A dress for the festive season

I like to wear a dress on Christmas Day. We usually walk that line between fancy and casual for Christmas. I would say Smart Casual but that doesn't really clarify things at all! It's a dress code I loathe because I never know what it means and whenever I go to something that is "smart casual" there is always such a range of dress. Which shouldn't really matter, I guess, but for some reason it does.

So Christmas Day. Not too casual. Not too fancy. It needs to be weather adaptable. Christmas Day can be bloody hot. But it might not be. And it needs to be a decent length. This is probably the trickiest one. So many dresses, I hold them up and they end mid thigh. I'm not 20 anymore. So even though I probably have the legs to carry them off, I don't want to spend the day worrying that I will flash my undies to my nearest and dearest.

Some of the options I have been weighing up...

Country Road Sketch Print Dress $179

I like the print on this one but the fit could either be very, very good or very, very bad ( and boxy)

Country Road Sarong Leaf print dress $129  

I love the cut and especially love the colour. I can't handle the white shoes though. Clearly I am unfashionable, but they are just the worst! I would pair it with something less Nana orthopedic shoe, either a flat sandal or chunky sandal with a heel.

Country Road Hibiscus Print Dress $79 (reduced)

This one I am quite intrigued by. I saw it in store the other week and it was more of a pale pink background and the print seemed less leaf like in person, compared to the website images. Or maybe I wasn't paying much attention and have got it all arse about. It happens.

Twist Maxi Dress - Watercolour Floral $59 (Target)

This is really pretty. I like pretty. I don't usually do blues in clothing (unless it's navy or a stripe) but I like this. Again I really dislike the shoes.  Black and mildly clunky. Not what I would put with a pretty dress.

Target  Tie front dress - Stripe $40

This one looks comfortable. That's important. Also, I love a stripe. I think I would have to see how this one looks on. Could go either way I fear.

Veronika Maine tropical garden scoop neck bell dress $249

This last one is right up my alley... except for the price and I think it might be a tad short. Plus it's hand wash and shouldn't go in the machine. Which means it either would never get worn because it was in the laundry waiting to be washed or I'd chance it and chuck it in the machine and it would then be so small that any movement - sudden or not - would result in an undies baring incident.



So far the target stripe dress and the country Road Hibiscus dress are my top options. I think I can safely add "must be a pattern" to my checklist as I have just realised that all my options feature a print. I also think that I need to hit the shops and try some dresses on. That will be fun with an almost 2 year old and a 3 year old in tow....

What do you wear for Christmas Day? I need ideas!

Lily