Comfy casual dress for sightseeing in Santa Barbara

Dresses have long been the go-to piece for formal occasions. So it has been interesting to watch the trend toward dresses for all occasions, from casual to formal. For the most part, I have been a pants (or shorts) and skirt person, but as part of my blog journey, I’ve really been branching out. Many bloggers are commenting that this is the summer of the dress for themselves and I think I may be tending that way, too. And why not? They are cool and comfy in the summer heat and can be dressed up or down. And for our first day in Santa Barbara, this casual dress was the perfect choice for sightseeing.

The casual dress outfit

My usual dress style is the sheath. It helps elongate my short frame with the simple shape and evens out my proportions. They are perfect for workwear as you can so easily add a blazer or cardigan. On a recent trip to our new “San Clemente Outlets” mall, I went into a couple of the outdoor and sportswear shops, specifically Eddie Bauer and Columbia. This is usually where I pick up a workout shirt or backpack for my husband and son or fun gadgets for Christmas stockings and such. On this trip, I was drawn to these simple floral dresses. They are more of an A-line shape, which is all the better for comfort!

I really liked the coral color and floral pattern of this dress, and it was so soft and comfortable, I decided to give it a try. The fabric is stretchy and moves with you, so it really is perfect for a casual day when you are running errands or going for a walk or whatever. The fabric is described as “performance” as it has UV protection and cooling technology to keep you comfortable in the hot sun. How cool is that?

Performance fabric dress

In the next photos, you will see it styled with a great lightweight jacket, also from Columbia. The fabric in this jacket is the perfect weight and warmth for a foggy morning or evening when the air is damp and a bit chilly, but not especially cold. It’s a great workout piece, too. I couldn’t find this exact jacket but they have many styles on sale and I have linked to a cute, floral windbreaker here.

Leather sneakers (LOTS of great colors!)

Of course, there is nothing better for bombing around town sightseeing than sneakers. This pair, by Ecco, continues to be my favorite. You can’t beat cute and comfy! Comfy shoes are a must when you want to see lots of things!

Sightseeing in Santa Barbara

For the rest of this post, I am sharing some pictures of our sightseeing around town in Santa Barbara. The Spanish Colonial style is prevalent and the incline of the hillside into the town proper makes Santa Barbara a beautiful place to visit. the photos include the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, a National Historic Monument built in the first half of the 20th century. There are also two pictures of Mission Santa Barbara, part of the chain of missions built in the 1700’s. So cool!  I hope you enjoy our little trip!

You can see just a bit of the beauty of Santa Barbara. I have one other view from the wharf and water that I will include in a later post. If you haven’t been there, it is a beautiful town that is definitely worth seeing. And if you are looking for something to wear for sightseeing or any casual event, try a performance dress like this sportswear piece. A new look for me, and one that I am definitely liking!