Little White Dresses

I'm a huge fan of the little white dress. And not just for summer. Why should something so simple and timeless be restricted to one season? With the proper styling, I'd wear it in the spring and fall too. Off-season, I particularly like the idea of layering a simple white dress with knit tops and possibly even cable-knit tights in various shades of cream and light beige.

Anyway, here are two great examples of the classic, unadorned for summer. Both are easy to wear shapes in cool, washable cotton. The cutout detailing at the hem of the first dress and the tiny gathers on the bodice lend delicacy to its otherwise basic design. The second dress is a little more structured: a blank, figure-skimming canvas, with the exception of the few tough studs on the waistband. Like most little white dresses, it's easy to imagine them dressed up for evening with shimmering, sky-high sandals or dressed down for a casual Saturday with a heel of a more comfortable height or utilitarian color.

First dress by Dallin Chase. Image from Lucky, July '07. Second dress by J. Lindeberg Denim. Image from Fashion, May '07.