202_819C1?wid=300&hei=300&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=1&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.5,1.0,0.0,0

This is really cute too, linen with Tencel, also from Eddie Bauer.
http://images.eddiebauer.com/is/image/EB/EB06IA_0175219_758W1?wid=300&hei=300&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=1&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.5,1.0,0.0,0

[JRose]

Thanks everyone! I never think to look at some of these places--Eddie Bauer, Victoria Secret etc. I might have to find a JCPenney and try stuff on. I am leery of just ordering without trying because things always fit me weirdly.
Those Target dress are cute and they were not in the store! Darn stores and their online only stuff *grumble*

laura~I always stick with skirts and tops, mostly due to my weird sizing and I was so hoping to spice things up a little this year. I probably should just stick with what works huh? I *love* the white Old Navy skirt you posted.

[laura]

That makes sense. I had a couple of dresses like this (posted above, too) for our honeymoon a few years ago and they were VERY comfortable - and a lot more flattering on than I thought they would be.

http://www.gap.com/Asset_Archive/GPWeb/Assets/Product/357/357100/big/gp357100-01vliv01.jpg

[JRose]

I ran to Old Navy last night and found these:
http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/361/361149/main/on361149-06p01v01.jpg
and
http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/361/361360/main/on361360-01p01v01.jpg

The sales woman tried to talk me into buying a bunch of tanks to layer but I didn't want to spend more money...had to stop at Walmart to get DS milk and found the exact same tanks, just half the price. I don't think I've bought clothing from Walmart since I was in college, but hell, for 4 bucks apiece, you can't beat that!

Old Navy tank-because Wally World doesn't have pics...I got it in a light pink, white and a blue.
http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/222/222822/main/on222822-79p01v01.jpg