What I Wore: Watercolor Print Silk Dress for Spring

May 14, 2011September 29, 2025

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This watercolor print silk dress is a total splurge; I don't really need it and it wasn't cheap, but I felt this style would work through the summer and also work as I change clothing sizes. I also love how it looks with a wide leather belt for a completely different look.

Alison Gary, over 40 fashion blogger at Wardrobe Oxygen wearing a watercolor print silk dress while carrying a white leather handbag from Banana Republic

Purple and green silk dress – Jack and Ginger “Betty” Voile Blouson Dress
Sandals – Sofft “Pavia” in Eggshell
Off-white leather Bag – Banana Republic “Greenwich” Oversized Bag
Silver and green ring – Maryland Renaissance Festival
Silver earrings – Nordstrom (no longer available)
Silver cuff

Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen in a watercolor print silk dress with beige sandals from Sofft

Still loving these shoes – very comfortable and wearable – I dashed over Connecticut Avenue this morning with only 10 seconds left before the light changed and felt as confident as I would in a pair of sneakers!

watercolor print silk dress with self belt as seen on Alison Gary of Wardrobe Oxygen

I love how this dress looks like a watercolor painting. So very Monet! It also will go with so many different colors of shoes and bags. I love such versatility!

And these Sterling silver drop earrings are the perfect bit of shine to complete this outfit. Expect to see me wearing this watercolor print dress quite a lot this season!

Outfit Posts

Wednesday

Black tee shirt dress from Jones New York, shell and wood necklaces from my mom, black leather thong heels from Mossimo, gold hoops and bangles from The Icing. Hair is second day, brushed out. Makeup is Body Shop bronzing powder in Light, Smashbox Soft Lights in tint on the cheeks, Revlon ColorStay shadow quad in…

read the article Wednesday
Outfit Posts

Tuesday

Black silk/cotton tee from Banana Republic, black wool blend coin-pocket trousers from Ann Taylor Loft; red,pink, gray and white print silk scarf from Liberty tied around neck, red patent croco peep toe heels from Enzo Angiolini. Hair was cut and colored the night prior so it could not be washed. Straightened with a straightener and…

read the article Tuesday
Outfit Posts

Monday

Black scoop necked empire waist sweater tee from Old Navy, black city shorts from Gap Outlet, vintage printed oblong silk scarf from my mom (yes, FC chics, that is my attempt at a Valentino knot!), black croco peeptoe heels from BCBGirls, silver hoops and cuff bracelet. Hair was second day. Brushed out, bit of BioSilk,…

read the article Monday
Outfit Posts

Monday

Just an FYI, the dentist (saw her this AM) is very happy with my “plaque maintenance,” but says I need to wear my NTI night guard on a more regular basis or else I may have no bottom teeth in a couple of years. I am a flossing and brushing diva, but somehow lost my…

read the article Monday
Fall | Outfit Posts

Randoms Outfits from the Past Week

Work has been hectic, life outside has been hectic, and I haven’t been good about getting daily outfit posts up here. Here’s some peeks into what I have been wearing lately: I can’t recall what day this was… think it was the end of last week? It was an early morning and a very long…

read the article Randoms Outfits from the Past Week
Outfit Posts

Wednesday

Attire:Gap – Black low slung twill pantsBanana Republic – Teal merino boatneck, black leather strappy kitten heelsAnn Taylor – Silver necklaceSilver hoops and cuff Hair:Needing to be washed. “nuff said. Beauty:L’Oreal – True Match foundation in C3Cargo – Matte BeachBlush in TenerifeRevlon – ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral KhakisCover Girl – LashBlast mascara in Rich…

read the article Wednesday

21 Comments

BoutiqueGirl says:

May 24, 2011 at 11:10 am

Oh dear – I am so behind on posts!!
I LOVE THIS DRESS!

Reply
vishal khandelwal says:

May 20, 2011 at 5:58 am

nice post and awesome blog, would like to make my blogs like this, cool designer fashion accessories listed here !! thanks……

Reply
style odyssey says:

May 17, 2011 at 3:03 pm

this is SO pretty, ali!! the dress is lovely, and i like the neutral shoes with this print.

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Thanks Kalee!

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Aw, you are too sweet! 🙂

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:34 pm

I am so glad it is back too! Now just have to get everything working properly again. Thanks so much!

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:33 pm

I got the Large. I think it’s pretty generously sized, though runs a bit short.

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Thanks for your comment Emily!

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Thanks, they were a random purchase, but I always love wearing them!

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm

LOL, well if you think so then I know it’s a good purchase! 🙂

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 16, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Thanks Hayley!

Reply
KaleeMarie says:

May 16, 2011 at 4:44 am

You are looking freakin’ fantastic!

