By Gabrielle.
This new line of casual dresses from Sonnet James was designed as “play dresses for playful moms”.
I do love a good dress and have been known to pull one on for date nights, a visit to a friend’s house — even errands. But how about a dress for wrestling with your kids? Or for cleaning the house? Would you wear a dress for a playdate at the playground?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are you someone who practically lives in dresses? Or would you choose jeans and t-shirt over a dress any day of the week?
P.S. — Did you watch the Oscars? Who wore your favorite dress? Helen Hunt wore H&M! Eco-sexy, for sure!
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Ooh – thank you for posting these! The first dress with the green color block matching the glasses is so cute! Not sure if I could pull off a dress at the playground (too much bending over), but I can see myself in one walking to the library or shops with the boys… paired with some wellies or flats. And definitely on a date night with hubby.
I loved Adele and Jennifer Aniston’s Oscar dresses. Classic and tres chic. ;-)
Wellies with a dress or skirt is such a nice combo.
i do a mix of dresses (with leggings) and jeans+tshirts at the park. both are equally comfortable, but the dresses always look more put together.
i am still on the hunt for the perfect comfortable shoe option for hot weather especially. any ideas?
We are still very far from warm weather around her so I haven’t thought about shoes for summer yet, but I’ve had great luck the past couple of years with cork wedges.
i don’t know your personal style, but i live in my DKNY slip-on sneakers in the summer when running around with my kids. there are some super cute ones that work great with the skirts and t-shirts i generally wear. comfy and in many colors–my fave ones are purple. check out the selection on zappos!
I am a fan of Tom’s, especially the cordones style. Very comfy (to me, at least) and the cordones look more like regular tennis shoes.
I live in the desert. I find skirts to be much cooler than shorts. I wear sandals with a back and a comfortable, ucshiony footpad, with a comfortable sole. I can stand in them a good part of the day, walk in them, etc.
I say yes to dresses at the playground. mais bien sûr! xo
Bien sûr!
I love the idea of an easy dress, and but these are not going to be flattering on anyone. These models are eleven feet tall and slender, and THEY look kind of weird and frumpy. What hope do regular ladies have?
It’s the stumpy calf length that does it for me. I understand that above-the-knee dresses may not be easy to play in, especially if your kids are still rolling-on-the-floor age, or if you expect to have to fish them off the top of the slide or out of a tree, but mid-calf, especially when the dress is not full, looks atrocious on almost everyone.
Also, my mom gave me a very good rule to live by and it has never failed me: If the pictures in the catalog show the model all folded up or sitting down or in other strange poses, it’s because they can’t make the clothes look good when you get a straight-on look at them, and they can only disguise that by twisting the model up so much you get distracted and don’t notice you aren’t getting a good look at the clothes.
I wish these were a little bit different, because then I would a lot bit love them.
What an interesting rule of thumb! I’ve never heard of it before. I wonder if there’s an exception for the anthropologie catalog. I feel like I only ever have a vague idea of what the cut of the clothes are in their catalog. I always have to check the website to get a better look. : )
In the case of these dresses, I had the idea they were showing them in both straightforward poses and also folded up poses so that women could see the dresses could be played in.
The top “model” is 5’5″ and the bottom mom is 5’7″, so these ladies are very “normal”. Both are fit, but curvy, these dresses flatter so many shapes! And this is a new clothing line, without professional models and made/styled by a work-from-home mom, so please excuse the awkward poses/photos taken in her family room if you see them as unprofessional. PS. If I can wear them, anyone can! Love the fabrics too. They are washable and super soft, so if my baby spits up on me, dumps food down my dress or I do it myself, no worries! I’d wear these to the beach, park, or on a date with my hubby with some bling (and I’m 36 weeks pregnant!)
Am I reading the website correctly – these dresses only go up to size 8? Why on earth would anyone design clothes for mothers that only go up to size 8?
Those dresses look good in theory, but if even the models can’t make them look flattering on their very thin and tall frames (I’m looking at you, white and green color bock dress who makes the model look really short, even though she probably isn’t), then it’s just not going to work on my body. The midi length just isn’t flattering on most people. It’s too bad, since these dresses are pretty cute–more fashionable than dresses from the Gap, but around the same price point.
