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: Practical Paralegalism

Beat the Heat with Five Career Dresses Under $50

By Lynne DeVenny

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The inspiration for this post came as I dithered over what to wear to a speaking engagement tomorrow. Today was supposed to be the hottest day of this year, but it's July in central North Carolina, so tomorrow definitely has potential to beat it. I'm already wilting just thinking about having to venture outside midday.

My hand bypassed my usual "oh-yikes-I'm-the-speaker suits" and settled on a dress, my preferred summer uniform. I really love to wear dresses, not because I'm a girly-girl, but because I'm a lazy girl in the morning. While I treasure drinking coffee alone with the real print newspaper at 5:30 a.m., I dread getting dressed for work.

Grabbing a dress takes all the work out of both decision-making and dressing time. I'm always startled when someone exclaims, "You're so dressed up today!" (in that "you-have-a-job-interview-don't-you" tone). I feel like the laziest paralegal on earth, like I'm getting away with wearing a nightgown and flip-flops to work because I'm so comfortable. (There may need to be a future post titled, "The Closer I Get to 50, the More I Hate Waistbands.")

I have strict criteria for dress-shopping (unless someone else is buying). A dress can't cost more than $50, has to be washable in cold water, and must not need to be ironed. A dress gets extra points if I can roll it up in a suitcase for eight hours, and then shake it out with nary a wrinkle.

Here are five dresses I love both for their easy professional looks on hot summer days - and getting out of the house quickly:

I like it when people ask me where I got my dress, and I get to announce, "Target," and watch their mouths drop open. $25 at Target goes a long way, as with this Merona Faux Wrap Dress in basic black, which is very hard to mess up (see below). Even if all hell is breaking loose around you, you'll still look polished and professional. (I love faux wraps for speed-dressing.)

I have a ridiculous number of stretchy jersey print dresses from Kohls, like this Chaps Floral Surplice Dress ($48.00, down from $80). They are as comfortable as pajamas and look great with blazers. No one will send you home from work if you're wearing one of these swingy dresses and a great pair of heels.

Every paralegal should have at least one great black career dress (or ten), like this Karin Stevens Women's Black Tuck-waist Sheath Dress ($44.99) from Overstock. It is very, very hard to mess up a black dress. Add pearls and simple pumps, and then pretend you're the coolest of the cool, Audrey Hepburn.

This V-Neck Starburst Seam Print Dress from JC Penney ($49.99) is a summer wardrobe staple. The dark print and slimming side details are interesting and modern, and don't require much accessorizing. Add a pair of earrings and a pair of black pumps, and you'll breeze through the blistering heat.

I wish I had this Flower Print Jacquard Sheath Dress from JCPenney, on sale for $19.99 (originally $60) in my closet. It's cool, fresh and professional, and needs minimal accessories. Add a cardigan or a blazer, and you're ready for anything. (And can you say "cool as a cucumber?" I know, I had to.)

And don't forget your essential pearls - to distract from the fact that you wouldn't be caught dead wearing pantyhose during the dog days of summer.

Related Post: A Few of My Favorite Things

Full post as published by Practical Paralegalism on July 07, 2010 (boomark / email).