What to wear when you are sick of winter?
Are you sick of winter? We are, and there’s hardly been any snow yet!
It’s that time of year when JoJami and I look out our windows into the cold gray landscape and think, “We’ve got to get out of these heavy, dull winter clothes, or we’re going to suffocate.”
So, what does one wear to feel happy and alive, when it’s still freezing out there, and wearing bare sleeves and bare legs would look absolutely ridiculous?
Color… for one… something lightweight, but not silly thin.. and sleeves, preferably…. if you can find them!!! ( near impossible these days)
Enter Spring’s new bright, bold and graphic jersey shift dresses. Wow, did we get excited when we saw these online! They’re bursting with color, are in fun happy prints, and they have sleeves..yes!
Never mind that they’re showing them worn with bare legs and sandals. Just throw on a pair of dark tights and cute flats and you’ll be good to go.
And they’re so comfy…… the perfect thing to wear when you’re still working on shedding those few extra pounds left over from Christmas, so you can be ready for bathing suit season. Here are a few of our favorite picks from Nordstroms:
| Paisley gone crazy:
A modern update on an old fashioned pattern makes traditional look hip. Brown with white is an ideal color combo to transition into Spring. (Nordstroms) |
 |
| Edgy:
Black and electric blue give this one cool sharpness. You don’t need jewelry. This dress does all the talking.(Nordstroms) |
 |
| Caribbean:
Can’t you just feel that tropical breeze? This one reminds us of an island getaway at March break! (Nordstroms) |
 |
| Arsty:
Looks like someone took the kid’s Spiro Giro to it. The rounded neckline is flattering to all. Graphic and gorgeous! (Nordstroms) |
 |
| 60′s vibe:
Never say never! It’s short, but if you have long shapely legs this Tory Burch dress worn with thick, dark tights and flats or cute boots, will make you look chic.(Nordstroms) |
 |
| On the Border: Beautiful Bordering at the V neckline, sleeves and hem give this an extra punch. For those who don’t like boatnecks, the V is a great option. It makes any neck look longer and your body look leaner!(Nordstroms) |
 |
Teenage dresses like these look silly on adult women. That’s why the models are so young. I wish hemlines would return to knee length or below. Meanwhile, I’m so glad I hung on to some of my dresses and skirts from 5 years ago and older or I’d really be stuck.
Hi Karen,
To inform our readers of what is coming up this Spring we are showing them these pretty dresses. Although the models are young, your post has inspired us to run out and take a photo of someone 40 plus in some of them, to show you that these dresses are attractive, comfortable and easy to wear, so be on the lookout for that. As for the short hemlines …well, even though the models might be young..they are also extremely tall and therefor these hemlines will appear a few inches longer on average hight women.
Hi!
This is a fun site! I am 46 and need the inspiration here!
I go to church. I dress for church. It is the nicest I look all week, as I have been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years. I really enjoy that one day each week to dress it up. I think that through the years having a weekly dress up day has helped me keep my weight down. I don’t know, but if I never had to wear a dress or skirt and jewelry, but just did the casual affair all the time, I think it would have been easier to let myself “go”.
I think it helps to dress up. Church, the office, a date night, night out with the gals, some special but regular reason for raising the fashion bar. For years, I even had a dress up Monday established here at home, just to jump start myself for the work week. (I am a very active homeschooling mother) My daughter and I wore a dress every Monday.
This Sunday I was exactly where this post suggests – the winter blahs! And I dragged out a dress that looked almost like these shifts! Funny! It is an older “geo” design of a few years back, but the three-quarter sleeves, black-with-royal blue colors and shorter length. As stated, the length would have been shorter on a tall gal, but I am 5’3″ so it hit my knee. It was only 36 degrees but I went without hose and used s bronzer on my legs. It felt Great!
Thanks a lot, I’m having a blast here.
Sandra in WA state
I bought a dress just like those late last summer at Steinmart and I love it! I’m going to bring it out for spring too. So comfortable with sandals.
Hi Lisa,
Yes, get it out early and start wearing it with a cute cardigan and tights and boots!
Hi Sandra,
Welcome to the group! Thanks for writing in…we LOVE to hear about what everyone is wearing!!! Also, that is really a great point about having to dress up at least one time a week, make you aware of sneaky weight gain! Did you realize that you only have to gain 5 pounds a year and in 10 years you could be 50 pounds overweight!!! At this age, we need to be diligent that the pounds don’t sneak on!!
I (JoJami) home schooled my children for 2 years, before I became an Image Consultant and thinking back, I realized that my dress started to get sloppier and sloppier as the years went on. Moreover, many of the moms were over weight. By setting a good example for your children by staying fit and dressing nicely you are helping them see the importance of healthy living and self appreciation! Good job!!
Deborah and I hear complaints from corporations everyday, that their employees are dressing sloppy and that it is bad for business and makes for sloppy work.
We feel that with a little effort, you can still be comfortable and look and feel great! Sandra, you are preparing your kids for success in the real world! YEAH!
Welcome and we look forward to hearing more from you!!
Cheers,
JoJami and Deborah
I just love this look! 20,30,40 can all where this adorable style.
You must be on the thin side I would have to say. I must not shop enough I have not seen these out there but will now be heading to the stores.
Love them all! I have the figure and look very young for my age. I have a very soft almost girly look so I THINK I could pull it off. My hair is long and I wear a [pony tail a lot would this work? Robert
Hi Janette,
You would be surprised at flattering these dresses can be on most shapes. We also recommend wearing Spanx or some type of shape wear underneath to hide any of the extra little bulges that most of us tend to have after 40~
Have fun, these little dresses are out there!
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for mentioning that…yes, these types of dresses can be found at all stores and price points. We just put these up to give an example…hope you all can take the inspiration and your budget and find what works for you!
I love these dresses, especially the “Edgy” and the “On the border”. I live in Norway, but will be going to New York in April for some shopping. I’ll be sure to put Nordstroms on my to do-list.
Hi Sniff,
Have a great trip and take some photos and send them our way! You will be getting some great deals with the Euro going your way!
Cheers!
The Glam Gals
What a great idea. Time to dig through my closet for a dress I’d put away for winter.
Andrea
Very Good Posting!
The dresses are adorable, and I already have several of them on my Nordstrom’s wish list, but I’m wondering if they can be belted? I’m an hourglass, which means that straight tops/dresses that hang from the bustline make me look much heavier than I am. What do you think?
I love these prints, but the lengths are a bit short for me, too. I think it’s important to know how to combine your own style with some of the latest trends, but not be a slave to fashion. I think Deborah and JoJami have a good handle on a lot of this. There was an article a while back in More magazine about Carolina Herrera. She knows her personal style – fuller skirts at about knee length, crisp white shirts, great jewelry. Would that we all were that way in knowing ourselves! For myself, I prefer a v-neck like in the last dress pictured.
Love this look. Can these be worm with thin leggins? I could carfry this off since I have the legs. Robert
It would be nice to see the clothes on someone over 20.
What about those of us that are a bit rounder?
I love these dresses and the thought of color again, especially with spring coming soon.
natural fibers like wool are still the best for winter clothes-`.