I can’t wait for the summer this year more than ever! And, since we are all getting ready to make some plans to go out again, I thought I'd share the top 10 summer looks that Rachel and I are wearing now through the rest of the season. See our picks that include everything from versatile dress styles to accessories to modern tailoring finds. We love these looks and think they are truly ageless!
Read moreCasual Dress Trends I Love + Favorite Black Dress Designers to Shop
SHOP Floral L*Space Isabel Dress
These past few weeks will definitely go down in history. And, as I continue to educate myself in doing better, I am committed to the on-going support of black businesses, in the lifestyle category, on my platform. So, instead of only sharing my favorite dress trends, I want to also highlight some amazing black women dress designers to shop and support from my growing Hot List as well. I also added a selection of dresses from Target to include their collaborations with Cushnie, Lisa Marie Fernandez, Love Shack Fancy, and more. (Scroll down).
As summer progresses, it looks like we may be able to start responsibly socializing (hopefully in small get-togethers, six feet apart, with masks on). I think it’s a good time to break out of our sweats and leggings to make way for cute dresses - a refreshing and welcome change to our recent springtime, stay-at-home looks.
In my latest monthly feature for Who What Wear, We're in Our 50s and Think These 9 Casual Dress Trends Work for Everyone, Janet Gunn, The Grateful Gardenia, and I shared a few favorites that will have you looking forward to getting dressed again. Read on to check out the styles I am currently loving.
Dress on Janet by Natalie Martin, Kaftan from Puglia boutique
Floral
Nothing says springtime like a pretty floral print.
Dress by ASTR The Label (sold out). More dresses here from the designer. Bag by Ulla Johnsson. Sandals by Soludos.
SHOP Faithfull The Brand X Revolve Lennox Midi Dress
SHOP ASTR The Label Floral Midi Dress
SHOP Floral L*Space Isabel Dress
White
A white dress always looks clean and fresh.
SHOP LoveShackFancy Edie Dress
SHOP ACACIA Emmett Dress
Flowy
I love wearing loose-fitting dresses with beautiful prints for an easy beach to lunch summer style.
Dress by Natalie Martin (sold out). SHOP similar here.
SHOP Floral Dress by Nudz Beachwear
SHOP R13 Midi Tiered Slip
Long dresses
Midi/Maxi/Kaftan
It’s easy to go with the flow when wearing a chic boho style. Reminiscent of a beachside vacation in a foreign land, we love to wear these dresses all summer long.
Janet Gunn. Dress by Natalie Martin (sold out). Shop similar here.
SHOP Island Tribe Zanzibar Bohemian Maxi Dress
SHOP Natalie Martin Danika Long Sleeve Dress
Dress by Ulla Johnson
SHOP Free People Adella Maxi Slipdress
SHOP Ulla Johnson Pink Eudora Beaded Organza Midi Dress
SHOP Revolve Keepsakes Without Me Maxi Dress
SHOP Ramy Brook Audrey Dress
Ramy Brook is a talented designer who has always been extremely charitable and is offering a new initiative on her website to help our healthcare heroes.
You can purchase a gift here for our brave and heroic healthcare professionals that will be sent to them from the registry. In addition, Ramy Brook will be gifting 1,000 items to them. 20% of all proceeds will be donated to two charities, No Kid Hungry and Jumpstart, who have been feeding, educating, and caring for our most vulnerable children during this pandemic.
Gift Healthcare Heroes with Ramy Brook’s Healthcare Heroes Registry!
Slip Dress
The perfect dress to slip into when the temps start to climb. Throw on with a sneaker to run around town or with a cute sandal.
Dress by Rag and Bone (sold out). SHOP their dresses here.
SHOP Vaea Slip Dress by Cali Dreaming
SHOP Dresses by Hark +Hammer
SHOP Elodie K Dyana Dress Stretch Satin
SHOP Slip Dress by OYUN. Slippers by R0AM.
Short and flirty
Whether worn with a flat or a heel, a short dress always screams flirty and fun!
Dress by LoveShackFancy sold out. SHOP dresses from the line here.
SHOP LoveShackFancy Popover Dress (limited sizes)
SHOP LoveShackFancy Popover Dress in Sunset Pink
Below is a list of some favorite black designers to put on your radar. Click on the links directly to shop.
“Eat well, travel often and dress to inspire,” Fe Noel's design motto definitely speaks to me! Heavily influenced by her Caribbean heritage, she is known for her feminine designs, simple silhouettes, and quality fabrics. Another thing I love about this dress designer… she aims to mentor and empower other women to start their own businesses through her Fe Noel Foundation for young girls who are passionate about entrepreneurship.
Best known for her ready-to-wear styles, her new capsule collection collaborates with artists from her hometown of Detroit and uses ethically-sourced materials in unique prints. Gentle on the earth and fashion-forward in style. So many cute summer finds in this collection!
