👀 Every year I find *ONE* amazing and inexpensive dress
2025's version is inside this email
It’s that time again—the annual reveal of the Old Navy Dress of the Summer. (Scroll down to see it, or hit the button if you're ready to shop immediately.)
If you’re new here, welcome to a long-standing Gee Thanks! tradition: every single summer, like clockwork, Old Navy drops the perfect dress. I’ve been finding them for years, and since 2022, I’ve been sharing them here. 2022 was the year of the Reformation lookalike that came with me to Lake Como and everywhere else.
Then last year, it was the simple but effective black ribbed midi dress (still available in red) that could be worn for almost any occasion in any season; a true closet staple for me still to this day. In 2024, it was a tank top fit and flare dress.
This year?
Drumroll…
The Waist-Defined Ruffled Midi Dress is one of those rare finds that looks like you tried but feels like you didn’t. It’s made from breezy cotton, has wide straps that actually work with a regular bra, and an elastic waist that keeps it from looking unstructured. The bodice has a nice tie detail, but it’s only for decoration, not fuction — it doesn’t cinch the material. Doen vibes (especially last year’s GAP collab, my friend Maddie pointed out!).
It’s thick material, not see-through, and comes in a few different colorways. I think green stripe is the best of the bunch.
It’s the kind of dress that slots perfectly into real life—whether you’re running late to a meeting, grabbing coffee with a friend, or realizing you forgot to buy a gift on the way to a birthday dinner. It’s comfortable, flattering, and doesn’t require shapewear, strategic layering, or a complicated bra situation.
The reviews are glowing, and for good reason—people are saying things like, “I felt amazing in this dress,” and “I want it in every color,” which, frankly, are the only two things I want to feel about any piece of clothing. If you’re a busy 30- or 40-something trying to make it through spring and summer looking effortlessly put-together (while lowkey sweating through your errands), this one’s worth checking out. And yes, it has pockets!
Right now it’s on sale, and you know my rule: Never buy GAP Inc. full-priced. But we’re thinking sizes are going to fly, so grab yours. I took my typical size, but you could also size down.
I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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I also love that gap co usually shows each garment on different-sized models. Really helps weed out the "Is this cute or is she just thin?" pieces!
The 2024 ON Summer dress didn't work for me, but the 2023 was awesome. And I have already bought this years! In white with a little floral print, because I am ALWAYS drawn to clothes that look like victorian underwear.