I Was Sure a Hooded Dress Wasn't for a 61-Year-Old

I kept coming back to the Hailey dress on my phone. I liked the deep V neckline, the hood that rested neatly behind the neck, and the long sleeves with their ribbed cuffs.

The hem was what made me hesitate. It was shorter in the front and longer in the back, which was different from anything I usually wore.

At 61, I wasn't sure a hooded dress would suit me. I didn't want something that made me feel like I was trying to dress younger. But the more I looked at it, the more curious I became.

I decided to give it a try.

When the Hailey arrived, I took it out of the box and held it up in front of me. The knit looked soft, and I liked the way the hood and neckline were designed.

I tried it on in front of the hallway mirror, expecting the loose fit to overwhelm me a little.

But the V neckline gave the dress some shape, and the relaxed silhouette felt comfortable rather than restrictive. The longer back also made more sense once I saw the dress on myself instead of on a model.

I was pleasantly surprised. It looked different from what I usually wore, but not in the way I had feared.

That Saturday, I wore the Hailey to the farmers market. It was chilly when I got out of the car, so I pulled up the hood while I walked between the stalls.

The long sleeves and ribbed cuffs were useful in the cold, and the soft knit made the dress comfortable to wear throughout the morning.

I also appreciated not having to put together several layers just to head out. With tights and my brown boots, I had an outfit that felt warm and easy without much effort.

And the asymmetrical hem? Once I was wearing it, I found myself liking that detail most of all. It gave the dress a little character without making it feel overdone.

A few days later, I wore the Hailey to lunch with Linda and Pat at our usual café downtown.

Normally, getting dressed means trying a sweater, adding a cardigan, and wondering whether I need a scarf as well. This time, I kept things simple with the dress, tights, and my brown boots.

Linda said I looked nicely put together. Pat asked where I had found the dress, so I told her about Ellis & Rose.

What I liked most was how comfortable I felt throughout lunch. I wasn't tugging at the dress or worrying about how it looked. I could simply enjoy the afternoon with my friends.

That was when I realised I would probably reach for it more often than I had expected.

After trying the Hailey, I found myself going back to look at the other colors, too.

The khaki one was easy to style with the boots and tights I already owned, but I could also picture the other shades working with different pieces in my wardrobe.

I liked the idea of having a few options without having to rethink my entire outfit every morning. Each colour had its own look, while the relaxed fit and little details I liked stayed the same.

What started as a purchase I wasn't completely sure about had turned into something I could genuinely see myself wearing throughout the cooler months.

When I went back to the Ellis & Rose website, I noticed the Hailey was included in the Fall Sale.

If you've been considering a dress like this for the cooler months, it may be worth taking a look at the available colours and sizes while the offer is running.

I was glad I had taken the chance on something outside my usual style. Sometimes, a piece you initially hesitate over turns out to be the one you wear most often.

I paid $69.95 for mine. The page shows $169.95 as the earlier price. It is called the Fall Sale, and the page says it runs while sizes last. I cannot tell you for how long but I would grab your chance.