Reply
Fashion4economicallychallenged says:

May 16, 2011 at 3:38 am

You look absolutely fantastic, Ali! Honestly, I think you wear it better than the model. It just looks great on you!

Reply
Kristen says:

May 15, 2011 at 10:38 pm

Oooh, I am so glad Blogger is back and Reader re-ran this on my feed. I wanted to comment when I saw this earlier this week. FABULOUS dress on you, absolutely worth the splurge. Enjoy it!

Reply
Robin says:

May 15, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Allie, that dress is super cute on you! Was wondering what size you got. We are about the same size and I want to buy it as well.

Reply
Emily says:

May 15, 2011 at 9:09 am

Love the print and shape of the dress (really good on your colouring!) but just wish it were about 2″ longer …

The shoes are perfect for summer!

Reply
Misty says:

May 15, 2011 at 3:21 am

Those earrings are amazing. You look fab, as usual.

Reply
WendyB says:

May 15, 2011 at 2:03 am

I totally think you needed this dress.

Reply
Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen says:

May 14, 2011 at 1:28 pm

Really can! Sofft makes the most smartly-designed shoes!

Reply
Patti @ NotDeadYet Style says:

May 13, 2011 at 10:47 pm

That’s an absolutely lovely spring/summer dress. The shoes are gorgeous too – the heel height scares me a bit, but you’re really able to dash around the city, eh?

Reply
Hayley Penor says:

May 13, 2011 at 8:47 pm

I love the colors and silhouette of the dress 🙂

Reply

@wardrobe_oxygen on Instagram:

Since 2018 I’ve been wearing this @talbotsofficial polka dot ball skirt to host Thanksgiving. There’s no need for a new look for every occasion; if you shop slowly and thoughtfully you can create signature looks that are perfect time and time again.

(We took off 2023 and 2024 due to the passing of my mom; this is our first year back at it)

A long skirt is great when hosting; you don’t have to worry about cute shoes, you’re covered up if you have to crawl under the table to grab a napkin or spill, and hello deep pockets!

I’m thrilled Talbots came out with a very similar skirt this year with the same fun polka dots; comment LINK and I’ll send you the deets (it’s 50% off today and comes in Misses, Petite, Plus, and Plus Petite!)

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Since 2018 I’ve been wearing this @talbotsofficial polka dot ball skirt to host Thanksgiving. There’s no need for a new look for every occasion; if you shop slowly and thoughtfully you can create signature looks that are perfect time and time again.

(We took off 2023 and 2024 due to the passing of my mom; this is our first year back at it)

A long skirt is great when hosting; you don’t have to worry about cute shoes, you’re covered up if you have to crawl under the table to grab a napkin or spill, and hello deep pockets!

I’m thrilled Talbots came out with a very similar skirt this year with the same fun polka dots; comment LINK and I’ll send you the deets (it’s 50% off today and comes in Misses, Petite, Plus, and Plus Petite!)

It’s not stylish or financially savvy to buy a new look for every occasion or every holiday season. I believe in creating a holiday capsule wardrobe of separates you can mix and match for a range of events, wear beyond the season, and look forward to pulling out again next year. Don’t call it wearing the same thing over and over, it’s creating signature style and that is incredibly chic!

This capsule collection is now on sale and from a range of retailers offering quality and reasonable price points. Everything is available up to at least size 18, with much also available in plus size and petite lengths!

Comment LINK and I’ll send the article I wrote about this capsule that has not only the ways to shop this look but also styling tips so you too can have big style with a smaller closet!

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It’s not stylish or financially savvy to buy a new look for every occasion or every holiday season. I believe in creating a holiday capsule wardrobe of separates you can mix and match for a range of events, wear beyond the season, and look forward to pulling out again next year. Don’t call it wearing the same thing over and over, it’s creating signature style and that is incredibly chic!

This capsule collection is now on sale and from a range of retailers offering quality and reasonable price points. Everything is available up to at least size 18, with much also available in plus size and petite lengths!

Comment LINK and I’ll send the article I wrote about this capsule that has not only the ways to shop this look but also styling tips so you too can have big style with a smaller closet!

My legs laugh at most so-called wide calf boots. 16” is not wide calf, and why do so many have wide calves and teeny ankles? Why is it so hard to find wide calf boots that aren’t ugly, janky, or made of chintzy materials? I bought two pairs of the @dolcevita extra wide calf boots and share my experience. Comment LINK and I’ll send you my list of the best truly wide calf boots made from real leather or suede and are incredibly stylish to boot (see what I did there?).

For 20 years I’ve been providing real life style advice for grown-ass women at Wardrobe Oxygen. We all deserve great closets, and I hope this helps my fellow strong fabulous calved friends!

