Cheryl Shops

Do you remember your first sundress? Mine was a white and yellow daisy print, and I must have lived in it for an entire summer when I was 4 or 5 years old. Ever since then, I've always invested in a sundress or two every summer. The main qualifications are that they need to be sleeveless and lightweight, ideally in a bright, happy color, but the length can be anywhere from midi to maxi and the details—ruffles, pleats, buttons, sashes—are up to you. Most importantly, sundresses should be comfortable, ideally floating away from your body a bit to help mitigate the heat and humidity. Since it's now officially summer—and heat waves are already striking across the globe—I thought I'd share two of my favorite sundresses for this year. They're from a new-to-me brand called The Good Journey, and you can find them on the Maggy London website—plus you can use code CHERYL15 for 15% off. While Maggy London gifted these dresses to me, the following are my honest and unfiltered opinions. 

This post could also be titled "how to wear a sundress in fall." As I've noted in the last few posts, fall in the Bay Area is one of the most beautiful, temperate times of year, and most visitors are surprised by how warm it is. Wine country—Sonoma and Napa counties especially—tends to be much warmer in the summer, but by fall, it's just right, with highs in the upper 70s. It's the perfect weather for a sundress...but as with weather year-round in the Bay Area, layers are key. I recently went up to Sonoma and Napa for the day, and here's what I wore.

Summer is the season when I don't try so hard. Based on how much my traffic dips in June, July, and August, I assume you don't either. And that's cool. Most of the time, it's too damn hot to care, which is why I keep it simple: sundresses, clogs, and a cardigan. The cardigan keeps me warm on the subway, the clogs keep me high above the filthy sidewalks, and the sundresses are cute and easy, and if I get all gross and sweaty, I can throw them straight into the washing machine when I get home. My secret source for affordable, wash-and-wear sundresses? American Eagle. Yes, I do worry that when I shop there, the salespeople are like, "Who's this old lady?" But their salespeople are actually incredibly friendly and, well, there's always the website. Anyway, American Eagle has supercute summer dresses that top out at $50, the fits are flattering, and the prints are current without being too trendy. Here are some of my favorites.

The party dress has an almost Moroccan-inspired print. The ruffle drapes over your bust, the tie belt cinches your waist, and the straps are adjustable (a big bonus for sloped-shouldered ladies like myself).

This flirty floral sundress has a vintage, bohemian look that totally works for summer, and I love the crochet detail at the racerback.

And this striped sundress looks a lot more high-end than its price lets on—doesn't it remind you of Splendid, Ella Moss, or one of those breezy California contemporary labels? Except at $24.99, it's like a tenth of the price!