SHOP Tracy Reese for Anthropologie Devin Flounced Mini Dress
Island Tribe is a brand where boho and beach style collide! This California-based fashion house practices social good and fair trade with a mission to better the environment with sustainable designs. Their dresses are right on trend with summer’s laid back, free-spirit vibes, and are inspired by peace, love, and blessings. Who couldn’t use more of those three things these days!
An artisan-driven brand focused on sustainability, lemlem is made in Africa and is the inspiration of Supermodel Liya Kebede. Elevating the artisans and expanding jobs across Africa, the designs of her handwoven dresses are perfect to add to your summertime wish list.
SHOP lemlem Koki Peasant Dress
Founded in Oakland, California in 2007 by Sherri McMullen, McMullen is a delightfully curated concept shop featuring luxury womenswear by emerging and established designers from around the world. They have a selection of dresses that will take you anywhere from cocktail hour to summer bbq. I love that they support design and manufacturing that can impact communities and empower women with a mission to specifically support African and African-American apparel and home décor designers.
SHOP Lisa Marie Fernandez for Target Yellow Gingham Midi Dress
This luxury ready-to-wear brand was established in 2008 and is known for its sophisticated and modern femininity. Their dresses are sleek, minimal and designed to enhance the contour of a woman’s body. While most of their dresses are more suited for cocktail or red-carpet, they are now bringing their timeless designs to Target with a limited-edition dress collection.
SHOP Cushnie for Target Two-Tone Slip Dress
If you’re looking for great affordable summer dress options, check out Target's Who What Wear collection, as well as their limited-edition collection featuring acclaimed designers like LoveShackFancy, Cushnie, and Lisa Marie Hernandez...just in time for summer!
Click on the images in the carousel below to shop more of favorite dress styles and designers.
Now available at Target!
I hope you've found some fun, feminine dress styles you're excited to try, as well as discovered a few new designers you may want to add to your closet this season. Be well!
xx Melissa
Trip to Rome and Southern Italy
Entrance at the Borgo Egnazia, Puglia. Dress by Ulla Johnson. Similar here
Italy is one of those places that gets in your soul. The culture is so rich you can’t help but take in every part of it during your time there. I visited Rome, Sicily and Puglia last year with my family and want to share my experience with you in case you are planning to visit there this summer or some time in the near future. This part of Europe is a favorite of mine (my 5th trip there) and is rich with the most incredible, art, cooking, traditions and history. These experiences are so impressionable that you can’t help but bring some of them back into your home country.
I used an incredible luxury travel company called Lux Voyage to help me plan this trip including activities and restaurant reservations. I was also lucky to have been able to meet up with my blogging partner Janet Gunn and her family for part of the trip!
Below are highlights of where to stay, dine, explore and what to pack for this European vacation.
Click items directly in the carousel below to shop ‘what to pack’
ROME
Poolside at the Gran Melia Rome
STAY
First up we stayed at Gran Melia Rome, a nice family-friendly hotel in the ‘heart of the eternal city’ - close to the Vatican in Rome. The Gran Melia has delicious food with a restaurant run by one of Italy’s most famous chefs. It’s well-priced and very conveniently located if you plan to spend time in Vatican City. The green oasis and beautiful pool area brings peace and quiet to a bustling city. I also recommend staying at the JK ROMA if you want to be in the historic center of Rome near the Trevi Fountain, The Villa Borghese and the designer boutiques of Via del Corso. We stayed in Rome for two nights!
EXPLORE
With so much to explore in Italy, where do I start? Well, the Vatican is an absolute must-see at least once in a lifetime! We took an early morning tour (earlier the better) to the Vatican City, one of the most sacred places in Christendom, it attests to a great history and a formidable spiritual venture. A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state. At its center is St Peter's Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front and bordered by palaces and gardens. Here you can also visit the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel! All this in one morning and we then took a tour after lunch through the Jewish Ghetto. Hidden in the heart of the city, it is one of the best attractions in Rome (and also one of its least-known). As the oldest Jewish community in all of Europe, this beautiful, thriving neighborhood is as central to the history of the city as it is to the Jewish faith.
The Jewish Quarter, Rome
“Best pasta in Rome” at the authentic Taverna Trilussa
DINE
What a treat! Italy is renowned for full flavor, olive oil, herbs, fresh mediterranean living and I love it!
When in Rome, we had dinner at Dal Bologese, in piazza del Popolo. A true Italian experience, where sophisticated Romans mingle with models and celebs at this historically chic restaurant. Dine inside, surrounded by wood panelling and exotic flowers, or outside, serving timeless cuisine serving dishes of the Emilian tradition: including tagliatelle Bolognese and tortellini in broth. We also found the “best pasta in Rome” at the authentic Taverna Trilussa. A high end, rustic taverna famed for serving pasta in steel pans!
