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In Defense Of The Simplicity Of A T-shirt Dress

an essay by Nia Porter

Nia Porter

Until recently, getting dressed during those tricky first days of spring was one of my biggest sources of morning anxiety—right up there with my slog of a New York City commute and the realization that I have, yet again, run out of fresh coffee beans. How does one dress for weather that is perhaps too warm for a cozy coat, yet too cool for a breezy tank top?

Nia Porter

After years of trying to perfect the ultimate throw-on-and-go look, it finally hit me. The answer to my spring wardrobe woes happened to be the layering hero of my closet, the transitional piece to end all transitional pieces: the humble t-shirt dress.

Before you brush off this everyday staple as boring, hear me out. The genius of a T-shirt dress lies in its simplicity. Just slip one on, no buttons or zippers to fuss over, and you’re that much closer to avoiding a mini morning meltdown. Easily layer it under a leather or denim jacket and you’re cracking the code of cool girl insouciance without so much as breaking a mental sweat. Bonus points if you add in a couple of statement-making accessories.

Thanks to my trusty essential, I plan on spending less time stressed about getting ready every morning and more time focused on the stuff that truly matters. You know, like why, for the life of me, I can’t ever remember to bring home more fresh coffee beans.

Take it easy like Nia—nab your own T-shirt dress here.

Nia Porter is a writer and editor living in Brooklyn.

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