I admittedly don’t have kids, but I would absolutely wear a dress for cleaning the house. Sometimes, when I really don’t want to clean but know I need to, I put on a pretty skirt and heels, and put on some makeup, and call it a “Betty Draper Party”. Of course, Betty Draper probably didn’t reward herself with bacon cheeseburgers from JCW, but that’s okay.
I think I’m in love with the idea of a Betty Draper party.
I love dresses and these look so comfy! Like a giant t-shirt :)
They look comfy to me too! And yes, giant t-shirt-y — more casual than I would wear to a nice restaurant or church.
I deal with hot summers in Montreal and Italy, so dresses are a must at the pool or beach. They do not mix well with breastfeeding though!
I like dresses as a swimsuit cover up too.
I was thinking the same. :) But that’s the phase I’m in–”But can I breast feed in it?” usually stops me from buying things.
I really like the asymmetrical design and colors; they look dressed up enough without trying too hard, but very comfortable in the soft knits. I don’t think I’d spend $80 to wear them to clean in or go to the park, but that’s me. I still love the concept and the look.
I love the option of a dress even though most days jeans and a top are my go-to items. In the summer I wear lots of skirts. The green color block one is cute, and I looked at the website and the short navy one with brown sleeves is great too! I teach in preK, with lots of getting down on the floor and sitting ‘criss-cross-applesauce’, so dresses and skirts end up needing leggings under. All the dresses have me longing for warmer days! :-)
I wear a lot of long, casual skirts in the warmer months, so I could totally see myself in these dresses! I don’t really care for shorts and it gets so hot here, so dresses and skirts are my go-to clothing all summer.
I can’t wait to get back to wearing dresses like these. At 18 months my kids still nurse some, not often while we are out but in case of a fall or ouchy so I prefer to wear something that allows for occasional nursing.
I figure another year or so and I can get back to dresses like these!
super cute! I would just never spend $80 for a “play dress”!
Exactly what I was thinking! I’d spend maybe $25.
I absolutely adore dresses and where them far more than jeans. It gets tricky in the winter though because sometimes tights just don’t keep your legs warm enough!
I also find that I feel better in a dress- more feminine and put together.
I feel the same way about tights. Sometimes, even the thick ones, just aren’t enough.
Warm sweater tights over thin thermals are awesome. Pair them with a wool skirt and you’ll be even warmer.
I prefer skirts and dresses in the summer – I never love how I look in shorts. I pick up skirts that can be washed easily at Marshall’s or the Gap and pair them with a tank top and flip flops, and I’m a happy woman.
I love jeans, but over the past few years have come to live in dresses. When a friend asked why , I responded with why not. I have different levels of dresses from date night and dressy to what I call a house dress, fun,easy to clean and care for and a little longer for chasing the 4 little ones that follow me around!
I like & wear dresses often, but these particular ones look like nightgowns to me.
I love wearing dresses but have not found any that work well while breastfeeding (even nursing attire dresses). Any suggestions?!
My littlest is still nursing and I probably wore dresses more than pants while she was a newborn. I tend to stay away from attire marketed as nursing wear unless its a bra or nursing tank, which I wear under pretty much everything else I own.
For dresses I love a shirt dress that button up the front (I have several from H&M) or a long maxi dress with a crossover front or deep vneck. I wear them with the tank under and a cardigan over and always feel so much more pulled together plus it’s easy to nurse when needed.
I love the idea of a play dress and that green one up top is adorable! Maybe out of my price range, but so cute!
I have a dress similar to these that I wore every single day of my pregnancy (up to the day I delivered!) and still wear nearly every day! I have found that ones with a round scoop neck like these are very easy to nurse in, because the neck is low enough and the fabric hearty enough that it won’t stretch out the neck to just pull it down over your breast! Seriously, my dress is my go to instead of pajamas, and its ultra flattering.
remi, what is the dress? I’m in the same boat–nursing–and it’s hard to find something that fits the bill you’re describing. (Note to entrepreneurs: There’s an ignored market here!)
I nurse in stretchy dresses with really deep v-necks paired with a cami, so I pull the dress down/to the side and the cami up and nurse with ease! I wear dresses almost every day, for cleaning and playing and snuggling and nursing. Short dresses get paired with leggings, long dresses provide ample coverage even when climbing around with my preschooler!