For those curious:
@onequince jeans and sweater
Prada glasses I bought at @lenscrafters
Vintage belt, @mmlafleur earrings

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My legs laugh at most so-called wide calf boots. 16” is not wide calf, and why do so many have wide calves and teeny ankles? Why is it so hard to find wide calf boots that aren’t ugly, janky, or made of chintzy materials? I bought two pairs of the @dolcevita extra wide calf boots and share my experience. Comment LINK and I’ll send you my list of the best truly wide calf boots made from real leather or suede and are incredibly stylish to boot (see what I did there?).

For 20 years I’ve been providing real life style advice for grown-ass women at Wardrobe Oxygen. We all deserve great closets, and I hope this helps my fellow strong fabulous calved friends!

For those curious:
@onequince jeans and sweater
Prada glasses I bought at @lenscrafters
Vintage belt, @mmlafleur earrings

The only way I’m going to survive this season in life and society is to get fresh air and sunshine when possible, move this body, wear color that brings me joy, and find humor in the mundane. Dogs also help, even though Bowser looks embarrassed by my fall fig leaf action! 🍁

Vest, top, and leggings are all @athleta though not all new. Shoes are @brooksrunning Cascadia which come in wide width, sunglasses are @caddis_life prescription & polarized, on my back is my @dagnedover Dakota backpack which I used to ruck books to the little free library then ruck groceries home.

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/5yU4t #ltkmidsize #ltkpetite #ltkover40

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The only way I’m going to survive this season in life and society is to get fresh air and sunshine when possible, move this body, wear color that brings me joy, and find humor in the mundane. Dogs also help, even though Bowser looks embarrassed by my fall fig leaf action! 🍁

Vest, top, and leggings are all @athleta though not all new. Shoes are @brooksrunning Cascadia which come in wide width, sunglasses are @caddis_life prescription & polarized, on my back is my @dagnedover Dakota backpack which I used to ruck books to the little free library then ruck groceries home.

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/5yU4t #ltkmidsize #ltkpetite #ltkover40

Eff that noise that you MUST toss anything from your closet to be stylish and current. A little restyling can give new life and a fresh look to anything in your closet, including millennial booties.

Want more real life style advice from Wardrobe Oxygen that doesn’t force you to buy new to feel current? Comment LINK and I’ll send you more tips on styling your favorite shoes in a way that is modern, stylish, and likely won’t make you spend an additional dime. 🧡

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Eff that noise that you MUST toss anything from your closet to be stylish and current. A little restyling can give new life and a fresh look to anything in your closet, including millennial booties.

Want more real life style advice from Wardrobe Oxygen that doesn’t force you to buy new to feel current? Comment LINK and I’ll send you more tips on styling your favorite shoes in a way that is modern, stylish, and likely won’t make you spend an additional dime. 🧡

Proud wife and daughter of @usnavy veterans. To all who are in and have been in the U.S. military, thank you for your service. This country exists and is great because of you and your dedication to upholding democracy and protecting our citizens.🇺🇸💙

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Proud wife and daughter of @usnavy veterans. To all who are in and have been in the U.S. military, thank you for your service. This country exists and is great because of you and your dedication to upholding democracy and protecting our citizens.🇺🇸💙

Style comes not from what you have in your closet but how you wear it. All these items have been in my closet a while. Instead of spending time shopping for new, I used that time to play with the pieces and see if I could create a new combination and give a fresh life to my closet.

What’s awesome is these same items are still for sale or else there is a new version this season from the same retailer. Hello shirts made for large busts, petite pants over a size 12, water and sweat resistant jewelry, and chic size inclusive trench coats!

Shirt: @theshirt_rochellebehrens
Sweater: @bananarepublic
Pants: @anntaylor
Bag: @onequince
Glasses: @eyebobs
Necklaces and circle ring: @analuisany
Coat: @universalstandard
Lipcolor: @merit
Sneakers: @adidas

Comment LINK or SHOP to receive a DM with more details on this look including where to shop for these pieces! For reference I’m wearing the shirt and sweater in XL, the coat in XS, and the pants in 16P.

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Style comes not from what you have in your closet but how you wear it. All these items have been in my closet a while. Instead of spending time shopping for new, I used that time to play with the pieces and see if I could create a new combination and give a fresh life to my closet.

What’s awesome is these same items are still for sale or else there is a new version this season from the same retailer. Hello shirts made for large busts, petite pants over a size 12, water and sweat resistant jewelry, and chic size inclusive trench coats!

Shirt: @theshirt_rochellebehrens
Sweater: @bananarepublic
Pants: @anntaylor
Bag: @onequince
Glasses: @eyebobs
Necklaces and circle ring: @analuisany
Coat: @universalstandard
Lipcolor: @merit
Sneakers: @adidas

Comment LINK or SHOP to receive a DM with more details on this look including where to shop for these pieces! For reference I’m wearing the shirt and sweater in XL, the coat in XS, and the pants in 16P.

