A Walmart Summer Try-On with 5 Outfits Worth Seeing

My beautiful daughter-in-law, Stephanie, recently popped into her local Walmart and offered to do a little try-on session for us. I’m never going to turn down that offer! She gets to shop, I get photos for the blog, and our husbands get to hear us discuss clothes for the next three days. Everybody wins. Lol!

Walmart has really stepped up its fashion selection, especially when it comes to affordable seasonal pieces. Stephanie found a mixture of colorful dresses, a playful printed skirt, and even a linen-blend short suit that looks much more expensive than its Walmart price tag.

For sizing reference, Stephanie is 5’3” and typically wears a size 4 in bottoms, a small in most tops and dresses, and a size 7 shoe. I’ve included the exact sizes she tried on beneath each outfit so you can better judge the fit.

A Colorful Maxi Dress That Makes an Entrance

This bright blue embroidered dress was one of the first things that caught my eye from her try-on. The color is absolutely gorgeous, and the darker blue embroidery around the neckline and hem gives it so much personality.

The fitted bodice creates a defined shape before flowing into a fuller skirt. Stephanie is wearing an extra small, and it fits closely through the top and waist. Since she usually wears a small in dresses, anyone who wants a little more breathing room through the bust or rib cage may prefer her regular size.

The slender straps and square neckline keep the dress feeling light and summery, while the longer length gives it enough coverage for a shower, vacation dinner, outdoor wedding, or warm-weather event. It also has pockets, which always earns a few bonus points in my book.

Stephanie styled it with the Beaded Slide Sandals. The colorful striped design is playful and works with the dress. Beaded handbags and shoes are a huge trend this summer.

Fit note: Stephanie sized down to an XS. The bodice looks fitted, so consider your bust and rib-cage measurements before sizing down.

A Banana Print Outfit That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

Sometimes an outfit is simply meant to be fun, and this banana-print combination certainly qualifies. The lime green sweater shell picks up the yellow and green shades in the skirt without making the outfit look overly matched.

Stephanie recently went to a Savannah Bananas baseball game, and this would have been the perfect outfit to wear! If you’ve ever seen one of their games, you know the crowd is part baseball fan and part costume department. This banana sweater and skirt would have fit right in, and she probably would have received almost as much attention as the players. Lol!

The sleeveless sweater shell has a simple crew neckline and a large banana graphic across the front. Stephanie is wearing a small, and it fits close to the body without looking tight. She could also wear it with white jeans, denim shorts, or a basic denim skirt when she wants the banana to be the star of the outfit.

The tiered cotton skirt is the real conversation starter. It has an allover banana print, an adjustable drawstring waist, pockets, and lace trim along the hem. Stephanie sized down to an XS, and the elastic waistband gives her a comfortable fit.

I texted Stephanie and told her that I hoped she bought this skirt. It is adorable, and will be so cute this summer. Besides a Savannah Bananas game, this would be cute for a beach vacation, summer festival, casual lunch, or any day when your closet could use a sense of humor.

She added the brown Jelly Buckle Sandals, which give the outfit a slightly nostalgic feel. Those of us who wore jelly shoes the first time around may need a moment. Apparently, our childhood shoes are considered retro now. Rude.

Fit note: The sweater shell fits true to size in a small. Stephanie sized down to an XS in the skirt. Taller women should pay close attention to the skirt length.

An Easy Printed Dress with Adjustable Shape

This green and cream border-print dress is the kind of piece that can work for several different occasions. The floral pattern gives it interest, but the color combination is still easy to accessorize.

The relaxed sleeves provide comfortable upper-arm coverage, and the neckline has a small keyhole detail that keeps it from feeling too plain. The removable tie belt lets you define the waist, loosen it after lunch, or leave it off for a straighter silhouette. That last option has saved many a restaurant outing. Lol!

Stephanie is wearing her usual small. The dress has a roomy fit through the body, so women who are between sizes may be able to size down. However, I would first check the shoulder and bust measurements since those areas will determine how comfortably it sits.

