Anyone who knows me at all knows what a “Haskell dress” is. I live in long, feminine dresses that feel like nightgowns to the touch but look polished enough for work and allow me to go from meetings to lunches to unpacking boxes to sitting on the floor and mapping out one of my stories to navigating post-work motherhood things like toddler bath time comfortably. Luckily pretty pieces like this are everywhere right now thanks to lovely labels like Doen, my absolute favorite.
If I’m not in a dress I’m generally in clothes that feel pleasant against my skin. To me, there is something decidedly lovely and relaxed about the movement of pieces that glide rather than tug, pinch, cinch, or otherwise create sartorial misery. And during the pandemic (or ever, really), who needs that in their life?
It’s no coincidence that there are several Southern brands that understand this. Southerners just get comfort. The easy pieces and all the offerings from the brands below will take you from the computer to the porch to the park or wherever the quarantine allows you to go.
Lekha
I featured New Orleans designer Trishala Bhansali last summer, and I’m smitten with the look below called Raji Dress. shoplekha.com
Red Land Cotton
This family-run, all-cotton line in Alabama was one of the bedding sources I wrote about in my wedding gift guide. Recently they’ve added two crisp nightshirts to their offerings, and they are total chameleon pieces: Yes, you can sleep in them, but they also work as tunics, dresses, or coverups. The pockets seal the deal. redlandcotton.com
Mirth
I’m also obsessed with this Texas label: They can do no wrong when it comes to dresses. However, this season it’s this top that got me. The wrap detail mimics a bathrobe in the best way, and the soft striped linen and delicate fringe elevate it to a post-pandemic staple, too. mirthcaftans.com
Eberjey
This Florida-based label creates wonderful pieces that tick all my boxes. I especially like the eyelet dresses in their current collection—they are nap, work, beach, mom-ing, and dinner appropriate. How many items in your closet can you say that about? eberjey.com
Free Fly Apparel
Everything this South Carolina label turns out is very, very comfortable and intended to weather a lot of use. The below pant is great for walks and bicycle rides, in addition to lounging at home. freeflyapparel.com
Lake
This Savannah company, known for its butter-soft pajamas, has something of a cult following in the South, and now they’ve rolled out coverups and dresses that are just as breezy. lakepajamas.com
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