Dressing For the Heat | A Cream Embroidered Sun Dress and Bright Accessories

Cream embroidered summer dress, orange sandals

Saturday may well have been the hottest day of the year so far and a cotton sundress was exactly what was required for the heat.

We went to London to see friends – the South East is nearly always so much hotter than the South West where we live – and I was thankful that I had this very pretty embroidered dress that I thrifted a couple of years ago to wear (you can see how I styled it on the blog last here).

My last three outfit posts have all featured this orange bag, so I think it’s safe to say that that’s the best £7.50 I’ve ever spent on an accessory. I also can’t get enough of these orange Marks & Spencer sandals which I simply adore – is there a better shoe out there??

Cream embroidered summer dress, orange bag

With a messy ponytail and a bright lip I was good to go for the [insert groan here] FIVE-HOUR car journey that should have taken less than three. Oh, the joys of travelling on the roads on a hot weekend: One hot day and everyone decides to spend it on the roads that turn into car parks. Us included.

When I first got this dress I intended to dye it a pastel blue or lilac (but realised I liked the cream in the end). What do you think – should I still try that for next year maybe? Do let me know what you think in the comments!

Cream embroidered summer dress, bright coral lips, red hair

Cream embroidered summer dress, orange sandals

Dress: Thrifted | Shoes: Marks & Spencer | Bag: Dorothy Perkins | Sunglasses: c/o Lulus | Nails: Models Own Utopia | Lips: Maybelline Color Drama In With Coral

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42 Comments

  1. 14 September 2015 / 11:39 pm

    Anything embroidered catches my eye. The shoes and purse compliment beautifully. Now I just need to remember to accessorize.

  2. 7 September 2015 / 9:04 pm

    One of my all time favourite looks of yours, you look stunning, I adore the peach lips and that cream dress-so simple and chic. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x

  3. 4 September 2015 / 10:26 pm

    Love the embroidery on this dress Catherine and tell me about it!! I was in fresh cool mountain air for a month to come back to humid sweltering heat! ahh, well at least you look gorgeous! xx
    Thanks for linking up to Turning Heads Tuesday!
    jess xx
    http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com

  4. 4 September 2015 / 12:46 pm

    Love the dress! Absolutely summer style! The shoes could be a different colour, but still! Happy face

  5. 2 September 2015 / 12:10 pm

    You look lovely. I really like the cream dress and love the bright accessories. Every time I read your blog I wish I had red hair! x #wiww

  6. 2 September 2015 / 4:26 am

    I like the dress in cream and it looks great on you. But I can also picture it in lilac (but am never adventurous enough to dye things myself…).

    The purse & shoes are great!

  7. 31 August 2015 / 9:06 pm

    I've never actually dyed an item of clothing before so I don't know much about it. If you know what you're doing however I say go for it! You've had the pleasure of a cream dress this year, so try something different next year. Your dress is lovely on you. Hope you had a/c in the car!

  8. 30 August 2015 / 9:44 am

    Beautiful Catherine, I adore this dress, the perfect summer frock-embroidery always have a special place in my heart as it reminds me of Cyprus where my parents are from, I wore a lot of embroidery as a child too. I have a black embroidery dress from Coast I love, something so timelessly elegant about it. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x

  9. 29 August 2015 / 7:56 pm

    Looking elegant. Very good idea to pair this black and white (?) dress with such a bright orange. I love that.
    Greetje

  10. 28 August 2015 / 2:20 pm

    Love the classic look of the cream with the added pop of color from your shoes and bag. I can also see the pastel blue. I think the color would really be beautiful on you! Definitely a way to reinvent the dress for next year.

    http:marymurnane.com

  11. 27 August 2015 / 9:45 pm

    Love the shoes! I really like the dress in cream, although I can see why you thought of pale blue. The cream with the bright oranges works really well x #brilliantblogposts
    Sara | mumturnedmom

    • 2 September 2015 / 10:38 pm

      I do like the cream with the orange too, Sara (thank you!) – I'm surprised at just how well they went together!!

  12. 27 August 2015 / 2:35 pm

    You look positively gorgeous in this outfit Catherine! I love the chunky heeled sandals too — such a bright way to embrace the 70s trends we're seeing everywhere right now!

    Ashley

    • 2 September 2015 / 10:31 pm

      Aww Ashley thank you… I must say the orange of those sandals is very "you"…!! x

  13. 27 August 2015 / 2:02 pm

    I love the dress in cream… I wouldn't dye it, I'd be worried about ruining it!
    Love seeing you without your sunglasses on… you have the most beautiful eyes. Show them off more 🙂
    Suzy x
    http://www.suzyturner.com

    • 2 September 2015 / 10:20 pm

      That's a good point, Suzy…! And thank you SO much for that wonderful compliment xxxxxx

  14. 27 August 2015 / 8:37 am

    Aaah I LOVE this style of dress!! The boat neckline is something that I always look for — so flattering! I'm glad you didn't dye it — I like it in cream! Love the brights teamed with it too 🙂 #BrillBlogPosts

    Caro | http://www.thetwinklediaries.co.uk

    • 2 September 2015 / 10:09 pm

      aww Caro you're an angel, thank you thank you!! x

  15. 27 August 2015 / 7:20 am

    How much that bag?! What a fantastic find. Love the dress as it is.
    Laurie x

    • 2 September 2015 / 10:06 pm

      I don' think it could have been any more of a steal, Laurie!!! thanks sweetie x

    • 2 September 2015 / 9:32 pm

      Jodie you're a genius… I think that's a great idea! Thanks sweetie x

  16. 26 August 2015 / 10:53 pm

    A beautiful summer look Catherine! I adore the lip colour you've gone for too. 🙂

    Take care,
    Daniella xox

    • 2 September 2015 / 9:20 pm

      Daniella thank you!! I think the lippy was a risk that paid off…!

    • 2 September 2015 / 9:18 pm

      Aww Jacqueline thank you, you're a sweetheart!!!

  17. 26 August 2015 / 10:05 pm

    Beautiful dress, love your sandals 🙂

    • 2 September 2015 / 9:06 pm

      Clairejustine thank you so much!! The sandals are my faves right now ;))

  18. 26 August 2015 / 7:34 pm

    Heat?! How I laughed…I am wearing a knitted midi dress, cable knit cardigan and chunky socks as I type this!
    Swap you for our torrential rain today?
    I think your dress is beautiful as it is, it goes with your colouring and you could make ANY colour of accessories compliment it. Although, you could make anything compliment it of it was blue or lilac too!
    My only concern would be the dye taking properly to the fabric, I would be a real shame if it was ruined.
    Love your orange/coral lip…great choice.
    Heat envy!
    XXX
    Samantha
    Fake Fabulous

    • 2 September 2015 / 9:04 pm

      I wouldn't consider dyeing it if it wasn't cotton (which it is), but I think so many people have said how nice it is cream I definitely won't be doing it now…!! Thank you sweetie, your comments are always appreciated! xx

  19. 26 August 2015 / 6:45 pm

    I see you are ready to come and visit me in Málaga, yeahhhhhhhhhhhh
    Gorgeous
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    • 2 September 2015 / 8:53 pm

      Yes I think it was probably the only hot day we're going to get this year…!! Thanks Sacramento x

  20. 26 August 2015 / 6:34 pm

    Beautiful dress 🙂

  21. 26 August 2015 / 6:09 pm

    My second name is beige, so "no", please don´t 😉
    The shoes ar great, what an amazing color!

    • 2 September 2015 / 8:50 pm

      hehe I hear ya, Nowshine Beige…!!! thanks sweetie x

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