I finally pulled the trigger and bought this beautiful floral maxi dress that I’ve been eyeing for quite some time.  Actually I bought it when I was 9 months pregnant, hoping that I would fit into it after my son was delivered and thankfully I do!

Mara Hoffman is one of my favorite designers and I am drawn to her line season after season.  I love her bold, beautiful patterns and the vivid colors she frequently incorporates.  Her clothes are like nothing else, they’re always unique, fun, stand-out pieces.

The vivid floral pattern on this maxi dress is perfect for summer and makes me feel like I’m on a tropical vacation!  The pattern can also be found on this midi version (now on sale), this swing dress, and this fun one-piece swimsuit.  The pattern also comes in a pastel palette, which I think would be perfect for Spring.

The tie front detail accentuates the cut-out which is a fun way to try the trend without being too scandalous.  You can try the cut-out trend with this black midi dress, a similar grey button-up dress, or if you’re feeling a little daring and are comfortable showing a little more skin this sassy chambray option or a striped version.

The button-up front can be partially undone creating a slit the length of your choosing so  you can show off as little or as much leg as you like… or the perfect pair of shoes!  For this outing (lunch on a patio with my boys), I paired the dress with my favorite golden crisscross slides.  These sandals were the perfect pair to wear throughout my pregnancy especially near the end when I swore off heels, and they continue to be one of my go-to’s for laid back looks.

All of my girlfriends with kids have suggested that we take Carter out and about as much as possible while he is still napping for a majority of the day, because once he is older and more mobile they say it will be that much harder to peacefully enjoy lunch at a restaurant which makes perfect sense.  So we’re doing just that and have been carting him all around town!

Dress || Sandals