A few weeks ago, I hit a couple of Goodwill stores and found some cute summer dresses. Â I haven’t had the occasion to wear them yet, but you can bet I will soon. Â I’m heading to the beach in September, so some of these will probably go with me. Â They are cool and casual for beating summer heat and 2 of them are my favorite blue color, which is a nice bonus.
Y’all, it’s hot around here! Â I mean it’s sultry, can’t cool off without being in the pool, kind of summer hot right now and we’ve got one more brutal month to go. Â By this time of summer, I’m about over the heat and dreaming of Fall, although this year, I’ve made the most of it and have spent a fair amount of time in the pool or lake, floating on my float.
If you can’t beat it, join it!
And on that note, I’ve been embracing my curls again for summer. Â I had a keratin treatment at my salon early June and that helps with the frizz, but my coarse and thick hair still has a tendency to frizz. Â But, I’m using anti-frizz cream and letting the natural wave and curl take over the next month or so. Â I do enjoy having the option to have curls or to straighten it. Â Before the flat iron, I could never have straight hair, so that is a novelty to me. Â I do enjoy it both ways. Â I’ll do another post on hair and makeup products if you all are interested in that. I can share what works for me with the type hair I have. Â I definitely have to work with some anti-frizz products to try to keep the frizz down and some days are better than others.
By the way, I do use a 30 spf when I’m out in the sun and I try not to bake for too long, but I have enjoyed getting a tan this year. I know it’s not best for the skin and my skin really doesn’t take the sun that well (I have skin just like my dad’s), but I am protecting it with sunscreen and not burning. Â I do protect my face all the time.
So, before I share these summer dresses which show more skin than normal dresses, let me just say (before someone else chimes in and tells me the obvious) that I know how old I am.  I know that my skin and legs don’t look like I’m 30 anymore, but I enjoy summer clothes and staying cool requires dressing a little more bare during this time of year, so a halter dress and sleeveless dresses are fun for me.  I work hard at staying in shape and I feel good in these dresses. I’m not saying that everyone should dress like this, you should definitely dress how YOU feel comfortable.  Everyone might not think I look good in these and that’s fine too, it’s how I feel that I go by when trying on clothes.
So, today I’m sharing 3 dresses I found at the Goodwill this summer. Â This black and white checked dress was found at the Sandy Springs Goodwill for $6 and change. Â It fits me like a glove and I think I’ll wear it with these flat white flip-flops for a casual look.
It has embroidered flowers at the top and is really cute. Â It has no tags inside indicating maker or size, so I have no idea where it came from. Â It’s also lined very nicely.
These new bracelets are from my friend at Wrist Soiree, so check her out when you get a chance. She has some great inexpensive jewelry options in gold tones. Â I love the neutral stone one with the tassel too.
This next dress was also from Goodwill and is a Target Merona brand. Â I got these next 2 dresses on Senior day at Goodwill (over 55, woohoo!) so it was around $5, a real steal don’t you think?!
It’s a lightweight turquoise cotton dress lined in navy with navy piping. Â I’ll wear it with casual metallic sandals also from Target.
Easy and breezy for a casual summer look and hey, I match my patio!
The last dress I found at Goodwill was also a great deal. Â It’s a new (with the tags still on) Ann Taylor halter dress. Â The tags were marked $69 on sale, so at $5, I got a real deal on this one too. You never know what you’ll find at Goodwill, so digging sometimes is definitely worth it.
It fits nicely and I’ll more than likely wear flats with this dress too. I just wanted to show you these cute Nine West turquoise suede shoes I got recently. Â Yes, I know they don’t match this dress exactly in color, but they are really fun. Â With all the turquoise in my closet, I had to have these and they will be fun to wear with pants and jeans and maybe a dress. Â I can see these with my long maxi dress I just got.
I’ll probably stick to my white flip flops with this dress just to keep it casual and cool.
This will be a fun beach dress or a casual summer outing dress.
Here’s a closeup of those Nine West shoes (affiliate link).  You can find them online if you’re interested.  I love that they are only 2 1/2″ tall, so comfortable to wear. I can’t wear the high ones!  These also come in a pretty red suede and khaki color too, so I can see these being very versatile.
Here is the mother of pearl jewelry I had on in one of the shots. Â Love these for versatility too during the summer months.
Joining The Pleated Poppy’s What I Wore.
I love a good strapless bra and this Warner’s  (affiliate link) is a good one.  It stays in place so much more than some cheaper ones I’ve had.Â
Here are a few dresses and shoes from Nordstrom that I love. Â Maxi dresses are really fun for summer, very cool and comfortable. Â This is the last week of the big online Nordstrom sale and they have some nice fashions and shoes. Â
Cute dresses- great finds. I don’t like to sit in the sun and tan — I use Jargens creme year round — the one with the tanning in it. It smells good, hydrates the skin, and leaves a nice color on my skin. No I am not a sponsor or partner or anything with them. I really like my legs tan so I use a little darker color on them. Looks very natural. Oh! I love your accessories too.
You look great!
Rhoda, you look beautiful in all three dresses. ’nuff said.
Loved the dresses! You looked adorable!
