Summer Smocking

I love a smocked dress. They are my equivalent of sweatpants on a hot summer day. Breezy, well-ventilated, and generally tight enough up top that I can skip a bra. When the Charleston heat and humidity are beating down, nothing is better. But (as I admitted on Substack last week), I sometimes feel a little bit lame about how much I love a smocked dress. It feels a little lazy, and if I’m honest, a bit basic. And basic is okay–sometimes the things that everyone loves, the things that are labeled “basic,” get those labels because they’re pretty great at their core.

Still, today I wanted to challenge myself (and Carly!). We’ve combed the interwebs for gorgeous summer smocking that feels a little off the beaten path and unique. In particular, I look for interesting details like the tiny bows on this dress, the ties at the sleeve on this top, or the unexpected crossback of this top. But each piece below feels special and unique and won’t have you looking like a caricature of a Charleston influencer.

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