Maxi dresses are a sartorial secret weapon.  They are the number one item of clothing to make people asked why you look so nice, when in fact you feel like you are wearing pajamas.  So this strapless maxi dress from Fashion to Figure was naturally the first thing I reached for for a brunch date with my husband.  Cute and comfortable?  Yes and yes.

I normally shy away from strapless dresses because I hate strapless bras (they don’t really do much for me as far as support, and they are incredibly uncomfortable as a rule), but for black dresses, I don’t mind wearing a black bra with plain straps.  I know some find this to be a faux pas, but frankly, I don’t care.  Bra straps are not obscene.  I wouldn’t rock the fully exposed strap to a more formal occasion like a wedding, but for brunch? Definitely.

I was so comfortable in this dress that I decided to wear it for our long walk down the Hudson River Greenway (with #panthepup!) to meet our friends for a picnic by the Little Red Lighthouse. I wore my most walkable Cole Haan flats – the Nike Air technology in their soles actually makes a difference.

I also added a jacket for the cool river breeze that was coming off the Hudson as the sun sank lower across the horizon.  This Jaime (the precursor to BB Dakota’s plus line) jacket that I got from Gwynnie Bee a couple of years ago remains one of my favorite pieces – the cut is just perfect on me.  It is so hard to find a great fitting moto in plus, and I would have never even known about the brand if not for Gwynnie Bee – yet another reason I love being a member!

This dress was also perfect for the wind.  The wrap front would have made for disastrous wardrobe malfunction potential if not for the thoughtful design – there is a mini tube skirt built in underneath.

The wind was no match for me!  It did keep trying to claim my new hat from Target though – happily, it did not end up flying off into the Hudson.

Do you have a good basic maxi dress in you closet?  If not, now is the time to nab one: Fashion to Figure is having a 30% off dresses sale today only with the code NUMBER.  Click the link below to shop.  This style is called the Montana Maxi Dress, and comes in a bunch of colors.

30% Off Dresses when you use code NUMBER at FTF.com! Sizes 12 – 26! (5/11 Only)