Love the dresses, love how you look in them. Cannot get enough of your over fashion over 50.
Rhoda, you look fantastic! What great finds. They look like they were made for you.
Rhoda,
You look really fabulous and should be very proud of taking care of yourself.
Our bodies are God’s beautiful creation and taking care of ourselves with eating well, exercise and self-care to me is a way of honoring the gift of life we’ve been given from him. Just my opinion!
I love all the dresses and think they’re very complimentary on your great figure. They’re fun and look great on you.
Love these personal series you’re doing, I think it’s encouraging for other women and fun.
Betsy Gordon
West of the Square Designs
Thank you, Betsy! I hope to see you again soon.
You look fabulous in all three of those dresses! I just moved to the south from NY and have embraced summer dresses also! It’s really a must! And curls – yes, I’ve embraced those too! Try Ouidad products – they are a must for me! Love the heat and humidity control gel!!!
The first dress looks like it was hand-made – probably why there is not tag – it looks custom just for you!
Enjoy the summer!
Beautiful finds! You look great in them, too. Hair-wise, be extra thankful for what you have. You’d hate to have the kind of hair I have….fine, delicate, and not very thick. Extremely limiting.
Jane – you and I are on the same page. In this warm, humid weather my hair is my nemesis with its limpness and flatness on my head. There is NOTHING attractive about stringy straight hair. You women with thick frizzy/curly hair – no complaining.
I love all of the dresses- you got some winners there. I also love the blue sandals; I will have to check those out. I think you look great in all of them.
Love the adorable dresses on you, Rhoda! You keep it casual & unfussy with the low heel and flip flops- really cute! I am really loving the cold shouldered tops for summer this year . I wear them with my Banana Republic skinny almost but not quite ankle length jeans then yellow box flip flops or some cute slides that are striped with a wedge heel for casual wear. I use tan towels (drugstore.com) & Banana Boat tanner for a faux but realistic tan just incase you wanna give it a whirl too. Your hair looks great ……..I have the same trouble with the thick head of hair that frizzes. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have so much hair but I guess it better than not enough, huh? 🙂 Great shopper you are to find such cute dresses that look stylish on you!
Hey, Bonnie, yes thick hair is a blessing and a curse at times. I have dealt with it my entire life, but I’m glad I have plenty of hair, if I lose any, I’ll just be normal again. I do still use the tanning towels too, but this year I’ve been out in the sun more, since I got a float and enjoy being in the water so much. It’s just been that kind of year and I’ve really enjoyed my summer. You always look great, by the way!
You look fabulous! Great finds!
The first dress is my favorite i am 60 and wear things that suit our climate and my age.. 90+ hot summer days here in Virginia are perfect for shorts and dresses. I agree that our age shoukd nit hold us back from dressing in those. I wouldn’t wear a mini dress or short shorts . I too have the thick curly, wavy frizzy hair. I have been using Frizz Ease and Garnier Fructis products. On different days different ones work better than others. I also had my hair thinned and layer more this summer which is helping.
Rhoda, I am your age and working on losing alot of weight so I am finally enjoying clothes again! I receive your blog and always enjoy it, especially the fashion over 50 posts! I love the turquoise dresses and if I had your body I would definitely shoe it off! You look fabulous!!!!
I actually like your hair better like this. As for tanning, I am very much an outside girl and we are lake peeps, but I do not sit in the sun and tan. Wish I had done the same in my teen years! Nothing ages your skin like the sun. Nothing. Just a thought, but have you had your spots/moles checked out? So many people with skin cancer these days. Good to have a skin check.
Yes, I have already had skin cancer 20 years ago and get checked pretty regularly. My dad has had a ton of skin cancer surgeries too. I know the sun is not good for you, but I just have enjoyed floating in the water this year.
Each one so different and so cute. What great finds. I think your hair looks great in curly waves, just sayin’.
You look amazing in all of these! I believe that we should wear whatever we feel good in and look nice in. You look great with your muscles…you should rock em!! That’s my plan. 🙂
I WISH I would look as good as you do in those dresses, and I am a bit younger! 🙂 Keep up these fun posts!!
Love these incredible finds….. they are gorgeous on you and look brand new!! WOW…..
Been buying/wearing thrift store dresses for 2+ decades. Best fabrics, cuts, fit, styling, found. Working in an outdoor profession, Landscape Design, I adore not having to worry about ripping/staining expensive clothes. Shoes are another story, $$$ !
Please, never again supply a disclaimer about how you look. You are fabulous, for any age. Trolls say differently, remember the classic line trending on Pinterest/IG, “Don’t try to win over the haters, you’re not the jack@$$ whisperer.”
Of course you matched your patio, clothes/lipstick always tell me what directions are good for someone’s Landscape Design. Staying in your home awhile? Plant a backdrop evergreen hedge for backyard views going straight from your patio into your neighbor’s. Start with 3 gallon or larger, age does matter in this realm. Don’t plant what-you-love, choose plants deer proof, insect proof, drought proof, little maintenance once installed, and beautiful.
Can’t wait to see you again. Fall will be good, we can share summer stories.
Garden & Be Well, XO T