I found a wrap-type dress (it was sewn together at the waist, but looked like a wrap dress) that I could nurse in. I usually wore a cami underneath (I usually just wore regular ones, not nursing ones). It wasn’t a nursing dress, so I can still wear it now that my daughter isn’t nursing anymore. The V is a bit lower so I still wear a cami underneath, except maybe on a date with hubby when I want to feel a little more sexy than at church, etc. Shirt dresses work, too.
I found that with dresses I ended up “showing” a little more than usual, so would need a more private place than usual for my comfort.
I could do the gray dress at the bottom, and I LOVE the purple flats. I’m on a quest to find some *just* like them!
I loved Jennifer Lawrence’s dress. ..Even though she tripped on it. She recovered well and she looked beautiful! Also loved Amy Adams’ dress! And Adele was looking gorgeous as well.
Anyone who trips in public and recovers well gets extra (virtual) high fives from me.
octavia spencer looked the best of the night….she was a knock out for sure!!!
oh! and Lianne Spiderbaby- (Quentin Terentino’s date) also looked so FAB!
i am SO ordering a few of these! right up my alley..just wish they shipped to france! i live in dresses and skirts. many of my dresses i wear throughout the year..just add leggings or a cardi! dresses are comfortable and here in paris..i feel dressed up! thank you for the link.
I love dresses…especially in the summer, I can and often do live in them.
the dresses you linked to are beautiful, but here in hot and humid st. petersburg, fl, I go with short sleeves, sleeveless or often spaghetti straps in the summer
I love love LOOOVE these dresses! Thank you so much for sharing. Play dresses for moms– what a great idea!
Oui, super idée! What a great length those dresses have, so even if you do a lot of bending, you’re still covered :-)
I love skirts and dresses, I wore them a lot when I was pregnant (I recycled oversized sweaters into pregnancy skirts: http://www.pares.se/2012/08/17/pull-over-serial-killer-4/) and I definitely still want to wear them now. Well, as soon as the swedish winter is over anyway!
I saw a picture once of a Korean housedress and thought it was super cute to wear around the house. But I have never found one in real life – but I also don’t know where to look.
Oh. That sounds super cool. If you find an image online, please do share the link!
We live on the coast, so during the summer dresses are de rigueur, which makes me happy Happy HAPPY. It’s one and done; one piece to think about, one piece to be completely “dressed”, and one piece to be out the door. I have to admit dresses weren’t always my thing, but once I started having daughters and realized how easy it was to get them ready when the sun was out, I gave it a try and now it’s pretty much all I wear during the sun-kissed sandy Spring and Summer days at our beaches. These are adorable and I’ve just ordered two!!
I know what you mean about the one-item convenience. One less thing to think about!
I hope you’ll let us know what you think about the dresses. I just heard about them last Friday and have never seen one in person.
I love, love, love these dresses! They look comfy, are at a good price point and they look like you can still be an on the floor parent in them! The only problem is I can’t try them on before buying! Thanks for sharing!
I wear dresses almost exclusively when it’s warm. They’re so comfortable, they look cuter on me than jeans or knee length shorts, and they are super easy. I am going nuts for the dresses you pictured here.
I would pay absolutely positively anything for a dress I could wear everywhere, every day, for everything! And if its cozy? I’ll pay double.
These dresses are so adorable; I think I’m in love! Also, I’m in that nebulous first category of sizes that she lists; the one where it’s so hard to find the sizes. I think of it as the “fuel-efficient” category.
What a great find! I’m going to be adopting a few of these for sure.
I mostly live in dresses and leggings as do my two daughters (6 years and 2 years old). They’re good for Summer and it’s so easy to just add a layer or two in the cooler months. I find dresses much more comfortable than jeans most of the time and I like feeling just that little bit dressed up no matter what I’m doing :) A simple dress in a nice colour or print, a pair of leggings and ballet flats. Much dressier than jeans but just as simple.
Most of the other mums around my area live in yoga pants but I just can’t bring myself to be so dressed down – unless I’m actually doing yoga. I feel like enough of a slob in jeans! I get compliments from the other mums at school all the time about how nicely dressed I am, but you know what? I haven’t actually put in any extra effort. Half the time I haven’t even done my hair. That’s the difference that wearing a dress can make!
