Quick OOTDress that got away

These days my clothing wish list runs pretty short, especially when it comes to offerings currently available in stores. I don't have much time to shop in person or browse websites, and despite my recent Anthro sale purchase, I've become more frugal in my spending overall (especially when it comes to myself).

Although I long packed away my maternity wardrobe, I only recently began digging out from storage the pieces that didn't fit and/or weren't breastfeeding friendly last winter. I am excited to be able to wear a lot of my old favorites and have been cycling through them happily. Not everything fits me now but that is ok. I know my body is holding onto some weight for a few reasons and if it stays, I have made peace with it.

As I've revisited my old favorites, I've also been reminded of a few "ones that got away," like the above striped See by Chloé dress (see on the blog here, originally). I passed on buying it from the closing sale of Pittsburgh's Saks Fifth Avenue because I was waiting and hoping for a steeper discount. It sold out before that point and the dress has lingered on my wish list since. I occasionally would see it on ebay but never for a price I was willing to pay until recently. So now it is mine. It does fit a little differently from my fit review post originally. But I still like it and wore it the other day to go shopping at Anthropologie and to have dinner with Chris and Emilia at Social at Bakery Square.

Details:
See by Chloé striped sweater dress
Spanx tights
Tory Burch Revas
Burberry Balmoral trench (links here and above are to current season versions but all of my pieces are old)
Orla Kiely Punched Leather Stem Bag (still available in tan here, olive here, yellow here, and a slightly smaller version in black here)-- This was a very fancy anniversary gift from Chris in keeping with traditional leather goods to mark three years of marriage).

Taryn Crepe Shift and Petalblush Sweater Dress Reviews

I went to Anthropologie this weekend to scope a few pieces I was interested in (especially with the newly, temporarily lowered prices) so I figured I would do some reviews. Although I don't shop as often as I once did, whenever I do I always take dressing room photos (old habits die hard). It's from my own blog laziness and life busyness that I haven't shared them. Anyway, onto the reviews!

First up is the Taryn Crepe Shift. I loved the print on this one and once it hit the weekend's sale price (plus the extra 20% off) I was sure I would be buying it. That was until I got to the store to try it on in person. Above I am wearing a 12 which fit well through the torso and hips but remained a bit blousey through the shoulders. The 8 and 10 I also tried (not pictured) were very snug in the bust and the buttons wouldn't stay closed.  I am still larger through the bust at the moment due to nursing so snugness makes sense but the overall flimsiness and tenuousness of the button closures doesn't. This combined with the shortness of the dress (particularly when I raised an arm) meanted that I had to pass. Plus the above 12's pattern placement was a bit too "paisley-ish square marks the spot," if you know what I mean.

I expected to love the Petalblush Sweater Dress on the hanger and hate it on me. I was pleasantly surprised to find it to be really cute on! I grabbed a medium expecting to need a large but the medium fit nicely. The colors were really vibrant in person and the knit is very soft. I actually decided to grab this one. I am not sure that I will keep it but at the promotional price (plus extra 20% off, minus a giftcard balance I had) I wanted to have the option to mull some more. Granted, it isn't nursing-friendly but Emilia doesn't really need or want to nurse on the go much these days. She is easily preoccupied with a sippy cup or solids. Besides my hoarder stash means that I can always bring some bottled milk if I am really worried about it. What do you think of this dress? Is it a keeper? I thought the quality was quite good and the shape was flattering. I also thought that the print is one special enough to justify a space in an otherwise crowded closet. But I am open to opinions. Some online reviewers found it to be short waisted and that is likely true but I am a bit short waisted so it didn't bother me.

What are/did you get from this promotion? You have the rest of today to make final decisions so happy shopping!

Untucked OOTD

For a long time I felt like I was "supposed to" tuck in my top if I was wearing a skirt. The reasoning tied to a notion that I should try most often to emphasize my waist. Perhaps this was the influence of watching too many episodes of What Not to Wear? At any rate, my postpartum waist understandably is thicker than before. And with those changes come the opportunity to play with different shapes and styles. I have long been suspect toward the idea that flattering is defined narrowly as "that which makes you look smallest." I feel like I am flattered also by the comfort that comes from settling into a motherhood style that is more relaxed, more self-assured, and more willing to acknowledge the necessity of machine-wash-ability.

