Cheryl Shops

If the words "cutout dress" give you anxiety, you are not alone. I have never had rock-hard abs, and so I've always avoided cropped tops, cutouts, deep sides, or anything else that could potentially reveal my jiggly bits. To be honest, I'd never even considered trying anything with cutouts until I saw Grace Atwood, one of my blogging heroes, in a Farm Rio dress that looked so doable—and flattering—that I had to order it. Cue "A Whole New World" because I've discovered...maybe I can wear cutouts? Here's how I wore my Farm Rio dress.

Farm Rio blouson cutout dress

I feel slightly bad that I covered up the fabulous blouson sleeves of this dress with a jacket, because they are really fun and voluminous without being too extra. But the key feature of this dress is the cutout, which is strategically positioned in the mid-rib area, which thankfully is not my most pudgy area. What's brilliant is that it's adjustable, with a drawstring running around it, so you can make the cutout as loose or tight as you want. I chose to show just enough skin so that you're aware it's skin, but it's not enough to ooze out when I sit down. The ties also have un beaded tassels at the ends. The fabric of the dress is a really silky rayon that drapes beautifully but is substantial enough to skim over any bumps.  I am wearing a medium, for reference, and the fit is just right (I am almost always a size 6 in US clothes). This was my first Farm Rio dress and it definitely won't be my last—I feel so glamorous and vibrant in it, I can see what the hype is all about.

Gap denim jacket

So, I actually wore this outfit to the Pride Parade in San Francisco; Sean was like, "That's what you're wearing to a parade?" First of all, I wanted to look fabulous to show my support for all the gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and nonbinary people in my life, but one of the many amazing things about this dress is that you can make it look more casual. So I used my oldest trick in the book, a denim jacket. You know the drill by now: I've had this one for ages and it's pretty much indestructible (and just keeps getting better over time, like me :P). I'm in a medium. 

3AM Forever chain-strap bag (here's a dupe)  

Conventional wisdom would say that I probably should have gone with a more mellow bag, like a tote, but like I said, I was going for Parade-Watching Eleganza, so I chose this faux fur bag, which you last saw in Wine Country (coincidentally, also with a pink dress). I love how over-the-top and slightly tacky it is; it's unapologetically fun, and god knows I could use a little more fun in my life. 

JW Anderson chain sandals 

Speaking of fun, these sandals are my current favorite pair right now. I bought them on sale at Bergdorf's when I was in NYC last month and I've been wearing them with everything—jeans, shorts, dresses, you name it. They are incredibly comfortable, and the gold detail is way more lightweight than you'd expect (it is metal, but I think it's hollow); Sean has observed many women eyeing them when I've worn them out. I think they go well with the outfit because they're equally glamorous and laid-back; I think a too-casual shoe, like a sneaker or Birkenstock, would have looked a bit off with the dress. I'm wearing a size  39, which is what I usually take in European shoes (I'm a US 8.5). And just to warn you, you're going to see a lot of these sandals this summer ;) 

OUTFIT DETAILS: Farm Rio blouson cutout dress (also in yellow) | Gap denim jacket | 3AM Forever chain-strap bag (here's a dupe) | JW Anderson chain sandals  (also here)