Now that May is here, it's officially time to embrace all things summer, from fun backyard must-haves to warm weather fashion finds.
And when it comes to clothes, this time of year, we find ourselves gravitating toward bright patterns, fun colors and light and airy pieces to really capture the energy of the season. So we were thrilled to see that Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman) dropped a new Walmart fashion collection filled with all of those kinds of items and more — and we were even more excited when we got the opportunity to talk to Drummond herself all about it.
"The summer collection is just a culmination of all the amazing things that I always wish I had in my closet, to grab and wear to a friend's house, to a quick lunch or dinner or just wear around the house if I have somebody dropping by," Drummond tells Shop TODAY in an exclusive interview. "It's all very casual, very wearable. And it's a really lovely mix of solids and prints."
While she says that she lives a "pretty casual life" and these clothes fit right in, they can also easily be dressed up or down to fit any occasion. Plus, prices range from $10 to $27 and sizing goes from XS to 3X, so plenty of people can find something they love.
So much so that even her daughters — who are both in their 20s — have their favorite pieces. In fact, these collections are typically a family affair for Drummond, and you can often spot her daughters, Paige and Alex, and even the family dogs in the photos for new lines. And while you might expect that each shoot is a big production, Drummond reveals to us that it's typically just a small team, including herself, her daughters, a photographer and her longtime assistant-slash-friend.
"Probably the funniest part of it is trying to navigate Oklahoma weather ... often we're taking the spring apparel images in fall or winter — usually the dead of winter — and we're trying to figure out how to make it not like the North in 'Game of Thrones,'" she says. "So it is never dull at all. It's always a hilarious adventure. The wind is not our friend. But we still do it all ourselves, so it feels very authentic."
As a mother of five, Drummond has plenty of reasons to celebrate on this upcoming Mother's Day. And in true Pioneer Woman fashion, her favorite tradition for the holiday revolves around food.
"My kids used to love making me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day, even when they were little," she shares. "One year they brought me Cap'n Crunch. They got a little flower out of the yard, which was a weed, but I still loved it ... they still talk about just how excited I acted when they'd come in with the soggy cereal. When they were older, in high school, the breakfast game got a little better, a little more advanced. But I think that's the sweetest gesture. Even if Mom gets up earlier — because I get up very early — often, I just go get back in bed because they want to bring me breakfast in bed."
Here she shared some of her favorite picks from the collection (including ones that are perfect for Mother's Day gifting). And we added some of our personal
The Pioneer Woman Walmart summer fashion collection
The Pioneer Woman Belted Midi Dress
"It's very easy to wear," Drummond says of this dress. "It can be worn off the shoulder, which is kind of a new era for me, by the way. I've been wearing it off the shoulder which is fun! And so you can wear it out for date night, for dinner, to a party. But it's also great just worn on the shoulders. I actually like to wear the dress sometimes with black leggings.
The Pioneer Woman Cotton Smocked Eyelet Blouse
Drummond says that this blouse is "a piece that I find I wear around the house a lot because it's cotton, it's easy," she says. "But it's also very, very cute for going out, for going to a gathering with friends."
The Pioneer Woman Embellished Peasant Dress
If you're looking for a gift for Mom, Drummond says this would be a great pick — especially for kids who might not know their mom's exact size or style, since it's flowy and can be styled multiple ways.
"It has embroidered, embellished sleeves and it's a great length because it's an above-the-knee dress, but it's also very cute as a tunic. I wore the light wash, chambray color with some faded jeans and worn-out boots the other day and I felt extremely sassy and cute."
The Pioneer Woman Tie Front V-Neck Top
This top is another great option for Mom. "It's kind of a stretchy, really nice knit, but it has an eyelet pattern and it ties in the front," Drummond shares. "The sleeves are cute, they're elbow-length so not too short, not too long. I just love things like that, they don't have zippers and buttons and things that are going to be very specific in terms of fit. And they show Mom that you were thinking about her."
The Pioneer Woman Tiered Knit Dress
A dress for just $20? Considering how cute and easy to style this piece looks, we had to do a double take when we first saw the price of this dress. But it’s true! And it comes in three bright colors and patterns, so you can add multiple to your collection.
The Pioneer Woman Embossed Post Teardrop Earring
Up your accessory game with these teardrop earrings. They feature blue and pink details to add a pop of color to any outfit.
The Pioneer Woman Ruffle Sleeve Pleated V-Neck Blouse
For work, family get-togethers or any other occasion, this blouse is the perfect choice. The vibrant pattern makes it feel nicer than your average top, so it’d be easy to dress up with a skirt. But you can also go casual and style it with jeans and sandals.
The Pioneer Woman Millennium Pull-On Capris
Pants that are comfy, pull-on and under $25? The Pioneer Woman and Walmart really pulled through with these bottoms that are stretchy and "super comfortable," according to the brand.
The Pioneer Woman Sleeveless Tiered Midi Dress
If you don’t yet have a go-to dress for summer, we may have found just the one for you. This dress comes in floral prints or a solid blue or black hue and, like all items from the collection, is available in sizes XS to 3X.