Details:
Target sweater
Off Fifth house brand skirt
Spanx tights
Delman Wonder flats

Outdated OOTD

I am so far behind on outfit posts. I don't really have an excuse other than... life. Work did calm a bit in October but Chris's dissertation defense prep accelerated and that meant my shouldering more at home responsibilities the way he did for me. So all is well but all is hectic. I wore this to campus on a long meeting and teaching day over a month ago. I didn't realize until I got there that I had a pretty significant run in my tights. Bummer because I really like these and have had trouble finding the high waisted tight end tights on sale in colors that are not black. Anyone have any leads? I hate paying retail so maybe I will scope ebay? If only we had a Nordstrom Rack here! 

Details:
Tucker for Target dress (found on ebay after realizing I needed more nursing-friendly pieces)
Spanx tights
Miu Miu jeweled flats
La Mer double wrap watch; MBMJ pentagon bracelet, David Yurman necklace

Pittsburgh Boden Sample Sale Review

This Saturday was the Boden sample sale in Pittsburgh and I was excited to check it out. A friend and I went together and both of us left feeling like it was worth our time, with some qualifiers. I wanted to review the experience in case others were curious about these traveling Boden sales.

The doors opened at 9am and I knew from another friend that the lines around then were LONG. The wait was mostly indoors which meant that things were at least climate controlled with bathrooms nearby. But I had no interest in standing in line so I met my shopping partner for brunch instead. By around noon (or perhaps a bit later) we made our way over to the sale and saw lots of people leaving with giant shopping bags stuffed with their purchases and no line to get inside. Items were arranged by category (women's, men's, mini-boys, mini-girls, Johnny B, shoes) and in some cases also by size within a category. There were curtained off communal dressing rooms and workers regularly returning discards to the shopping tables. Although there was no line to enter, at that point there was a long line to pay.

We kept a fairly leisurely pace looking through piles of things in the areas we wanted to shop. I checked out mini-girl things first because it was the first table I saw. Then I looked through each  section of the women's tables because although they were arranged by size, many items found their way into the wrong area. Finally I looked at shoes.

After trying on a few things, I did one final sweep through mini-girl and women's. I left buying a blouse and a pair of pants (not pictured) for me as well as a romper and a swimsuit for Emilia. I was close to buying two dresses in addition to the above but put them back because I was worried I was wearing my sale goggles.

The sale included items from the cycle of Boden's most recent online clearance sale that occurred over the summer. I also saw corduroy pants and tweed jackets and things from last winter. I liked having another chance to potentially buy things that got away (and see them in person before I buy). But the prices at the sample sale are also the same, if not higher than the online clearance offers. In my opinion, the added value of being able to inspect something in person before you buy becomes the reason to attend a Boden sample sale. The discounts alone are not steep enough to be the sole draw.

Some practical advice should you decide to go to one (list of upcoming sales here):
-Wear something that is easy to remove for try-ons.
-Wear underpinnings that enable modesty in a communal dressing room if you'd otherwise feel uncomfortable.
-Bring shopping bags to help you carry your "wants" and "maybes" around while you shop.
-Browse with an open mind, putting even tentative "maybes" into your shopping bag so you can consider them before buying.
-That said, be ruthless when you make final selections (see below).
-Spend a good bit of time contemplating if you really, truly want what you think you want before buying (all items are final sale, and as always, beware of sale goggles!!).
-If you are buying for yourself, try something on twice before you decide if you really want it and don't trust the highly tilted, (thus distorting) mirrors they have in the communal dressing room (ask for advice from a friend or have someone take a phone pic before making final selections-- think of Cher from Clueless who only trusts Polaroids).
-If you have coupons don't forget to bring/use them! (I brought two but forgot to use mine so I gave them to women who were arriving as I was leaving).
-Go late if you don't want to wait in line. There was still a ton of stuff left when I got there and none of that frenzied sample sale energy that stresses me out. People were mellow enough that I never felt like someone was crowding a pile I was perusing and that's a good thing.
-Bring or don't bring your little ones. I had family help that day so I was able to shop sans baby, but I saw many babies and kids there (some of who were happy clams, some of who seemed to be nearing meltdown time... I did see one smart mom who handed her baby off to dad and used her stroller as her shopping cart!).
-Happy Shopping!

Boden Sample Sale!

This coming Saturday, Boden will be holding a sample sale at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown. I think I am going to go this time around! They sent me a $5 postcard and I have the email to print for another $5 off. I don't plan to go super early and wait in line so maybe my expectations are unrealistic. I just hope any lines die down at some point. Has anyone gone to this in Pittsburgh or elsewhere? I'd love to hear your experiences.