One and Done!

What can I say? The summer welcome mat is packed!

The perfect dress…

I am a sucker for a dress. There I said it! And, I’m an even bigger sucker for a dress that really needs no further accessorizing! You know, a one and done! This sleeveless dress from J Jill (currently on sale) features elaborate embroidery and beading. There is really no need to wear a necklace with this dress, and I love that. When it’s hot and humid, the less touching me, the better! The only thing that could make this dress even more perfect would have been pockets! I’m just so used to dresses with pockets. I sorely miss them when they’re absent!

“Jammy Dresses”…

Sheila, from Ephemera, has a name for this kind of dress: a Jammy Dress. In her words: “a dress that is a ‘one and done’ outfit, that’s comfortable and easy to wear, often just needing shoes to be fabulous. Bonus points if it has pockets, which are a deal-breaker unless the dress is very special.” If you haven’t ever read Sheila’s blog, I suggest you go visit her! She has a fabulous style and loves to create some spectacular outfits!

But, it’s linen…

I don’t have a problem with linen. I wear it all of the time. And, I only ever iron it when I’ve just received it. Let’s face it. Linen is going to wrinkle. Here’s a silly factoid about me…if I’m in the mood, I love to iron! There is something so rewarding about removing those wrinkles with just a couple passes of the iron! A little weird, I know! One of the sales associates at J Jill told me she goes one step farther with her linen. When she washes it, she, on purpose, scrunches it up. That way, when it dries, it’s got this added texture. I haven’t tried that yet because I don’t launder my clothes that often. That sounds a little gross, I know. But, if I haven’t spilled anything and haven’t soiled it, why wash it? That shortens the lifespan of the item and makes for more work for me!

Another short post…

I’m making this a short post again. This week is our annual Summer Friendship Gathering at church. I think I’ve mentioned I help teach a group of special needs adults. We break for the summer, but we have a three day gathering in July. I’m teaching Wednesday night so I need to get my lesson ready! Unfortunately for me and fortunately for the students, the Tuesday night teacher used to be a first grade teacher so her lessons are always amazing! Mine tend to be long winded…imagine that!!!

The Lewk!

I kept the accessories to a minimum because the front of this dress is the star! I wore these old earrings from Kendra Scott (similar) and added my Sarah Flint Mirjana Wedges. They are also available in a lower wedge/platform.

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I recently became a Brand Ambassador for Sarah Flint shoes. You can use SARAHFLINT-BAMARSHA for $50 off your first pair. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Whoa! Check out that calf muscle!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I know, I know! For a short post, this was long enough! But, just like I will be doing Wednesday night, once I get going, I just can’t seem to stop! So, can we talk? How do you feel about linen (have I asked this before)? Are you team iron or team wrinkle? Do you like dresses for whatever reason? If you leave a comment or two, we can talk! I promise to get back to you even if I am running a bit behind in responding right now! Life is busy, right?

Why, no! I don’t tan my legs!

Thank you!

Thank you to each and every person who reads my blog. You and your comments make my days! A special thank you goes out to my subscribers! You can also find me on Instagram here.

Yeah, my eyes are shut! But, look at that perfect wave in my hair!

Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion StyleMy Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez MireileThe Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping BagDoused in PinkBeing a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also co-host Final Friday Print Mixing with Michelle on the last Friday of the month. I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties! Boy, that’s a lot of co-hosting!

24 Comments

  1. I’m like you. I like it just plane. Whatever it is, lol. And this is the first year that I like linen!! I have always hated it, because of the creasing. Now I can see the benefits of wearing it on a hot summer day. Love the simplicity of your dress.

  2. I love this chic dress! One and done is always good. I’m not a fan of linen but I think that’s because I want whatever I’m wearing to look perfect and need to get over that! Lol!

    https://www.kathrineeldridge.com

    • I know what you mean, Kathrine! I used to be all about smoothing out those wrinkles…but it’s a losing battle! So, I just embraced them!

