If you’ve watched plus-size fashion evolve over the last decade, it’s mindblowing how far it’s come in fashion-forward style. I’m a blog reader/follower in addition to being a blogger myself and the digital landscape has changed so much. For one, you can say things like “the digital landscape” with a straight face. I know many of us look back fondly on the early days of blogging for the novelty, the community, the sincerity of style.

And then there’s life and the news. But I hope this blog is still a brief escape; a place to relish fashion together. A cup of tea. The smell of lavender.

Today I wanted to share one of those dreamy outfits that live in the imagination. What do you wear to a garden party? The garden itself! A midsummer night’s dream dress! I’ve LOVED all these sheer, embroidered dresses. They’re so very impractical, but so very beautiful. Hats off to ASOS for making this dress. After so many years, ASOS can still hit it out of the park.

You know, my inner style is often at odds with my outer life–that is, my IRL. In day-to-day life, I’m a mom who spends a lot of time in my kitchen, in kid-friendly frocks, in (gulp) Birkenstocks, or in sneakers getting miles in on the trail. YES, I have that section of my closet dedicated to dresses that remind me of this other part of me. I just don’t get to spend very much time there.

When I do get the time, I share it with you. This is the kinda stuff I’ve been wanting to talk about. So if you’re out there, I’m waving hello from my garden.

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lulled in these flowers with dances and delight.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2 Scene 1

Photos by Jessica Castro

It’s bare leg weather—or more, specifically bare thighs! I spent a long time thinking I had the kind of legs that should be hidden. I know there’s a lot of girls and women out there who spend an entire season never feeling the breeze on their legs. We might feel self-conscious about our thighs, dimpled skin, veins, or scars. Some of that insecurity is instilled in us by others when we’re young and it’s something we eventually have to face and overcome.

My advice is to take a risk in the context of something you love. For instance, I wanted to wear a thigh-baring dress on a date with my husband (who took these photos like the sweet instagram husband that he is.) I’ve been wanting to wear it on a warm evening out ever since I found it and I finally did!

Dress: Free People, Heels: Joie, Bag: River Island

But even if you get to a place where you think: “I’m gonna wear the dress!” you still need to be able to do so comfortably. When your thighs touch, you have to take extra care of your skin. Chafing, redness, soreness: ugh, I know it well. The potential for discomfort is enough that some of us skip shorts or dresses altogether. But… spring and summer dresses are some of the prettiest you can wear. So, what to do?

When Smoovall reached out to me to see if I’d like to test their anti-chafing product, I was intrigued. The brand is based in The Netherlands and is launching in the U.S. in early May 2017. First, it’s a spray! This was my first time seeing this kind of product in a spray form. When I tried it myself I was looking for a few things: undetectable, non-staining, and effective. It covered all my bases.

You can find it online here.

To apply you spray along the inner thighs and allow to dry for 30 seconds. The effect is legs that feel much silkier. Overall, it’s supposed to last about 4 hours—just enough for an evening out in my case. The next day I went for my usual walk, no issues. I’ll see how this hold up in the summer months, but for now it’s staying within reach on my bathroom counter.

Verdict: worth trying!

If you’re feeling inspired to ditch pants for a while, here are a few more dresses to step out in confidently this spring:

This post was brought to you by Smoovall

In collaboration with Old Navy

Desert blooms have always been my favorite. This spring, after some heavy rains, parts of the California desert are in full bloom. The usually red-brown mountains and canyons are sprinkled with pink, yellow, and purple. I had this in mind while searching for dresses for some upcoming Easter festivities–I was hoping to find something to capture the desert vibes I love so much.

First up, this off-the-shoulder dress with bands of flowers on inky blue gauze. So simple, but so lovely. I wore mine with espadrilles and a wide-brimmed hat to maximize its garden party potential. Ready for Easter egg hunts!

Second, this floral swing dress reminded me of the pink desert sky at sunset. The pretty print is easy to dress up with fancy heels for or dress down with a denim jacket. Love versatility in a dress that can last beyond one special day.

#SayHi to the new arrivals at Old Navy for more floral and off-the-shoulder inspiration!

Photos by Jessica Castro

In collaboration with Gwynnie Bee

Check out my interview below with Gwynnie Bee, a clothing subscription service where you can have a rotating closet each month. I signed up for a free monthly trial and will be sharing more of my closet soon! Size-wise, I’d recommend getting this dress one size up—it has a lightly gathered waist, but the fabric is non-stretch. Find this gorgeous dress (size 14-26) in their NEW ARRIVALS section!

1. How would you describe your current personal style?

I’ve always loved feminine, fashion-forward style, but lately I’ve been doing a lot of walking and hiking (which I love) so these days my sartorial choices lean more toward fabrics known for “moisture wicking” and hiking boots… I know, I know! I work from my home office and I’m a mom to a little girl, so I wear a lot of denim too, which I like to dress up in different ways. Overall, I’d say my personal style is either outdoorsy or a relaxed, “California” kind of feminine.

2. What brands do you usually shop?

I love ASOS, Athleta, REI, River Island, and Nordstrom.

3. Why did you choose this style to take a risk with?

This is pretty different from what I typically wear. I don’t do dresses very often and when I do I usually opt for an oversized shape or something more bodycon. This silhouette falls somewhere in the middle. Also, it’s also been years since I wore a shirtdress and this was my first time wearing vertical stripes. This is the kind of dress that I’d admire in the store, but would probably not buy—only because I spend so much time wearing other kinds of styles. I feel this is a great way to use Gwynnie Bee; taking a style risk that’s low on commitment!

4. How would you rate this piece on a scale of 1-5 hearts, 5 being great?

I’d say this is easily a 4-heart dress.

5. How did you feel wearing this style?

I felt really classically beautiful in this dress. Getting that “wow” moment (in my case, from my husband) when you walk into the room always feel good. I got some compliments on the dress from other women, which is always a telltale sign of a truly great dress. While wearing it I was reminded of my pre-motherhood days, which were dressier. It was actually kind of wonderful to experience that; to be the woman wearing the dress and embody what that means. I really do believe dresses can be powerful things—they lift your mood and shift the way you carry yourself. Likewise, it was great coming home and changing into something much more kid-friendly. You can enjoy all the different iterations of your style and life.

6. How would you style this piece?

This is a bold print and I thought it best to let it do all the talking. I picked blush and white accessories and tied the sash in a bow to give the overall look a softer edge. This is the kind of dress that would be perfect for a business meeting, in which case I’d just add a blazer. I’d also love this with a longline sleeveless vest.

P.S. If you follow me on Instagram @pinklip I’ll be sharing the contents of my e-closet at Gwynnie Bee in case you’re looking for more favorites to add to your virtual closet!

Photos by Jessica Castro