I’m attending a big, splashy 50th birthday party for a good friend this weekend, and it’s a party where I’ll see a lot of people I haven’t seen in a while, and because of this I have been unduly preoccupied with what to wear. I’ve driven myself crazy looking for the perfect dress—something that is as chic as it is comfortable and easy. In the end I decided not to buy anything new and instead plan to wear a Maria Cornejo silk caftan I’ve owned for a while, but I found several good options, starting with this two-piece number from Allsaints, which also comes in this quite good orange.

This lightweight cotton number would be perfect for a summer barbeque.

I’ve included some sleeveless dresses here, which I usually don’t do, because so many good party dresses come that way. Just remember you can always throw on a cardigan or cropped jacket, or just go with a wrap if you’re self-conscious about your arms. This zebra print sundress is pleasingly graphic.

I don’t usually like one-strap dresses, but this is just lovely.

I almost purchased this one and still might: the pinstripes here are unexpected but really good.

This looks like Missoni, but brighter and more fun (and cheaper, while still not cheap).

A slinky ruched dress in a really rich blue; here’s one that’s similar, but striped and slightly more casual.

Just a simple but statement-y pink dress to throw on whenever. I like it styled with gold jewelry and footwear, just like here.

This eyelet dress is the priciest of today’s bunch, but just so feminine and pretty.

A simple white dress with nice Grecian lines.

A cute sundress from Rachel Comey in a cocoon-ish shape.

A bright floral dress with puffy—but not too puffy—shoulders.

Cute options abound in this category, starting with this amazing colorblock version from Alex Mill.

This tee is a favorite of yours in white, and I was delighted to see it comes in this version too.

A dirt cheap red striped tee with a flattering scoop neckline.

The stripes here are thicker even than rugby stripes, and they’re appealingly bold and graphic too.

This boxy tee is just tomboyish perfection.

The pop of mustard yellow at the neckline really makes this one for me.

A simple nautical stripe that will go into constant rotation come summer.

The contrasting stripes here are a cool touch.

A very good henley specimen that also comes in red.

I dig the rolled sleeves and ocean-blue stripes on this tee.

I like the contrasting stripes here because I almost always like contrasting stripes, but I also appreciate that this T-shirt is made with a silk blend for superior draping.

This is a good way to get a sleeveless vibe without exposing your entire upper arms.

I just really like the orange stripes here.