Emma | A Letter About Wearing The Lovely Things
I kept saving my lovely dresses for somewhere special. Then I realised how many ordinary days I was missing.
Julie Hayes · SydneyOctober 2026 · 5 min read
I'm Julie, I'm 57, and after 31 years working at a bank, I've finally got time for slower mornings. I love pottering in the garden, curling up with a book and taking Banjo for his walk. Yet when it comes to clothes, I still do the same thing.
I open a wardrobe full of nice things and reach straight for my old trousers. There are dresses I bought because I loved them, then put away because I had nowhere special to go. I tell myself I'll wear them to a wedding, a birthday or a lovely dinner out. But another Tuesday comes along, and I leave them hanging.
And sometimes I miss the feeling of getting dressed just for me. Not because I need to impress anyone. Just because I want to look in the mirror and recognise the woman I still feel I am.
When I saw the Emma Navy Blue Floral Midi Dress from Claire & Grace Sydney, I kept coming back to it. The navy looked so easy to wear, and the soft white flowers felt pretty without being too loud. It reminded me of the dresses I used to love, before I started wondering whether I was too old to bother.
In this story, I imagine taking it off the hanger for coffee with a friend, rather than waiting for something grand. And that little choice is the whole point. Why should all the lovely things be saved for later?
Here are six little details about Emma that make it feel like a dress you could actually enjoy wearing.
01You don't need an invitation to wear it
Some clothes seem to demand a whole event. Heels, a fancy handbag and somewhere you have to arrive on time. Emma has a lovely floral print, but it doesn't feel too formal. I can picture it with simple sandals for lunch, or with a small handbag for dinner. It's the same dress. You don't have to turn getting dressed into a big job.
02The little sleeves make it easier
I've had plenty of dresses that looked lovely until I began looking for a cardigan to go over them. Emma has short, light chiffon sleeves. They add a soft finish around the shoulders, without a heavy extra layer. I like that it looks complete with just the dress and a pair of shoes.
03The skirt has room to move
There is a difference between a dress that looks good standing still and one you can enjoy moving around in. Emma has a gently flared A-line skirt that falls to mid-calf. The shape gives the dress a lovely soft movement, while leaving room through the hips. I like the idea of sitting down for coffee, walking around the shops and getting in and out of the car without thinking about the skirt all afternoon.
04The fabric feels light, not stiff
Emma is made from double-layered polyester chiffon. The layers give the dress a gentle drape, while the fabric is described as light and breathable. It has that floaty look I love, especially for a warm afternoon when I still want to feel nicely dressed. I don't need something heavy or formal to feel special.
05The flowers are pretty without shouting
I have plenty of plain navy clothes, because navy goes with so many things I already own. Emma keeps that lovely dark blue background and adds soft white and green flowers. It's a gentle print with just enough personality to make me smile. It would feel right for a garden lunch, a family celebration or simply meeting the girls for coffee.
06There's a size for real life
Emma comes in Navy Blue in sizes S to 3XL. The upper part of the dress is more fitted than the skirt, and the fabric has very little stretch. That matters when ordering online: if you're between sizes, the product page recommends choosing the larger size for a little more ease around the bust and shoulders. I would rather check the size chart carefully and choose a dress I feel comfortable in.
Emma, compared with the dresses I kept saving
The dresses hanging in my wardrobe often came with a whole list of things I needed to wear with them. This is why the Emma style appeals to me for everyday moments.
The dresses I kept saving
Emma, for everyday moments
About the price
Emma is currently A$89.95 at Claire & Grace Sydney, reduced from A$299.95. That's a saving of 70% at the time this page was written. Please check the product page for the latest price and your preferred size.
I've learned that the nicest clothes aren't always the ones we save for special events. They're the ones that make us happy to get dressed on a normal morning. It's a waste to have a wardrobe full of lovely things and never feel like wearing any of them.
Claire & Grace Sydney offers free shipping across Australia and New Zealand. Emma comes in Navy Blue, with sizes S to 3XL. The bodice has a more fitted shape, so it's worth checking the measurements carefully before choosing a size.
If you've got a wardrobe full of clothes you're saving for 'one day', perhaps today is a good day to ask what you're waiting for. It's lovely to get dressed for other people. But sometimes it's even lovelier to get dressed for yourself.
I hope we both remember that next time a perfectly ordinary Tuesday comes around.
Julie
Emma | Elegant Navy Blue Floral Midi Dress
- Navy blue print with soft white and green flowers
- Double-layered lightweight polyester chiffon
- Gentle A-line shape, falling to mid-calf
- Short chiffon sleeves for an easy finish
- More fitted bodice · Check the size guide
- Navy Blue · Sizes S–3XL
- Free shipping across Australia and New Zealand