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Waist Defining Tie Dye Midi Dress

Yes, I’ve got another dress for you today! Old Navy is killing it with the casual dresses this spring, and I wanted to share this one while it’s still on sale.

And I’m still drinking my iced coffee, as you can see…

Old Navy midi dress // Sam Edelman platform slides (also at Zappo’s) // straw tote (option) // Kendra Scott hoops // Victoria Emerson wrap bracelet

T-shirt dresses can be tricky. They’re often fairly shapeless, and they can be too short if you’re not careful. I’ve bought many over the years that I didn’t up wearing because I felt like they didn’t flatter my figure, and they were too short for my comfort level.

Not so with this waist-defined midi dress. The longer length offers plenty of coverage so you can move around comfortably without giving anyone a peep show, and the elasticized waistband defines the waist for a flattering shape.

Another nice thing about an elasticized waistband is you can set it where you want it for optimal proportions. I could have worn mine a little lower than it’s showing in these pictures.

I changed in the car and used a store window as my mirror, so I couldn’t see it very well. It felt comfortable like this because I have a very high natural waist, but in the future, I’ll place it a bit lower for a better balance.

Another option would be to add a belt — something like this elastic rattan belt would be a nice way to break up the look and add interest.

I like that the crew neck isn’t super high or tight, but it provides plenty of modesty for anyone concerned about that.

I love this fresh blue and white tie-dye pattern for spring and summer, and this dress also comes in a pink/white option. The fabric is a mid-weight 100% cotton, so it might shrink a bit. I plan to hang mine to dry and give it a quick steam to keep it looking fresh and wrinkle-free.

This dress runs true to size; and it’s available in regular, petite, and tall sizes. I’m in the regular size small. Best of all, it’s only $18 today!

Because of the longer length, I didn’t want to risk cutting off the line of the leg with sneakers, so I wore these trendy platform slides.

The white coordinates with the dress and also keeps a low contrast against my skin, which helps elongate the leg and keep a cohesive look.

These slides are very comfortable, but I did need to size down half, as I typically do in slides. You can find them at Nordstrom and Zappo’s.

They’re a little hard to see in some of these pictures, but I wore gold chain link hoops and a Victoria Emerson wrap bracelet in shades of white and gray.

And my sunglasses are the finishing touch to this casual spring midi-dress outfit!

I carried that straw tote from Nordstrom again because it’s both casual and summery, and the shades of brown create a pleasing contrast against the cool, crisp blue and white print. It sold out, but Banana has a similar one, or there are lots of options on Amazon.

Isn’t this the perfect casual vacation look? This dress, sandals, and tote are all going straight into my suitcase for our Florida trip next month!

Be sure to visit Cyndi Spivey and see the spring look she’s styling today!

More Under-$20 Deals at Old Navy:

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photos: Alison Cornell

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23 Responses

  1. You are correct! This is the perfect spring vacation dress, bag, and slides! Love a midi skirt/dress, gently covers the veiny backs of my knees! I have the perfect stretchy straw belt that would look great with this dress. I hope you finally finished that iced coffee! HAHA!!!

    1. Aw, how cute would my straw hat be with this look! I never think to add hats to my looks. Honestly, I’d never wear one with this (I only ever wear one for sun protection when I’m by the pool) but along with that straw tote, it would have made for great pictures.

      1. I absolutely love hats, summer and winter! I actually several styles of straw hats, not all are large-brimmed beach hats. My favorite is more of a fedora style. Can’t wait to start wearing it!

  2. Looks lovely on you! Old Navy has such cute clothes, unfortunately they do not hold up well- that’s been my experience in the past- maybe they have improved. Love the prices!

    1. I agree. I get that few people can’t offer “premium “ brands all the time. In fact, I go as far as to say that most of my so-called “premium denim” isn’t any better quality than jeans from The Gap. However, the environmental impact of approaching clothing as disposable goods is a very serious issue. It’s one thing to know that you get bored easily with your wardrobe and be diligent about donating and/or reselling. It’s quite another to purchase clothing with a mindset of “ oh well, it was cheap so what does it matter if it only lasts a few months?”

      1. *few people can offer

        There are several good books out there about “fast fashion”. I think it’s important to be informed.

      2. I agree that fast fashion is a serious issue, and I assume you know that I typically advocate for quality over quantity and stress cost per wear when making purchasing decisions. Along those lines, if I’m buying something I know I won’t wear a lot or may not keep more than a season, I don’t want to spend a lot for it. That was the point I was trying to make.

        And yes, I always resell and donate when I’m done with things, and advise others to do the same. I’ve made a case for that many times over the years.

        As you said (or tried to say… ha!) few people can afford a closet full of premium clothing, so I try to provide options at lower price points… in the case of this dress. 🙂

  3. This is about the Caslon striped hoodie that is on sale now – if you’ve been eyeing it, get it! I ordered one a while ago when it was in a try on haul ANd it fits great and so soft. I can be between sizes and sized up, fits great.

    1. I agree on this striped hoodie! I bought the pink/white stripe one a month or so ago at the store. It wasn’t on sale then, and I’ve wore it several times. I would usually buy a large, but they only had an X-large and it fits great, just a little more relaxed! Now that it’s on sale, I’m considering one of the blue stripes.

  4. What a terrific look for our summer and your florida trip. You mUSt be getting Excited. Good for you. Safe travels! Old navy is rocking it. I have a tshirt dress from ON that is in great shape 3 years on.

  5. What a great outfit! I just bought two summer dresses at old navy that look like they were bought at j crew! This is so vacation! A straw hat and even a denim jacket if it’s cool would top this off! Great look Jo Lynne thanks for sharing! And yes I know exactly what you mean about some of those t- shirt dresses… I encourage everyone to do a bend test in the fitting room. Just saying 😉

  6. What a great dress! You look vacation ready in this look. I think I need to add this dress to my closet, since I don’t have any dresses. I hope that you are having a great day!

  7. So cute on you. I think its perfect for your Florida trip. I like the idea of it being a little longer, as I’m getting older and I don’t like showing too much leg. I just never really have been one to like shorts, no matter what age I was. I don’t think they are comfortable. This is a great alternative. I can see you putting red toe nail polish or purse with this and ready for the 4th of July. Great job on putting this outfit together. What a great price on the dress. Question…… are the sandals easy to walk in?

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