May isn’t just the kickoff for wedding season anymore. There are graduations, baby showers, bridal showers, and weddings. Now is the time for daytime dresses! Something comfortable and chic, but also more low-key than your go-to cocktail or black tie dress. Consider that problem solved with our daytime dress edit below.
In the header image, I’m wearing this truly lovely Tory Burch silk shirtdress. The cream color and verdant green rope design make it feel like a grown up secret garden, but it would be just as nice at a country club or even on a beach with a similarly rope-y sandal. Tuckernuck’s Fresher Buds dress and this Hobbs London embroidered dress channel the secret garden vibe at a lower price point.
Florals, botanicals, or patterns are actually a great way to go here. Sometimes with more casual dresses, a pattern keeps it from feeling TOO casual. A pastel floral sheath dress with a crisp A-line skirt and a belted waist? Yes please! Thank you Kay Unger! Me + Em, one of my favorite brands lately, has a beautiful puffed sleeve midi dress that power clashes red and lavender perfectly. Stine Goya’s crinkly, floral pattern looks like a watercolor drawing you can actually wear, and the long sleeves are always a plus too.
Speaking of long sleeves, do you have FOSD aka the fear of sleeveless dresses? Fear not! I was immediately drawn to this white and pink herringbone-esque pleated shirtdress from Samantha Sung. A blousy, 1930s-inspired silhouette in sky blue from Weekend Max Mara and a pale blue dress from Banana Republic that reminds me of Halston are more modest options that still feel sexy. And on the more maximalist side of things, this hibiscus printed shirtdress ticks off the boxes for any tropical weddings you might have.
Shop our favorite daytime dresses below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
