Why Marie Oliver Is the Secret to Dressing Boldly All Summer Long

The Hannon Eyelet Dress is what happens when a Victorian novel and a luxury vacation have a very stylish baby. The eyelet is clean and crisp, with scalloped edges that add just enough drama without teetering into over-the-top. It’s prim but playful, structured but soft. The button line doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the dress, which makes walking in it so fun with a small front slit.

This piece deserves a special entrance down a grand staircase. I slipped it on and suddenly felt like I needed a slow-motion pan, some Gatsby party jazz, and a Vespa idling in the distance.

The dress comes in the color Oyster, a creamy not-white that works with literally everything. It feels classic in a way that will age well in both photos and memory. If you’ve ever dreamed of walking barefoot across the damp sand during peak sunset (which I did), this is the dress for you.

PSA: if you’re fuller in the chest, I’d recommend a proper measurement check. The bust has structure but not a ton of stretch. I should have sized up if I wanted to wear the dress with its normal neckline, but I paired mine with a nude square-neck bodysuit underneath. If you're like me and nervous about upsizing in case it becomes too roomy, this piece has a waist tie that helped me achieve my snatched dreams – and it will help you too

The Whitley Dress is the delicate intersection of softness and shape: tie-shoulder bows, a deep V neckline front and back, and a peplum waist that gently sways with every step. It’s one of those pieces that turns heads, but quietly. And that might be my favorite kind of attention.

But for me, the print is what really sets it apart. “Emerald Whisper,” the color-name of the piece, sounds like a luxury candle name and wears like a portal. The green isn’t just jewel-toned. It's a saturated green that’s also grounded. Playful, but also sophisticated. 

If you have a larger chest, know that this dress will enhance it, but also does a great job of supporting the girls. I was able to be braless without fearing a slip – a rare win!

If a swimsuit could roll its eyes at half-life trends, this would be the one. The Marissa One Piece is not here to follow what’s going to last you one summer – it’s here to stay. And similar to Greek statues, the piece hugs the body in a way that adds movement while remaining safe and secure. It’s modest but doesn't detract. Instead, the ruffles add an element of fun that makes the piece uniquely dimensional.

And to address a potential elephant in the room, yes, I ordered it in white. But I promise you it’s not the terrifying, sheer-in-direct-light kind of white. It’s Turtledove: soft, thick-lined, and secure. 

I wore it as a swimsuit  to the pool, then after drying off, tossed a skirt over it and called it a bodysuit for my  dinner outfit. If you’re trying to edit down your vacation suitcase and to smarter pieces that do more, this swimsuit is your new bestie.

I find there’s a particular kind of risk that comes with vacation dressing – packing a look and hoping it will meet the moment. This dress didn’t just meet it, it defined it. Introducing to you the set I almost didn’t pack…then wore three times.

Let’s start with the Estella Top ($328). A tie-front blouse, which I typically avoid because…well, bust logistics. They usually gape, flatten, or worse, feel like a sartorial trust fall I didn’t sign up for. But Miss Estella came through. With just the right amount of give, a surprisingly supportive fit (shoutout to Marie Oliver’s spot-on size chart), and sleeves that gave a main-character-in-a-modern-Jane-Austen vibe, I felt like the elevated version of myself I always try to pack for.

And then there’s my new best friend, the Owens Skirt ($378). Finally, a drop waist done right. It’s flattering, floaty, and embroidered in that way that looks like it took hours to make. I wore the skirt with the Estella Top for a family dinner, and again with a halter swimsuit top at the hotel bar. It's the kind of piece that makes you feel like you planned this. Even when you didn’t.

The wildcard. The hero. The one my mom and all my aunts asked about. The Ola Dress.

There’s something joyful about this dress that doesn’t beg to be decoded. The print is bold and tropical, like a still from a Wes Anderson summer scene. The silhouette is loose but not shapeless, and the sleeves puff just enough to signal “I care” without saying “I tried too hard.”

I wore it to lunch one day, and watched my mom eye this dress. I'm not joking when I say I saw absolute heart eyes radiating from her. She immediately asked me where the dress was from and how she could get her hands on it. Then, before making our way to sunset cocktails, I asked her if she wanted to pull a quick change and wear it. The dress had already made me feel good, but I just knew my mom would walk around in it like the Queen. And boy, was the swap worth it.

She glowed at dinner, and if you can tell based on the photo, she was definitely feeling herself (okay, influencer mom era). The Ola dress is proof that the best pieces aren’t always the most classic or expected. Sometimes, they’re just the ones that feel the most like you. And yes, this dress did leave Hawaii in my mom’s suitcase.