Frock Analysis

 Here we are in the heat of the summer.  It's been super-boiling hot with very high humidity and a high UV index.  I've been wearing a 50SPF and trying not to melt while I'm outside.  Just in time I discovered some really decent summer frocks from Tory Burch.

I had noticed these frocks at the beginning of the season but they were quite 'spensive, I needed to wait until they hit half price before I could try them out.  Now they are an extra 20% off the sale price with code EXTRA20.  Some sizes are sold out but it's worth checking out the sale section as a whole if you like the look of Tory Burch this summer.

Talley Dress

 I hesitated over the Talley Dress.  There is a percentage of nylon in the fabric content as well as some spandex.  I liked the fitted silhouette and the full, flared skirt.  The higher neckline is attractive but avoids being too straight-and-narrow with a deep slit.  The dress is knee length, perfect.  But why a 28% nylon in the content?
Well it makes for a very sturdy yet light fabric.  The lining is a wonderful cotton voile, very comfortable and well-finished.  The dress itself is dry-clean only, but the nylon content allows for an easy spot clean of the fabric.  I've been wearing my Talley dress constantly since it arrived.  I took my usual American size 2.  

The Talley also comes in a fetching print.

 The Ramona Dress, below, is dreamy.

The Ramona Dress

 Once again it is lined with a cotton voile while the outer fabric is a silk and linen mix.  The fabric is soft yet the dress itself is quite structured, particularly at the waist line, which gives that fit and flare silhouette.
The pale blush pink pattern with bits of blue, green and mauve is just beautiful.
The dress falls to just below the knee on me, while the Talley dress arrives just at the knee.  Perfect lengths, and while we are dissecting frocks I should note that I also ordered two linen dresses from JCrew in an effort to find some cool yet polished looking summer frocks.  The JCrew dresses were way too short as well as being high-waisted.  Which makes one look as though they have stolen a five year old's wardrobe.  Not a good look for a woman in her 40's!

I've been wearing these great frocks and toting my Tory Burch straw bag around, it's an easy combination.
 
I would normally add in my own pictures of the frocks, especially as I am trying to do a little bit of analysis here.  I like to take special note of why some items work and some are just a waste of money, after all our goal is to find well-made things we can really wear and be done with it.  I know that actual pictures help you to see the details.
However it's been a difficult time lately... I lost my Nana on Saturday and though she was 93 years old and "waiting for the Lord to take her" I am reeling from the loss.  She was a very special lady who taught me to love theatre, lunches out and dressing up.  She always told me to dress like a lady and to stay away from "the turkeys" (excellent advice).  She was all about having fun and toasting to life, with a perfect manicure and a nice outfit.  Her small family was everything to her... she was a treasure.
And while a good frock won't bring world peace (Nana might have begged to differ), I was very happy to have the Tory Burch dresses and my Brora cardigans during the last few days of her life.  Sitting with Nana while she went on to the next world I knew that she was happy with my frocks and that she was aware that she had taught me well.
xoxDani