Safari Dress Chic

August 2, 2011 by Deborah Boland and JoJami Tyler - The Glam Gals

Deb: I’ve probably owned about 6 Safari dresses in my life, starting with cute brown cotton one with matching belt my mom bought me in grade 3, right up to the the taupe Torch Burch shirtdress I bought this summer and am wearing in this photo here.>>>

I’ve had Safari dresses in linen, I”ve had them in silk, I have them in colors like tan , orange, and white. I’ve have them with buttons, zippers, rope belts, leather belts, and in mini and maxi lengths. So why do I keep on going back to this same fashion look? …Because it’s a classic..kind of like a trench coat, it always look crisp and fresh, the shirtdress style suits my body and it’s so easy and comfy to wear. Plus, they are very forgiving if you have a few pounds you want to hide here or there.

This summer the Safari dress is as popular as ever. Add some strappy sandals with chunky high heels or a pair of gladiator flats in brown, tan or gold and you’ve got a fashion hit on your hands. A couple of wide wooden bangle bracelets or a chunky tribal/ethnic style necklace with big stones and a rough metallic finish also enhances the look. Here’s a few great Safari dress options we found in the shopping jungle out there:

This Michael Kors Safari Shirt Dress with snap flap cargo pockets and self belt is similar to the one I have on. Her natural wedges are a great shoe option for this look, but if you find the dress too short on you then try flat gladiator sandals. ( Saks)

Here’s one by Tahari with roll tab sleeves and a cute rope weave belt.The off white makes it a little dressier than the dress above. Also the nice long line of buttons on these shirtdresses create a slimming effect. (Nordstrom)

You don’t often see Safari dresses in Navy and that’s why this one is so special. It is softer than black and really flattering on 40+ gals who may find black washes them out. This Safari dress by Shelli Segal of Laundry. (Nordstrom)

Love the modern feel of this Zip front Safari dress by Pink Tartan. Classic with a twist. (Saks)

Some of you may prefer shorts over dresses so this pair of slim fitting Bermuda shorts and linen safari top by Tori Burch would be a great alternative. Can’t you see your self running around town in these shopping, stopping by your friends, sightseeing while on vacation? (Saks)

With this summer’s extreme heat we thought this sleeveless, wide notched collar safari dress by Eliza J was a good choice. It’s black, which can sometimes work, but you may need to pump this one up with some colorful jungle jewelry. (Nordstrom)