Summer Handbags, and a Dress?

Don't you love switching to a summer purse? I get all excited about shelving my heavy black or dark brown shoulder bag and slipping into something pretty. I know, in the southern climates we COULD wear canvas or floral bags all year, but it just feels wrong. Plus, I'm from New Jersey.

I had been coveting something colorful and cheery, and large enough for everyday wear. I chose this bag, from The Sak, and I'm enjoying it:

Here's some more that make me smile:

I sometimes have trouble getting a summer dress just right. Being a woman of a certain age, I like to cover my upper arms, and I like my hemlines to my knees. I am actually loving the new casual maxi skirts and bought two for spring/summer, but a maxi dress seems too . . I don't know, YOUNG for me?? So I usually wear separates, but still long for a simple work-appropriate dress that skims the figure, covers the arms, doesn't overwhelm me with a loud print, and doesn't have to be dry cleaned. I like these, (but I haven't bought any yet, I admit):

What do you think? The striped knit dress is my favorite, even though it does skew a bit young. I'd wear it with one of the more subdued nude sandals below, but I do love the long pendant; I think it's slimming! The upper left dress reminds me of hippie dresses I wore in the 70's but this one is much sleeker. I ought to take the plunge.