When I saw this purple color at @anntaylor I couldn’t resist it. And hello petite pants over a size 12! For those who saw my video about dress shoes for wide feet and plantar fasciitis these are the red suede shoes I featured!

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/5tJBf

#ltkmidsize #ltkpetite #ltkover40 #thisisann #anntaylor

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When I saw this purple color at @anntaylor I couldn’t resist it. And hello petite pants over a size 12! For those who saw my video about dress shoes for wide feet and plantar fasciitis these are the red suede shoes I featured!

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/5tJBf

#ltkmidsize #ltkpetite #ltkover40 #thisisann #anntaylor

I was so anti the barrel jean trend. Then I got these horseshoe jeans from @gap and can’t stop won’t stop wearing them.

Sweater: @somaintimates
Jeans: @gap (hello petite!)
Sneakers: @veja
Scarf: belonged to my dad
Glasses: Prada (got them at @lenscrafters)
Earrings: @mmlafleur
Bag: vintage @balenciaga but I added a strap from an old @dagnedover bag to make it a crossbody.

If comment LINK, I’ll send you a DM with all the deets to shop this look!

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I was so anti the barrel jean trend. Then I got these horseshoe jeans from @gap and can’t stop won’t stop wearing them.

Sweater: @somaintimates
Jeans: @gap (hello petite!)
Sneakers: @veja
Scarf: belonged to my dad
Glasses: Prada (got them at @lenscrafters)
Earrings: @mmlafleur
Bag: vintage @balenciaga but I added a strap from an old @dagnedover bag to make it a crossbody.

If comment LINK, I’ll send you a DM with all the deets to shop this look!

I’ve been a @zennioptical fan for over a decade. The latest addition to my glasses wardrobe are these yellow square EcoBloomz frames from the Zenni Witchcore collection; SKU# 2045422 the frames are made from recycled materials and 1% of each purchase goes back to the planet. #partnership #zennioptical #ilovemyzennis #zenniglasses

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I’ve been a @zennioptical fan for over a decade. The latest addition to my glasses wardrobe are these yellow square EcoBloomz frames from the Zenni Witchcore collection; SKU# 2045422 the frames are made from recycled materials and 1% of each purchase goes back to the planet. #partnership #zennioptical #ilovemyzennis #zenniglasses

It’s wool blazer season; that period of the year where it’s comfortable wearing one without a coat and not too overly heated inside to keep it on. I decided to have some fun with pattern mixing in shades of blue with a pop of leather.

Blazer: @veronicabeard (it’s one of the jackets you can add dickeys to; I recommend if you’re a 16 to go with the smaller dickey, above go with the larger)
Shirt: @theshirt_rochellebehrens
Jeans: @lovechicos (old)
Belt: old @talbotsofficial scarf
Bag: @onequince
Glasses: @eyebobs
Sneakers: @adidas

Comment SHOP for more details and to shop this look

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It’s wool blazer season; that period of the year where it’s comfortable wearing one without a coat and not too overly heated inside to keep it on. I decided to have some fun with pattern mixing in shades of blue with a pop of leather.

Blazer: @veronicabeard (it’s one of the jackets you can add dickeys to; I recommend if you’re a 16 to go with the smaller dickey, above go with the larger)
Shirt: @theshirt_rochellebehrens
Jeans: @lovechicos (old)
Belt: old @talbotsofficial scarf
Bag: @onequince
Glasses: @eyebobs
Sneakers: @adidas

Comment SHOP for more details and to shop this look

I love chartreuse, moss gold, acid green, and all those other greenish goldish colors big this season. Sure they look great with denim, black, brown, and navy but I’ve been styling the color with unexpected pairings and love the effect.

Sweater: @landsend
Pants: @loft (machine washable & petites over size 12 🙌)
Sneakers: @veja (old)
Belt: @anntaylor (old)
Glasses: @zennioptical
Earrings: @mmlafleur
Lipstick: @merit Vermillion

Comment LINK to get a DM with more details on this look via @shopmy

#ltkover40 #ltkpetite #ltkmidsize #loveloft #landsend

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I love chartreuse, moss gold, acid green, and all those other greenish goldish colors big this season. Sure they look great with denim, black, brown, and navy but I’ve been styling the color with unexpected pairings and love the effect.

Sweater: @landsend
Pants: @loft (machine washable & petites over size 12 🙌)
Sneakers: @veja (old)
Belt: @anntaylor (old)
Glasses: @zennioptical
Earrings: @mmlafleur
Lipstick: @merit Vermillion

Comment LINK to get a DM with more details on this look via @shopmy

#ltkover40 #ltkpetite #ltkmidsize #loveloft #landsend

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