Gauzy pieces and bay breezes. [Giveaway!]

[Free People black cotton gauze dress + Vera Meat alligator pendant necklace.]

Last summer—my first summer fully initiated into the Weems weekend way of living—I had every intention of packing my little Orvis duffle each Friday with fresh, summery things to impress Chad day in and out, from breakfast table to beach to bonfire to the baked oysters we’d gather around just as they came fresh out from under the broiler, bubbling with parmesan and garlic and the same briney essence that was probably still in all of our hair.

The reality was, outside of a bathing suit, a towel, and the same two gauzy cotton dresses, I did little to mix it up. There were a few times I came downstairs in something new (usually met with, “Why are you so dressed up?” from Chad who was making a plate for dinner without a shirt on) but mostly the focus was on staying cool.

This summer, I narrowed the field to a few pieces of breezy, gauzy cotton. The kind of things you can wear your bathing suit under, or trade out for actual underpants if someone wants to take you out on the town later. I learned last summer that shelling out a hundred plus dollars for a dress I only ended up worrying about dumping hot sauce on while tipping a Cedar Pointe oyster down my throat was not optimal—so, let’s try something different this time around.

[Gab & Kate I’ll Be Around dress, $68, Rails Rocky dress, $158.]

Whether your summer is like mine—rustic river days and bare feet—or you’re doing summer in the city, here’s an easy chance to throw a few bones at some summer threads. A new site called Mixology is hitting the nail on the head with affordable dresses and I’ve got a $25 gift card* for you I’m pretty sure will go a long way—especially if you dig any of the ones I picked below.

[Lovers + Friends Night Bloom Separates, and my actual favorite Sunday Stevens Monterey dress, $68]

[Bianca You & Me dress, $50.40, Decker Shadow dress, $118.]

[Jen’s Pirate Booty lace-up gauze dress + Vera Meat Later Gator alligator gold pendant.]

Also already in heavy rotation this summer:

[Velvet Dominga tassle crinkled gauze top, + Rag & Bone cutoffs, Free People Crossroads cami. Cannot say enough about this camisole, guys.]

Last year’s matching B&W Free People go-tos that are still in rotation:

Deets on the gift card: You’ve got to comment below to enter—I’ll pick at random. Note that what you end up putting your diñeros toward doesn’t include shipping—$8.99 flat rate for orders under $75, free shipping for orders above $75 in the contiguous 48 United States. All int’l shipping is through USPS.

-C.