Flowers and flowy dresses should be the fashion staple of summer. They are fun, colorful and perfectly breezy on a hot day. And while technically covered in flowers, they leave you feeling absolutely nothing at all like a wallflower. This is even more true when you find a unique dress that won’t also be in the closet of every other girl you know. You may be wondering, “well, how can I accomplish that?” It’s simple! Follow one of my shopping tips – look in small boutiques and shop local, especially while on vacation. I like doing this because, first of all, boutiques are usually much less overwhelming than chain stores with less products and clutter, second of all, your purchase will be unique and lastly, you will be supporting local businesses (no matter where you are). It’s definitely more fun walking around in a dress that is special to you and that you won’t see on every other girl you pass on the street.

I have a place like this in Florida (it won’t be my secret now!) that is a must stop shop for me every year when I visit my parents over the winter, and it’s called Deja Vu. It’s a boutique full of fun finds, all at reasonable prices, that I can rely on for finding pieces I love that are most definitely not things I can buy in all of the “chain” stores back home. This lovely dress was a find from this past winter’s visit to Deja Vu, from one of my favorite designers, Judith March. It fits the flowery and flowy bill perfectly, and since it was a Florida purchase,  I knew it would be ideal for the beach.

Let’s talk about this beach for a second, shall we. How beautiful is it?! You may not believe this, but there are miles and miles and miles of this sugar sand beach on the Emerald Coast in Florida. The sand is so white and the water is so blue, it is literally what you would call “picture perfect.” Walking on the beach here is liking walking in heaven. Somehow, it also happens to stay nice cool on your toes. Sometimes you even get lucky and see dolphins splashing out in the ocean.

Remember the tip I gave you about boutique shopping? Well, one of the best ways to find boutiques is on a road trip. Whether it’s a simple day trip or an entire vacation, it’s the best way to explore small towns, and the small shops that come along with those. And while the shopping is definitely great along the coast (it’s where I got this dress at Deja Vu), so is the sightseeing. Which is why later this week I will be taking you on a trip all along the gorgeous Emerald Coast, highlighting my top places to explore, shop and eat. [Stay tuned for more!] And in the meantime, put on your perfect flowy, flowery dress and stand front and center, because I guarantee you won’t be feeling like a wallflower.

Dress: Judith March   Necklace: Landon Lacey   Sunglasses: Sunglass Warehouse

Signed with Style,