long time, no write! trust me i know.

if you live in the united states (or at this point, anywhere), you’re aware of the complete whirlwind that the world is going through. and while it is still important to advocate and educate, it’s also important to continue to do things that are good for you and your soul. i encourage you to keep learning, having those hard conversations, signing petitions, and following current events while also making time to create and write about and do the things that you love.

and i really love dresses.

i don’t understand people who think dresses are uncomfortable. i mean, denim jeans are basically heat-locking prisons during the summertime. and denim shorts? don’t get me started on what they do to my inner thighs, or how they feel after sitting in a hot car for more than five minutes.

however, there is something so freeing about wearing a dress. my legs can actually breathe and i don’t get–for lack of a better term–“swamp ass (how it feels when you butt gets all sweaty from being in jeans or shorts).” and the best part is, i look like i’m actually trying when, in reality, i threw on one article of clothing and phoned the rest in. who said that dresses are “high-maintenance?” couldn’t be me.

with that being said, dresses have been in the forefront of my wardrobe for as long as i can remember. however, they weren’t nearly as stylish or “grown-up” as the ones i own today. stores like forever 21, h&m, aeropostale (*shudders*), and delia’s were my heaven for inexpensive, skater-skirt sundresses that i would pair with keds and call it fashion.

if you still dress like this, i’m suing:

(i need to have a talk with the person who decided that hair scrunchies were an accessory. because that’s just absolutely criminal.)

for a while, this was the only dress i really knew. sure, there were prom gowns and wedding dresses and beach coverups but in the realm of casual dresses, that floral fit-and-flare was really all i knew.

my mom was the one who told me i needed to amp up my dress game. she said something to me along the lines of “you’re twenty, you should look twenty.” and as someone who looks like they’re on the cusp of 17, i really wanted to look my age. i realized that, while i can’t change my face, i can upgrade my wardrobe from a tumblr-obsessed 14 year old, to a fun and fresh 20 year old.

all the jewelry featured in this post is from francesca’s.

for a casual day

i love bodycon dresses. mostly because they’re the only style of dress that gives me the illusion of curves, but also because they’re so frikkin’ cute. this “wild fable” dress from target is one of my favorites (they stopped selling the original, but i linked an alternate!). it’s made from a sturdy, denim-like material that is a little more interesting instead of the typical bodycon jersey material. along with that, it’s way more forgiving on the “food babies” i get after pigging out on sushi all day.

my favorite way to style a simple bodycon is with a pair of plain white sneakers (mine are from nastygal, but adidas and nike also have super great options) that have a bit of a platform and a trendy look to them. plain sneakers add a more fun and laid-back vibe to your look, but only if they’re the right kind of sneaker.

basically, get rid of the keds.

i also added a fun bag that i thrifted (but here’s a similar option) that adds a ton of color and kick without looking too crazy. bags like this are perfect to have in your collection, since they can spruce up any outfit in your closet.

for a laid-back date

this denim dress from francesca’s (the original is sold out but here’s a great alternate) takes the beloved fit-and-flare silhouette to a new grown-up route with a fun, self-tie wrap detail. the neckline is a bit low for my liking, so i added by favorite bralette from free people for extra coverage that’s a bit more “grown-up” than a camisole.

my mom yells at me whenever i wear sneakers with dresses and, as a twenty-year-old, i can also agree that sneakers with dresses can be a bit juvenile. i’m a huge fan of these chunky, 70s-inspired heels from target because they’re not only stylish, but they’re so, so comfortable.

and if you follow me on instagram, you’d know i’m a huge headscarf, headband, and bandana gal. i typically buy mine off of amazon, but i’ve thrifted and sewn a few as well! they’re a great way to add a bit of interest and a ‘lil “boho-chic” vibe to any outfit. plus, they do wonders for bad hair days.

for a night out

i found this little beauty when i was shopping for bridal shower dresses during quarantine. my mom saw it and instantly told me to buy it. and, since mothers know best, i did. who could argue with that?!

in all seriousness, i love this flouncy coral dress from asos. as a former lover of the “high-low” dress trend, this dress hits at the thighand trickles down to mid calf for a modest-yet-saucy look.

i also really love the ruffled deep-v and the cape-back detail on this dress. as someone with a smaller frame, it creates the illusion of curves and builds my body up so i actually look over the age of eleven. the tie-waist also helps accentuate my waist and makes me look like i have curves which is, again, a plus in my book.

leopard has been my jam lately (must be the south jersey in my blood) and it’s a print that goes with virtually anything. these platform leopard heels from target bring a little bit more fun and finish off any outfit. not to mention, they’re criminally comfortable. so i’m ready to dance all night long. and when i say all night long, i mean all night long. who’s ready?

for brunch/anything “fancy”

i just noticed a theme with the colors of my dresses but hey, i go to film school! you can’t blame me for wanting to bring out the teals and oranges (god, film school jokes are so unfunny)!

this dress is my personal favorite and it’s from a cute, newport beach, family-owned boutique called xomandysue. it gives off big little women vibes, so i finally feel like i can live my jo march fantasy in this tea-length dress.

AND it has pockets. in fact, a majority of the dresses at xomandysue have pockets. that’s a big deal.

i paired this look with my leopard heels and another silk headscarf that i tied into a simple headband. the dress is simple, dainty, and elegant, and i wanted to give it a little bit more fun and spunk with my accessories.

tea-length dresses are great because they’re not too short as to where you’re constantly tugging at the hem, or too long as to where you keep stepping on it. these dresses were popular in the 60s and 70s, and as a vintage/mod fashion lover, i think they’re a unique style that anyone can pull off effortlessly.

and since xomandysue is a small, local-owned business, i feel like it’s more important than ever to shop small. so, they teamed up with me to give you an exclusive code that saves you 35% at checkout! simply plug in “JULIANNAMARIE” after your cart is loaded to save big, while shopping small.

while i love 2014 tumblr as much as the next girl, i say it’s time we all team up and leave the era of keds and skater-skirts in the past. there are so many more options out there! and if you’re in your 20s, now is the time to wear new, exciting, and fresh pieces! experiment! we all have to learn how to walk in heels at some point, make it this year!

i hope you enjoyed this post, and hopefully the first installment into a new series on my blog: like an adult. i know it can get kind of tricky as you transition from a high-school wardrobe to a more sophisticated college/young-woman closet. hell, i’m still figuring it out! but hopefully, with this new series of blog posts, i can help that transition get a little bit smoother. i can be the style coach i never had!

besides my mom. that woman can dress.

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