If I do go to the park wearing jeans I’m constantly either pulling them back up or pulling my top down to avoid the inevitable gap that appears when you bend over. And with a 2 year old I seem to spend half my time bending down. No need to worry about the muffin top gap in a dress!
Of course, jeans are a little more practical at the park when you feel like hanging upside down on the monkey bars with your kids!
I love the dresses that you posted above – especially that green and white one. I think I just might have to check out Sonnet James.
Love dresses – one piece is so easy! These however, aren’t even close to my size!
i love these…a LOT!
thank you for the find…
I just ordered that green and white number — it’s so cute and I could see myself throwing it on for a play date or casual gathering in our courtyard. I don’t always have luck ordering online so we’ll see! Despite the purchase, I’m not a big dress wearer, but do love them and enjoy having a few go-to dresses in my closet. Thanks for bringing these to our attention!
I feel the same way about ordering clothing online. It’s tricky!
Thank you so much for sharing! I had never heard of Sonnet James, and I love the looks – so comfy yet so pretty!
I really don’t get the sizing…does it really only go up to size 8?
Is that for real? That seems so strange. I wonder what the reasoning for that would be? (I confess, I grabbed the images without even checking out sizes or availability — I’ll go check it out now…)
They are hard to decipher, but that seems to be the case. If so, it’s TRULY sad for those of us a more average size who would have snatched up a couple today!
I see what you mean about hard to decipher. Does anyone else interpret the sizing as height-based? I can’t quite figure it out.
That’s where I get stuck. I was THRILLED they had a “tall” option, but looks like the numbers stand for US sizing through 8. I’ve emailed the company to ask.
huge bummer that these only go up to a size 8. love the idea, but i guess i’ll have to find something else.
oooh, i’d wear one of these EVERY day of the week! thanks for sharing!
I wear mostly skirts/dresses in the summer. I like these, but apparently this company thinks a size 10 is plus-size and doesn’t offer anything above an 8.
These are super cute, but the price is killer – $80? For what is, in essence, a “fancy” t-shirt dress? Yikes! An $80 price tag is a special occaision dress. $15 Old Navy t-shirt dress? THAT is a play dress! : )
I wear dresses or skirts all summer long, for any and everything. Mostly because I just don’t care for shorts much and pants are too warm. I love them in winter too, if I can combine them with tights or leggings (otherwise: brrrr!).
Hah! I know what you mean. I love when I find an Old Navy bargain!
I can’t imagine that tiny companies like this one can compete with a big chain where pricing is concerned. But I do know that small companies can launch trends, and also influence styles on a larger scale — so perhaps we’ll see a playful dresses movement, and these types of dresses will become available at more price ranges.
Such adorable dresses! And reasonably priced. In the summer I definitely do dresses or skirts and tees (in winter it’s jeans/cords and one of my handknit sweater designs – I’ve enjoyed this winter’s cold weather in NYC, as last winter wasn’t cold enough to wear the coziest sweaters). And I think a pair of slip-on sneakers would be perfect with the Marni dress, which is #1 on my list, since it’s long enough to prevent any nether wardrobe malfunctions at the playground :)
I love the idea of an easy, casual and comfortable dress that can be fun and sporty or dressed up a little with accessories. BUT, these dresses are like a modern day moo-moo. The length is so awkward and they don’t seem to even flatter the figures of TALL models. I can’t imagine what my 5’2″ self would look like being cut-off at mid-calf. I love the idea and the beautiful colors and color-blocking, but I can’t say these would work for very many women.
Last summer I absolutely wore dresses to the playground and everywhere! It was so very hot out, and linen was nice and cool. I actually sewed my own because I couldn’t find what I wanted, which made me feel All That. :-) I sadly agree with the comments about midi-dresses – they’re most flattering if you’re wearing heels, which would defeat the purpose of a play dress. I hope designers make more play dresses!
Though heels wouldn’t defeat the purpose of a Betty Draper housework dress. I once put on lipstick to deal with a recalcitrant disposal…
I wear dresses every day and am always looking for “every” day ones. I just feel better in them (usually paired with leggings!)
Steph
I am such a lover of dresses. I have always found them to be far superior in comfort, style, fit, and everything (basically) than jeans and a shirt. I’m longing for spring and summer so I can don my comfy frocks again. These play dresses are IDEAL! They’re ideal for hot weather, sweat, kids (beyond knee length, genius), moving, lounging.. you name it. I’m all in.