The midi length looks long on Stephanie’s 5’3” frame, but it doesn’t overwhelm her because the tie belt breaks up the print. She could dress it up with a block heel and structured handbag or keep it relaxed with flat sandals.

The dress also appears to have pockets, which makes it especially practical for church, lunch, sightseeing, and casual summer gatherings.

Fit note: Stephanie wore her normal small, and the overall fit is relaxed. Petite women may want to check the dress length.

The Casual Linen-Blend Dress You Can Wear Almost Anywhere

This striped shirtdress may not be as bold as the blue embroidered dress, but it is probably one of the most practical pieces in the group.

The muted reddish-brown and cream stripes give it a relaxed, slightly coastal feel. It has a V-neckline, functional-looking buttons down the front, short sleeves, and a loose shape through the waist and hips. Stephanie is wearing a small, and it hangs away from her body rather than clinging.

The dress falls above her knees, but the length still looks comfortable on her 5’3” frame. Taller women will want to check the garment measurements because a “mini” can turn into a long shirt surprisingly fast. That is not the kind of fashion surprise anyone is requesting.

The pockets are another practical detail, and the linen-blend fabric makes this a good choice for warm days. She could wear it with flat sandals for errands, add white sneakers for sightseeing, or dress it up slightly with wedges and gold jewelry.

The Huarache- Style Jelly Sandals coordinate nicely with the dress and offer the woven look of a traditional huarache in a casual summer material.

Fit note: Stephanie wore her usual small. The dress has a relaxed, straighter cut, so it may work well for women who don’t want fabric fitted around the middle.

A Linen-Blend Short Suit That Looks Far More Expensive

This Linen Blend Blazer and Pleated Bermuda Shorts combination was the biggest surprise of the try-on. It has such a sharp, tailored look, yet the longer shorts keep it appropriate for summer.

The ivory fabric has a subtle pinstripe, and the gold-tone blazer button gives the outfit a dressier finish. Stephanie sized down to an XS in the blazer, and it fits beautifully through the shoulders without looking restrictive. She wore her usual size 4 in the pleated Bermuda shorts.

The shorts have a higher rise, front pleats, and a longer inseam. The relaxed leg opening keeps them from gripping the thighs, which is usually the issue that makes tailored shorts uncomfortable.

Stephanie paired the suit with a simple navy top and Lucite Thong Sandals. I like the contrast of the dark top against the ivory suit, although a soft blue, brown, green, or striped tee would also work. For a dressier office, she could swap the sandals for loafers or a low block heel.

The pieces don’t have to be worn together, either. The blazer would look great with jeans or trousers, while the shorts could be paired with a sleeveless blouse, cotton sweater, or casual T-shirt. That makes the set more useful than something you can only wear one way.

Fit note: Stephanie sized down to an XS in the blazer and wore her usual size 4 in the shorts. The shorts have a longer, relaxed leg and a tailored waist.

What I Would Choose from Stephanie’s Walmart Try-On

The blue embroidered dress is the standout choice for a special summer occasion. Between the bright color, embroidered detailing, fuller skirt, and pockets, it offers a lot of style in one piece.

For everyday wear, the striped linen-blend shirtdress would probably get the most use. It looks comfortable, doesn’t cling through the waist, and can be styled with several types of shoes.

And, of course, I love the banana print skirt that is so fun. However, I don’t see me getting as much wear from it as I would the other two.

One Last Thing

This Walmart summer try-on proves that affordable clothing doesn’t have to be boring. Stephanie found everything from a bold colors and prints, and each outfit has a completely different personality.

As always, look closely at the fabric, garment measurements, and customer reviews before ordering. Stephanie’s photos show how these pieces fit a petite size 4, but height, bust size, and where you carry your weight can change how the same item fits you.

A big thank-you to Stephanie for being our Walmart dressing-room model. I think she found several winners.

To GOD Goes The Glory!

Verse Of The Day

Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.