Busy Philipps was in New York yesterday. She made an appearance on CBS Mornings in part to talk about her adult ADHD diagnosis. This has been an increasingly common conversation happening among women over the last three or four years, at least in my experience. I’ve had several close friends diagnosed with ADHD in their 30s and, like Busy, it has been a gamechanger.

@cbsmornings Busy Philipps is opening up about her late ADHD diagnosis after realizing she shared symptoms as her young daughter was evaluated and diagnosed. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life, research shows: "For many years in my life, I thought that there was just something wrong with me." #busyphilipps #adhd #health ♬ original sound - CBS Mornings

As many people have pointed out, ADHD has been historically under-diagnosed in girls and women because symptoms present differently and, from what I understand through reading and the discussions I’ve been having with the people in my life, until relatively recently, people were mainly looking at how symptoms presented in boys and men, particularly on the hyperactivity side. Socialisation and gender norms can also be a factor. In many cultures, girls are conditioned to multi-task, so if they are high-functioning, and able to manage multiple activities or responsibilities, it isn’t clocked as quickly if they may not be able to focus on just one task. To be clear, I am by no means an expert, and everything I’ve just written is a broad strokes overview of a much more complicated conversation – these just happen to be the common denominators that are shared among the women I know who have it.

There’s been a lot of thoughtful writing about this, including this piece I linked to in February by Caitlin Moscatello for The Cut that’s well worth you time if you, like me, have been wondering about whether or not to get tested. And now there’s Busy Philipps, talking about it openly, and the impact it’s had on her life and her work.

Busy’s dress is Zimmermann – gauzy, pretty, a silhouette that’s always on-trend, but especially on-trend right now because it’s babydoll, and of course the Olivia Rodrigo of it all.

Zimmermann is a pricy brand, I haven’t seen Busy’s exact dress but dresses at Zimmermann don’t usually sell for less than $1500 and that’s on the low side. Zimmermann obviously has some beautiful sh-t, but in my opinion, for this particular dress that Busy’s wearing, there are better options. Like the Wendy Ruffle Dress in Silk Crepe by Yasmin Pan in light orange, which I prefer over Busy’s coral/pink.

As for babydolls in general, I’m frequently in a babydoll cut, there are always least three or four on my rack at work. One of my favourite go-to brands for a babydoll cut is Sister Jane. They have a classic one that they release in different shades and patterns every season – right now the Elara Jacquard Mini comes in bright pink with roses. I’ve previously worn it in orange and green. It also currently comes in a pearled white if you’re looking for something less busy. I love this dress, which is why I keep going back to it, in so many colourways. It works with flats and heels and sneakers and boots, and all seasons, it will never go out of style.

While we’re here, and because I’ve been asked about this, when I say that Sister Jane is a go-to for me, I mean it. When I said a couple of weeks ago that I’m wearing a lot of polka dots lately, I also mean it. I wore this Sister Jane polka dot jacket and shorts set to co-host the Bell Media Upfront earlier this month.

Back to the babydolls – Sandy Liang is another label that I hit up for babydolls often, specifically a puffy babydoll, voluminous and structured. The Miyo Minidress comes in pink and also black and it’s so comfortable and so fun.

Ganni is also always good for a baby doll and the Black Cotton Poplin Tie String Minidress is currently waiting to go into the rotation for an upcoming show. Less pouf than the Sandy Liang with a longer shaped sleeve and the bows are really cute. It’s also on sale at a great price point.

If you’re into the Sandy Liang and the Ganni but more on the casual side, the Clarise Mini Dress at Free People totally has the same DNA but works for the beach or a stroll through town on holiday. It’s light and airy on the body and it comes in several colourways.

There’s a lot of crossover between babydoll and boho – think Coachella or Glastonbury – and even though I’m not a music festival girl, I am obsessed with the Sézane x Sea NY Aliette Dress. It’s the high collar and the trim and the gathered sleeves, it too works with every shoe, but I think I might pull out the pointed-toe ankle boots and really take it back to 2006 when I wear it.

For the short sleeve babydoll options that are more coded to what Olivia Rodrigo’s been doing,

Reformation’s Joliette Dress, in black and white, with the short sleeves and the straight neckline hits the spot.

I’m thinking of keeping the For Love & Lemons Susie Eyelet Lace Long Sleeve Babydoll Mini Dress after I wear it on the show because it is so soft on the body, and it’s such an easy one to throw on in the summer with a pair of biker shorts underneath. It works on camera but I can also walk the dogs in this one with sneakers and a baseball cap.

But then I tried on the Daisy Street Seersucker Cotton Puff Sleeve Mini Dress and squealed. First of all, you had me at seersucker. And then it’s the way the shoulders angle in slightly towards the neck, and the cute puffy sleeves. And it’s under $85! We are definitely keeping this one.

Finally, my favourite… also a keeper – babydoll but make it preppy, the mesh and flowers babydoll dress at Simons is SO good. Like a t-shirt with crisp sleeves on top, scalloping across the chest, then falling loosely from the waist. It’s under $100, throw on a denim jacket or a leather jacket or a blazer and you can ride it out to the fall, with tights if you want to go deep in November, and it works with mary janes or loafers or sneakers or boots. 

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Busy Philipps at CBS Mornings in NYC, June 18, 2026

Photo credits: Roger Wong/INSTARimages, Backgrid

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