My personal style blog
I Thought Halter Necks Were for Women Half My Age. At 54, This Is the Dress I Keep Reaching For
A high halter neck, a waist that's defined without squeezing, and a skirt that moves with me on a warm evening.
Every summer I stand in front of my wardrobe with the same problem. It's warm, I want to look nice, and everything I own is either too hot or a bit too plain.
Most summer dresses I see are cut for someone much younger: thin straps, low backs, very short. So I end up in the same navy shift dress I've had for years.
When I saw the Aurora on the Scott and Daughters website, my first thought was: a halter neck, at my age?
Still, I was curious enough to look.
What caught my eye: the high halter neck
It wasn't the low, strappy halter I was picturing. The Aurora sits high at the neck, with soft gathers across the front, so it frames the shoulders instead of putting everything on show.
The page says it gives a refined look and slims the upper body. I'll admit that was the part I doubted.
I decided to give it a try.
Unboxing my Scott and Daughters parcel
The first thing I noticed was the waist. There's a wide, gathered band that pulls the dress in at the middle, and below it the skirt opens right out.
I expected a waistband like that to dig in. It doesn't. It's defined without squeezing, so I got the shape without the feeling of being held in all evening.
First outing: dinner on a warm evening
I wore it for the first time to dinner outside on a warm night. The skirt is full and light, and it moves with every step, so the air gets through instead of everything sticking.
The halter neck I'd doubted turned out to be the part I liked most. My shoulders felt cool, and I didn't reach for a wrap once.
The same dress for the next wedding
The watercolour print in soft peach, orange and blue looks dressed up without trying too hard. With gold sandals it's ready for a wedding or a special dinner. With flat sandals, it's a summer lunch.
I realised I'd reach for it far more often than I expected.
The New Chapter Sale
When I went back to the Scott & Daughters website, I read the story behind the boutique.
The founder has handed the business to her daughters, Emily and Charlotte, and to mark the new chapter they're running a New Chapter Sale across the online collection.
The Aurora was part of it. If you've been stuck in the same summer dress for years, it might be worth a look while your size is still there.
My Old Summer Dresses Next to the Aurora
| What I used to wear | The Aurora | |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | Thin straps, or nothing at all | High halter neck that frames the shoulders |
| Waist | Shapeless, or tight all evening | Gathered band, defined without squeezing |
| On a warm night | Sticking by dessert | Light, flowing skirt that lets the air through |
| The look | Plain navy, again | Soft watercolour print in peach, orange and blue |
| Where I wear it | Saved for one occasion | Weddings, dinners and summer lunches |
I've worn mine more often than any dress I bought last summer. I can't speak for everyone, only for what I saw in the mirror.
How long do I have?
When I looked, the Aurora was $84.95 AUD, down from a listed earlier price of $209.95 AUD, as part of the New Chapter Sale.
The site says popular sizes can sell out, so I'd check your size sooner rather than later.
$209.95 AUD$84.95 AUD
New Chapter Sale
- High halter neck that frames the shoulders
- Gathered waist, defined without squeezing
- Light, flowing skirt that moves with you
- Soft watercolour print in peach, orange and blue
- Sizes S to 3XL
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I'm still the same woman standing in front of her wardrobe on a hot morning. I just have one easier, prettier option now.
Megan
This is a personal story by Megan Clark, 54, a long-time Scott and Daughters customer who agreed to share her experience. · Free Australia Post shipping · 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.