SOUTHERN ITALY: SICILY & PUGLIA
View of Taormina, Sicily
STAY
A 3.5 hour flight after our time in Rome to Catania we checked into Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina where we spent three nights and then went to the sister beachside property, the Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea. Taormina is a renowned resort area in Sicily; a small and elegant town with balconies covered in flowers, ancient ruins, and views over the sea and towards the volcano, Etna. Plus, there are some cute boutiques to shop and no shortage of great restaurants. Another great way to experience Taormina from its most privileged point of view is to take out a boat for the day!
With Janet Gunn Grateful Gardenia in Sicily at The Belmond Grande Hotel Timeo. Wearing Franne Golde magic pants in white.
Use code MM10 for 10% off while shopping www.frannegolde.com.
Silk top by Hark + Hammer, Bag by ClareV, Sandals by Ancient Greek Sandals.
Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo. Wearing a Zimmerman ruffled floral playsuit. Similar here.
Click items directly in the carousel below to shop swim and beach wear
At the beach at Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea. Swimwear - Black one piece by Cami and Jax. Similar here
Day trip to Volcano, Mount Etna
Sunset at Borgo Egnazia
Climbing the steps at Borgo Egnazia
Borgo Egnazia. Dress by Nudz Beachwear. Similar dress by Natalie Martin
Our last stop in Italy was Puglia (pronounced “Pulia”), staying at the 5 star hotel Borgo Egnazia. Here ‘nature is powerful, peace is intense, harmony is full’ and it certainly was! This beautiful and unique destination is a visionary interpretation of a typical Puglian village, surrounded by olive groves within the gorgeous landscape in Southern Italy. You get your own designated concierge who will guide you and offer the best in local and authentic experiences there. The service is impeccable and a stay there is certainly a “bucket list” experience. Another great small boutique hotel worth a visit is La Perschiera—this 13-room five-star (adults only) hotel offers sea views from every room within its own private beach. We went for lunch and spent some beach time there.
La Perschiera. Solid and Stripe swimwear by Mara Hoffman. Similar here.
Poolside at the Borgo Egnazia
Lunch at the Borgo Egnazia
EXPLORE
In Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot and the home of Italy’s pasta, we embarked upon a full-day journey. Beginning in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, discovering its unique prehistoric trulli houses. Afterwards we continued to Locorotondo taking in its luminous white houses, charming churches, and panoramic views of the Itria Valley. Then continued to Ostuni one of the most beautiful towns in Puglia, extending across three hills, and known as "the white city" for its dazzling white walls and white-painted buildings. The genuine charm of these white-washed villages were simply beautiful. Our stop in Locorontondo, known as one of the most beautiful cities in Italy continues with everything in bright white apart from the blood red geraniums that fall from the window boxes. The streets are paved with smooth ivory stones, with the church of Santa Maria della Grecia as its sunbaked centerpiece.
Visit to Alberobello. Dress by Natalie Martin. Sunnies by Oliver Peoples. Sandals by Ancient Greek sandals. Similar dress here.
Town of Alberobello
I highly recommend taking a bike tour through the olive-tree covered countryside of Puglia! The culture of olive oil is one of the region's greatest treasures. Starting from Albergabici in Montalbano we experienced the region’s famous “Apulian gold” - an underground olive oil factory, and flourishing olive farms. Extra virgin olive oil of Puglia is one of the most famous products in the world for its taste and it’s quality! The Borgo Egnazia with it’s full service concierge set up this tour for us from their property and it was well worth it.
DINE
A little more casual, was our lunch spot in Puglia at La Taverna del Duca, serving excellent apuglian cuisine and in Taormina we encountered Tischi Toschi a small family run restaurant with a relaxed Sicilian atmosphere serving locals with their fresh authentic flavors and recipes.
Lastly I wanted to note the brand new restaurant, Casa Gioli in Taormina mixing Sicilian art and upscale cuisine set in a splendid location.
WHAT TO PACK FOR A EUROPEAN VACATION
During this trip I took some of my favorite casual chic outfits - think straw hats, flowing dresses, white jeans, swimsuit and comfy sandals.
Silk top by Hark + Hammer. Dress, similar here. Bag by ClareV. Belt Bag similar here.
Tips to remember for your trip to Italy
• Wear light layers, beach cover ups and tunics. Comfortable shoes a must!
• Bring jeans or light-weight athleisure pants if you plan on visiting Mt. Etna or take a bike ride
• Pack a straw hat and fanny pack (not your grandma's!). They also sell amazing hats in Italy so you can pick one up there too!
• Visit the Vatican early morning and book your Museum tickets in advance online from the Vatican website!
Or you can set up a private behind the scenes tour BEFORE the Vatican is open through Lux Voyage.
• Pack your Skyroam for safe wireless everywhere! Use code GLOWGIRL10 for 10% off your skyroam!
Have fun, eat well and embrace the romance of this beautiful country!
xxMelissa
La Peschiera Hotel. Swim suit by Cami and Jax. Sandals by Ancient Greek Sandals