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

Marie Oliver’s Estella Top & Owens Skirt.

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There are two types of vacation packers: the capsule closet enthusiasts who build three outfits from one pair of linen pants, and then there’s the rest– packing aspirationally, narrating full fictional arcs for dinner outfits we’ll maybe wear once. I usually fall into the latter. 

So imagine my surprise when, in Hawaii, I found myself reaching, on repeat, for just one brand: Marie Oliver.

Founded in 2015 by Sarah Doggett Evenson, Marie Oliver is a North Carolina-based brand with a love for color and a knack for easy, flattering silhouettes. Think White Lotus glamour meets Derby Day chic. 

Marie Oliver’s pieces hit that sweet spot between resort-ready and everyday wearable. Feminine but not frilly. Elegant, but not so formal that you can’t eat the food truck’s ahi tuna tacos with your hands. Every look felt thoughtful and alive with color, without trying too hard. Below are the pieces I wore (and continuously re-wore), with zero regrets and one very happy suitcase.

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Hannon Eyelet Dress

$475
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Credit: Marie Oliver

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

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Whitley Dress

$458
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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!

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Marissa One Piece

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Marie Oliver’s Marissa One Piece (feat. my poolside essentials).

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.

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Estella Top

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Marie Oliver’s Estella Top & Owens Skirt.

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.

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Ola Dress

$298
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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.

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A Love Letter to Color

A friend recently told me that the world around us is slowly losing color. I asked what she meant, and she pointed out that more and more buildings are being painted grey. Car models are only being sold in black and white. The millennial beige aesthetic and modernist homes have evaporated warm tones, making the colors of the rainbow feel like too much – when really, those are the first colors we learn as kids.

She mentioned that today, fashion and beauty are the ways we stay connected to color, and I thought that was beautiful. 

It’s beautiful to see a brand like Marie Oliver not shy away from bold or statement patterns. Maybe we call it “statement” because everything else just blends in these days. After noting the way I felt wearing Marie Oliver, the way my mom felt wearing Marie Oliver, and the number of women who shared their admiration for the pieces, it’s a reminder to stay connected to the color we all need a little more of.

Just know that this summer, I’ll be popping on my brightest blush, my boldest shade of lipstick, and wearing my Marie Oliver pieces all season long.

Shop their new Summer 2025 collection HERE.

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