  3. It’s beautiful, love the fresh colour and I bet it’s cool. I love linen and don’t mind the creases, but if it gets too crumpled I just give the item a very quick rinse and dry on the line and there you are!

    Nice one!

    • Thanks so much, Penny! It is a very cool dress…not too form fitting and not too floaty. I’ve never tried just rinsing and hanging. I’ll have to give it a go!

  4. There are days that these are the easiest options and I have become a huge linen fan!
    Xoxo
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • I love linen now, but I didn’t used to wear it because of the wrinkle factor. Now, I really don’t care!

  5. Oh my goodness, Marsha, I adore you! I also really enjoy ironing and steaming. There is something very satisfying about watching the creases disappear in a literal puff of smoke! When I was a young kid, I would iron my socks when I ran out of things to iron! I also don’t launder my clothes unless they are actually dirty. It’s better for your clothes and the environment. And when the weather permits, I hang everything outside to dry the old school way. No need to run a dryer when a dryer doesn’t need to be run! What a great summer dress this is! I love the color and those cute wedges are perfect for making this jammy dress fabulous!

    Shelbee

    • Hahaha! I’ve never gone so far as to iron my socks, but I have ironed pillowcases! Oh, a clothesline…I miss that so much! We aren’t allowed to have them in this neighborhood. I’m not sure about the new one. There is really nothing better than sheets hung outside to dry, right?

      Thanks so much, Shelbee!

  6. Your Summer Friendship Gathering sounds wonderful! What a great thing to have in your community. I love this beautiful dress. The details are amazing!

    • Thanks, Laura! It’s allowed me to keep teaching which is something I miss every single day! The dress is even better IRL!

  7. I’m right there with you- dresses that don’t need to be accessorized because of a fun feature (like this gorgeous beading!) or a bold print are so easy to throw on and go! You look lovely and breezy and fresh!

    -Ashley

    • Thanks, Ashley! I just love the ease of throwing on a fabulous dress and walking out the door!

  8. Love love love this dress! It looks fab on you.
    xoxo
    Lovely
    http://www.mynameislovely.com

  9. I love the trim on this dress: I am like you: in summer I’d rather not add any accessories if possible! I am noticing how many skirts and dresses I am sharing on Instagram but that is mostly what I have been wearing lately!
    http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com

    • They are just so doggone easy…skirts and dresses! I absolutely love that skirt you got in New Orleans! It’s fabulous!! If I’m really hot (or just had a hot flash), the last thing I want is a necklace around my neck!

  10. I do like a one and done! This is a beautiful dress, I love the style – so classic! When I’m in the mood I enjoy ironing. I wish my home was big enough to have a large laundry room where I could keep the ironing board set up all the time. I’d iron everything!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    • Thanks, Kellyann! I loved this dress from the first…the color, the embroidery, and the beading! Right now, my ironing board is set up in the basement (like my old house). It is perfect because my sewing “room” was down there, too, so I could easily press seams and what not! I’m pretty sure my ironing board will be stored somewhere in the laundry room/master closet.

  11. I am really enjoying the ease and simplicity of summer dresses this year too and am starting to get spoiled with the pockets! I’m at the point that I don’t want to wear a dress anymore if it doesn’t have pockets. LOL

    • Isn’t that the truth? I love pockets in dresses and skirts. I often find myself sliding my hands down my sides trying to find the pockets! It’s not a total game changer if a dress or skirt doesn’t have pockets, but it can be the deciding factor if they do!

  12. That is a beautiful dress, Marsha! So fresh and summery. I haven’t tried linen yet. I’m not a fan of ironing clothing, although I do like ironing quilt blocks. Yeah, I’m weird. I may try linen if I decide it doesn’t need to be ironed. I like the scrunching idea.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

    • Oh, I think ironing quilt blocks would be the height of satisfaction…seeing all those seams pressed down! Nothing weird about it to me…not that that says anything! Oh, do try linen…I think you’ll be sold!