This post is sponsored by Lane Bryant. All thoughts and opinions my own, as always!

I’m a summer baby (my birthday was earlier this week!), and it has always been my favorite season. I live for the long days, the warm air, and of course, the fashion (hello summer dresses!)  And summer in NYC is such a special time. On long weekends, when so many people head out of town, the city is a little quieter and more peaceful. But even with the more chilled-out vibe, there is always something to do, day or night.

Year after year, some of my go-to warm weather dresses are from Lane Bryant, so when I saw the latest slew of cute dresses in their New Arrivals, I immediately envisioned how I’d style them for summer days in the city. And when I got my order in the mail, they fully lived up to my expectations:

Farmer’s Market Mornings

dress / sandals / sunglasses

I’m not a morning person, but I’ll make an exception for our local farmer’s market – something about all that fresh fruit, fancy cheeses, and homestyle baked goods is just too tempting to resist.  It was already getting hot at 8 am, so I wanted to wear something flowy and comfortable to keep cool. This sweetheart eyelet dress from Lane Bryant was just the thing.

On first glance, you might think that this dress is more on the fancy side, but the fabric is actually a soft stretch knit, so it feels more like pajamas on. It doesn’t look anything like loungewear though, so I was able to get that dream combination of comfortable and cute. And the pretty sweetheart neckline is actually regular-bra-friendly too – always a plus!

I love the look of eyelet fabric in white – and the light hue kept me from baking in the sun – but if you are looking for a different color, this same style also comes in black and a pretty aqua blue. It is available in sizes up to 40 too (love to see it!)

I wore it with my new pair of two-strap platform sandals. I always love the vibe of wood-bottom shoes, but actual wood soles invariably leave me hobbling by the end of the day. So this wood effect sole is the perfect compromise, and I can guarantee they are comfortable: I wore them through a full day out running errands around town, filming an #inthefittingroom, and going to three different events (all in different neighborhoods, of course) that same night. The last one turned into a dance party, and we literally danced until the lights came on. Even after doing all that on my feet, these shoes still felt comfortable (i.e. my feet were only the usual amount of tired!). Truly impressive for a platform sandal, in my opinion! And they are a true wide width, so no pinky toe pinching (like so many other shoes). So when I was getting dressed for the farmer’s market, I knew these would be a good choice.

I finished the look with these square sunglasses – another example of form and function. The retro vibe of these tortoiseshell frames kept the white dress from feeling too precious, and the dark lenses kept me from squinting in the hot summer sun.

We ended up with a great farmer’s market haul, including a fresh pint of my favorite summer treat: Sweet-tart red cherries!

Casual Date Downtown

dress / sandals / sunglasses

When bodycon dresses had their first big moment in the 2010s, I always felt like I had to dress the style up (think: club-ready). Now I still love a bodycon moment for a night out, but this time around, I’m really embracing the trend my own way: Laid back and downtown ready.

The bodycon silhouette is always a *hot* one, and the slightly sporty vibe of this racerneck version immediately called to me when I saw it online. It felt just right for one of my favorite types of dates with my husband: A day spent strolling around downtown together, people-watching at outdoor cafes, popping into little shops together, and generally just exploring the city.

The fabric of this dress felt great on – a really nice quality and the perfect summer weight for a bodycon (aka not so lightweight as to be flimsy, but not so heavy as to be literally hot on). It is true to size, and available in sizes 10-40.

The day was too humid for any layering (though this fun eyelet jacket would look amazing over it, as would this chic linen blazer), so I kept the styling simple with chunky sandals (this fisherman-esque style is having such a trend moment right now), and minimal square sunglasses. All together, it might be one of my favorite bodycon looks in ages – very me, and I just felt *hot.*

Brunch in the West Village

dress / sandals / sunglasses

For me, one of the best parts about summer is the joy of getting dressed in something pretty to go to brunch. There is something so indulgent about it, and wearing a soft, flowy maxi just makes it even better.

The bold, Art Deco-esque floral of this dress from LB was the first thing that caught my eye when I was browsing their dresses.   I was already sold on it based on the print alone, but I got even more excited when I saw the fabric details online. As someone who has been shopping Lane Bryant for years, I’ve become a little bit of an expert on fabric composition, and their “wrinkle-resistant matte jersey fabric” is a perennial fave of mine – it truly lives up to its name!

When I got the dress at home, my mind immediately went to brunch. The material is exactly what I was hoping for, and the print is even more striking IRL (I got so many compliments when I wore it!). So when my friend made plans for brunch in the West Village on a sunny day, I knew exactly what I was going to wear.

There are so many delicious brunch spots along Hudson, and the tree-lined streets of the West Village made for the cutest backdrop for the rich colors of this dress. The combo of blue and yellow gold is a consistent fave of mine, but this style also comes in a couple of other prints, including a pretty dark floral that would transition to fall perfectly. One thing to note though: I must have not been the only one loving the look of this chic maxi dress, because it is already selling out in some sizes! So if you love it too, I’d say order sooner than later. The sizing on this dress is true to size, for reference (I’m typically an 18/20, and the 18/20 fit perfectly).

I styled it with my platform sandals (fast becoming a summer go-to of mine), and the same square tortoise pattern sunnies I wore to the farmer’s market (this style is just so good!)

Which of these summer dresses is the most your style? Come find a post with one of them on my Instagram and let me know – I absolutely love hearing from my blog readers!