Dressing Room Diary with Summer 2024 Dresses from Chico’s

It’s not the typical time for the dog days of summer, but this year feels hotter than usual and many of us are sweltering in the heat. With that in mind, I zeroed in on some summer dresses during my quick trip to Chico’s last week. FYI- I walked into the store wearing my super comfy sandals that have a strap across my ankle, which are not what I’d choose to wear with most of these looks.

A dressing room diary is when I go into a local store for a try-on session so you can see what’s new and how it looks on a woman over 25. I’m 5’4″ and weigh around 146 lbs. I have broad shoulders, straight hips, a long torso, and long arms and often buy one size larger on top. You’ll see me try on clothes in colors and shapes that may not flatter me because I want you to see what’s in the stores and get some styling ideas. I will tell you what sizes I am wearing to help you understand how things run. Chico’s sizes are 000(0/XS),  (0/2– XS), 0 (4/6 S), 1 (8/10-M), 2 (12-14)-L, 3 (16/18-XL) 4 (20/22-XXL. They also carry many garments in petite and some in tall.

This midi shirtdress is pretty terrific. The stripe is cream and black, which has a soft rather than crisp contrast. I seldom like self-belts from the same fabric as a dress, but this one works well because the horizontal lines in the belt, play well with the horizontal patch on one shoulder. It’s 100% cotton, so it’ll breathe during these steamy temps, and the crisp shape will help keep you from looking wilted. It has a slight a-line shape, which works well for ladies with some hips.

This embroidered dress has a boho vibe and loose shape that will feel nice and cool in the heat. The fabric is also 100% cotton and totally opaque, so you don’t need a slip. They included a fabric belt, but the waistline is slightly empire, so I didn’t find it flattering. I love that it also has pockets. This regular is 54.5″ long, plus it comes in petite, which is  51.75″ long. This would work for very casual days ,or you could bump up its formality with footwear and accessory choices.

Denin skirts are still pretty popular these days, so I tired on this denim midi skirt. It has a nice slim fit, and the front slit is small enough to be modest while it keeps it easy to walk in. It’s a lightweight, soft denim with lots of stretch and has lots of positive reviews. The description calls it a midi, but it’s just below my knee, so it would be mid or at knee length for a taller woman. I styled it with this foliage print 3/4 sleeve tee. The v-neckline is a nice tie-in to the slit in the skirt and visually lengthens your neck. It’s 95% cotton and 5% spandex, so it’ll stretch but keep you cool.

This 100% cotton tee is a soft ecru color that coordinates beautifully with this crochet skirt. The skirt caught my eye the moment I walked in the door. It’s made from 100% cotton with crochet details and trim. The soft colors and boho vibe seem ideally suited for hot summer days. This skirt is fully lined, which means you won’t need a slip, plus its pull-on elasticized waist couldn’t be easier. I’m wearing a regular, which is 38″ long, and the petite version is 35″ long.

This zenergy dress has sun protection built right into the stretch fabric. It’s a lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabric that has a four-way stretch and is moisture-wicking with UPF 50+ that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. It’s perfect for travel with 14% spandex on-seam pockets. I topped it with this Zenergy UPF bungee shirt. It has the same sun protection and stretchy fabric with 13% spandex. This has concealed front buttons and also comes in a perfectly coordinating violet color. There’s a bungee drawstring cord at the bottom that you can cinch in for shaping.

MORE SUMMER 2024 DRESSES FROM CHICO’S

While not a skirt, these culottes are so wide they resemble a skirt at first glance. These are alabaster white, which looks slightly softer than pure white. They’re fitted through the seat and hips and then flare to an ultra-wide leg. They have a double snap above the front zipper and are opaque. White pants can be notoriously see-through, as can the pocket linings…but these are not. I’m wearing them with this braided trim top in golden kiwi. The fabric is soft and drapey. I’m not sure I would pair this billowy top with wide-leg pants, but that’s all I had in the dressing room.

Wide pant legs aren’t going anywhere soon. They’ll continue to be popular all fall and winter. Some of you are not fans, and they’re not for every figure, but if you like them, you’ll have lots of options this fall.

Have you tried them?

NEW ARRIVALS FROM CHICO’S