into the blue

As I mentioned in my last post, I love a good maxi dress. To me, maxi dresses encapsulate all that summer stands for: hot days, long nights, outdoor concerts, cookouts, beach (or pool) time... you get the idea. If maxi dresses had a theme song, it'd be Will Smith's "Summertime." (In fact, let's get that music going... just press play! Come on, you know you want to.)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr0tTbTbmVA]

Okay, so now that we've got the appropriate soundtrack running, let's continue.

As I was saying, maxi dresses are it. And when it comes to the maxi dress game, Tobi has got it on lock. Some are super boho-inspired (perfect for attending your next music festival), while others are a little more risqué (think interesting cutouts that make for the essential clubbing ensemble). Whatever you're looking for, Tobi is sure to have something that will serve your summer wardrobe well. Did I mention that you get 50% off your first order? Talk about a win-win!

For this look, I wore the Smooth Talker Maxi Dress in navy (it also comes in mint and toast, and -- yes -- I want them all). This dress is endlessly interesting. It features a plunging neckline, embroidery near the waistline, chest-to-thigh buttons, a front slit, a subtle hi-lo hemline, and a cutout at the mid/lower back. Without a doubt, there's a lot going on with this dress, which is why I kept accessories to a minimum.

I paired it with a  lapis stone necklace from JES Design Studio that really complements the rich blue hue of the dress. The stone itself is absolutely striking, and the gold and silver chain adds just the right amount of sparkle to this look (plus I love the use of mixed metals). Best of all, through June 17, JES Design Studio is offering 20% off everything in her shop in honor of her first anniversary! Just use code JESYEAR1 at checkout. Yay for deals!

What's so great about this particular dress is that it works well as a dress (duh) and also as a cover-up. And let's be honest, if you frequent the beach or pool, can you really ever have too many cover-ups? I played around with that versatility style-wise by layering a black lace bralette underneath. I like the pop of lace that peeks through -- it's feminine and edgy all at once. Last but certainly not least, I wore black strappy stilettos that are pretty much my footwear of choice when I'm wanting to add some instant sexiness to any look.

Dress: Tobi (c/o)

Necklace: JES Design Studio (c/o)

Bralette: Forever 21

Shoes: Charlotte Russe (similar)