Shopping for Vegas - Casual summer edition (Dresses)

The average high temperature in Vegas during the summer is 103°F (39°C)!  I don't know if the odd weather this year (it was sprinkling earlier today in the bay area...) will have an effect on the Vegas weather but better to be prepared than having to buy an entire new wardrobe I say.  

I've taken summer sessions in Davis, CA and have endured a few past summers in Vegas so I think I've managed to figure out what works and does not work for me in the heat.  Now it would be amazing if I could walk around in a bikini and cover-up the whole time I'm there but that would not be a pretty sight after all the buffets I plan on attacking.  Therefore I will turn to my go-to piece of clothing - dresses!  Casual dresses makes choosing your outfits so easy; pick the dress, accessorize a little and then you're done.  No need to worry about whether the jeans look good with the top, if the wash is too dark, whether the top is too revealing, blah blah.  For this trip to Vegas, I am hoping to only pack dresses for my casual wear.

French Connection "Pixie Stripe" Floral Print Dress (@Bloomingdales)

I think this dress is the definition of a "put-on-and-go" dress because you can't really add any accessories to it without overdoing it.  One take-it-or-leave-it fashion advice that I always see mentioned is to avoid horizontal stripes because it tends to make the wearer look wider.  I can see how that is possible in some cases but with the dress, the thinner contrasting stripes act to break up the solid color and mute down the floral decal.  The pattern and decal definitely captures attention though because my eyes honed right to the dress when I browsing the racks!  Like any other t-shirt dresses, this dress is a bit shapeless on the hanger but it when worn it gives out an effortless chic appeal.

I love this dress but this is not a piece I plan on taking to Vegas with me.  I can just imagine the fabric clinging to me in the Vegas heat and the sleeves won't do any good in the blaring sun either.  However I think this will be a staple piece in my wardrobe for Fall.  I can imagine pairing it this versatile dress with a white blazer, grey boyfriend blazer, or tan leather jacket depending on occasion.

Aqua Printed Silk Dress w/ Jersey Racerback (@Bloomingdales)
This dress is gorgeous on display and the material would be perfect for the humid Vegas weather however this dress was not the least bit flattering on my frame!  There's so many things wrong with the fit.  First, the thin bra-like straps are not adjustable so the front drapes in an odd manner.  Secondly, the dress cinches around the waist (where the belt is) which makes it look extra bunched on the front and back above the cinching.  And third is the racerback!  I cannot do racerback tops because I have broad shoulders so from the back I look very top-heavy and it really does take pictures to make me realize how broad I am back there!  I can't really think of any ways to make this dress work on me.  Taking off the belt won't do anything because there's cinching behind it so the bunching will remain.  I can pull the dress lower to minimize bunching however I feel that this dress looks best shorter.  And while the straps can be shortened, it isn't worth it to me because the overall fit is poor.  This dress is going back on my next trip to Bloomingdales.


American Apparel two-tone mini dress in light aqua/asphalt (@American Apparel)

Out of the three potentials for Vegas, this is the only one that I am taking with me so far! While this dress is more form-fitting than the norm for daytime casual wear in CA, it'll work in Vegas because everything is flashier in Vegas. The lighter aqua color top and grey skirt helps tone down the formality of this dress and I'm thinking of either using a white patent basket-weave belt or a white cloth tied into a big bow in the back (like on the AA site) to "shorten" the high-waisted "skirt" which will also make this more acceptable for day wear.

Come to think of it, this dress (in any of the colors!) would be a great "day-to-night" outfit for those who don't have time to change in-between.  Flip the scoopneck (which I wore in the back) to the front, touch-up your make-up, add some flashier accessories and ta-da, you have a clubbing outfit.

The only downside is that the skirt rides up as you walk.  As long as you dont forget to tug down every so often, you'll be fine.

I'm trying to brainstorm ideas of other casual dresses to wear in Vegas and hopefully by the time September 1st rolls around (actually I have to be packed by August 31st since I'm only taking a 1/2 day on the 1st) my brain isn't fried.  Have you seen any cute dresses that are Vegas worthy?  Please share.