3 Things to Look for in a Polka Dot Midi Dress

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Last week I talked about my love for Eliza J dresses, so today I wanted to highlight a polka dot midi dress from their sister brand I mentioned in that post – Harper Rose. I first introduced the brand to you last fall in this post. And I recently wore this dress from the Nordstrom Sale. Plus, today you will get to see a surprise guest on the blog!

Just like Eliza J, Harper Rose is feminine, classic and chic. I especially love their polka dot midi dress since I prefer dresses that are below the knee. They’re modest and refined without being dowdy. I’d also say this brand is more geared toward my age, but there are some darling silhouettes like this that my daughter or assistant would wear too. Harper Rose definitely makes the best work or luncheon dresses! I always love any brand where I can find a cute and stylish midi dress. It’s age appropriate for me while remaining feminine. Plus, you can find midi dresses year-round due to the versatile length. When shopping for this classic piece, here are 3 things to look for in a midi dress…

Above or Below Mid-calf

As you can see, this dress I’m wearing falls a few inches past my knees. I prefer a dress that hits above my mid-calf because I don’t want the thickest part of my legs highlighted! That can make you look stumpy, especially if you are shorter or petite. For reference, I’m 5′ 8″ tall and wearing a size 8 in this dress (so that the chest area will not pull tight).

Belted

With a longer dress, it’s best if it has some shape to it. Otherwise, you may end up looking like you’re wearing a paper sack. I know no one wants that. So find a midi dress that has a sash like mine or invest in something like a Gucci belt or Hermès belt to wear with any and every outfit. I promise they’re so worth it, as I wear one of my designer belts almost everyday to complete my look.

High Heels

With a midi dress, you want to elongate the leg. An ideal way to do this is with a strappy heel or nude heel especially. If you wear flats, it tends to cut off the leg abruptly and makes you look shorter. If you are not a heels person, at least try a strappy nude sandal or gold sandals.

I must point out this fabulous red clutch from one of my favorite handbag designers – Officina del Poggio. It’s unfortunately not available online at the moment, but you can find a few pieces from her here or on her main website. Her handbags are beautiful pieces of art and made in Italy. I absolutely adore the designer – Allison, and when she is in town we meet for lunch. She’s originally from Texas but resides in Italy with her husband. She is clearly quite thoughtful in her designs, because this clutch actually fits my iPhone.

Did you notice my special guest in this post? Yep, that’s my husband Pete! Isn’t he so sweet to help fix my belt? He was tagging along on this shoot day so that he could shadow Audrie, my photographer. We are currently traveling in Ireland and Pete serves as the blog photographer when we are out of town. He’s really good but always eager to learn a few professional photographer tips! Follow along on Instagram Stories to see how he is doing.

I hope these 3 things to look for in a midi dress help you with styling your favorite dresses! See more midi dress options in the boutique below.

As always, THANK YOU for taking time to read this! xoxo – Tanya

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photo: Audrie Dollins

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