Thank you, Design Mom!
2 years ago while out in winter (in australia so cold but not bone chilling death ;) with a friend who was wearing a skirt saying she was cold. I asked why is she wearing a skirt.. she put herself on a dare to wear a dress all year for many reasons – feminity etc.
I really liked what she had to say so I did a similar trial. During most of the year (except our 6 weeks of winter ;) I would try to wear dresses/skirts atleast 4-5 days a week. I was successful at first and now I would say I wear probably 5-6 days a week.
Dresses are actually my ‘cheaper’ outfit. I laugh when people ask what am I dressed up for. I buy most of my clothes at the only store near me (target) on the sales racks. Or pilfered from my sisters closest (LOVE younger sisters who work full time clotheshorse) Most of my clothes are in the $10 -20 range. I say I’m going nowhere special these are my around about clothes. IF I was wearing my jeans and shirt… now thats actually my more expensive outfits!!!
anyway I have become converted. Easy to wear, feminine, cheap so they can get grot from 4 kids over them. I ride my bike in dresses… though of course with roughhousing with the kids one always has to be wary of flashing ;) or those lovely little kids who LOVE to lift dresses UP (why do kids do that?)
though I want to mention in my experience tshirt dresses rarely look good on. I spied a lovely orange one the other day on sale. $15, Soft, length to the knee, nice sleeve (all the things that are hard to find in australia) but when put on it clung to ALL the wrong places and looked ghastly and I’m a size 8. I hope these are the perfect tshirt dress to prove me wrong.
I LOVE these dresses. After losing 40 pounds, I am in the middle of a wardrobe overhaul… and thankfully a size 8 will fit! I don’t know if I am willing to drop $70+ on a “play” dress, but I really like the sites for inspiration! Maybe I can find some look alikes at somewhere like H&M or Old Navy?
I practically live in wool jersey dresses! They are so comfortable, durable, and classic. I don’t know that I’d wear ones in such light colors– they’ll definitely need to be washed a lot more than the darker hues!
I almost always wear dresses and skirts….I don’t own a pair of jeans. Occasionally I wear pants, but not often. Dresses are more comfortable to me personally. I wish that women in American culture would dress up more often and stop wearing jeans and t-shirts on a regular basis. I love the book, “Madame Chic: 20 Sylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris” by Jennifer Scott, which talks about how French women dress up more than Americans, keep their wardrobes to a minimum with high quality basic items, and never go out without looking presentable.
I wear dresses all the time. They are so simple and easy. Plus, here in the deep South, they’re practically a requirement for hot weather.
These dresses, though, are a little meh. They’re a frumpy length. Just above the knee is much more flattering for most women. Plus, they’re a little too form-fitting. I don’t want to have to worry about sucking in my stomach at the playground, or have to consider a VPL when I’m in a hurry to get dressed on a busy day!
I wear a ton of dresses in the summer — in Houston, it’s just too hot to wear much else — and in the winter, I often where the same ones over jeans, with a cardigan. I’ve recently fallen in love with Fresh Produce — their clothes are incredibly comfortable, and come in all sizes.
https://freshproduceclothes.com/
I’m particularly fond of their wrap dresses – they look flattering on everyone (and nursing moms, I imagine they’re easy to nurse in, although I’ve never nursed, myself).
These dresses above look beautiful, and I would totally wearing, but yes, the sizing is a bit annoying. They do say that more sizes are to come, so I’m assuming their a small outfit — so I’ll keep watching!
Great post, Gabs. :)
K.
I am a huge fan of dresses. I honestly cannot remember the last time I bought a pair of pants…even jeans. Although have been doing a lot of wearing dresses as skirts lately to make breastfeeding easier.
oh my I could write my own sonnet to dresses. My whole life i have been a lover of dresses. thanks for sharing this is my life so always fun to see others validation!
I wear dresses almost every day, no matter what I am doing. Unfortunately, the ones I wear in Winter are almost exclusively black! I need to put some color into my wardrobe…hmmmmm green, perhaps?
These are AWESOME!! I would love to try these on, as I’m curious if these casual dresses would look quite that good on me! Hmm.
These dresses are great. I found some great sundresses at http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com. They are perfect for the warmer weather and the prices are great.