Hooo boy, is it easy to get in a style rut as a busy mom. I can speak to this from experience, even as someone who prides myself on staying fairly on trend. While getting out of jeans and into a dress is one way to feel more put together, as much as I love wearing dresses, it can be hard for me to find ones that let me do everything I need do during my day — which means I end up saving them for special occasions.

(In other words, not wearing dresses all that much.)

Like lots of other moms, what I really want in a dress is something that can take me from work meetings and classroom volunteering, to plopping down on the floor to play LEGOs with my kids — which is why I’ve been truly thrilled to discover our newest sponsor, Sonnet James.

And hey, thanks to them, that’s me up there! Actually wearing a dress! Can you tell how happy that makes me?

– Don’t miss a special offer just for our readers, below! – 

Designed by mom-of-two Whitney Lundeen who wanted to create a clothing collection that would let busy moms stay stylish but still allow them the freedom to get spontaneous with the kids, she scored with a line of dresses that are simple, comfortable, and made for play. You can easily take them from day to night, dressing them up with swanky accessories and a fab pair of shoes, which makes them really versatile for travel packing too.

Plus, all the Sonnet James dresses are thoughtfully made right in the U.S.A., and are completely machine washable (whoo!) and keep their shape, as I discovered when I put them to the test myself.

Since I really think lots of you will adore these too, I took the time to put together five of my favorite Sonnet James dresses that will bring you into fall in style — without ever letting you give up a moment of pillow fort making, dollhouse redecorating, science kit building, or just cuddling up on the couch together and hearing the best part of everyone’s day.

I do not have a model’s shape or size, and yet here I am, feeling amazing in the Sonnet James Reese dress in red. It’s no surprise that this style is hugely popular — it’s made with a heavier stretch ponte that keeps its shape (and keeps some of your more jiggly bits held in, ahem) and will look fabulous going into the cooler fall months with a pair of booties and a denim jacket or a cropped moto jacket and some chunky jewelry.

And if you’re curious, I tend to be true-to-size 10 (sometimes at 12) in dresses, and I’m comfortably wearing a medium in the Sonnet James dresses I tried.

If you’re looking for a fun, casual dress, the Remi dress in teal is a seriously cool option. Aren’t those contrast color baseball sleeves a fabulous detail? The jersey fabric and knee-length cut mean you could even pick up a bat, should the kids be in desperate need of a pinch hitter for their backyard baseball game.

I’m partial to the heather grey Margot dress and not just because I have a daughter named Margot! I love the hint of an a-line cut that gives you a little more curve, and the scoop neckline is flattering on so many body types. I wore this dress all day, then out to dinner at night without skipping a beat. You don’t even have to switch shoes if you’ve got dressier sandals on. And, the dress coming soon in black, which will make it a total wardrobe staple for so many women.

The Doutzen dress is another one that immediately caught my eye, with its bold half-moon graphic and slightly below-the-knee length. I’m digging how great it looks paired with sneakers on the model; I love the juxtaposition of stylish dress with casual shoes. But it would look amazing with a great heel or a bootie too.

If you’re a maxi dress fan, you’ll want to check out the Sonnet James Teddy dress. It hits right above the ankle so you can still move around — an issue I always seem to have with maxi dresses myself — and I’m a fan of the scoop neck and pocket detail. Plus, now that we’ve all learned that anyone can look great in horizontal stripes, this might be your opportunity to give it a try.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CMP READERS: Order now, and get free shipping on your Sonnet James order with code SHIPCMP. Thanks SO much to our sponsor Sonnet James and Whitney Lundeen for making so many stylish, versatile, wearable dresses for busy moms like me.

Photos of Kristen Chase © Ben Fileccia for Cool Mom Picks