Date night OOTD

By Malene Birger dress, Burberry bag, C-Label ankle strap wedges

I wore this old favorite By Malene Birger dress on a date with Chris. We went to Superior Motors which is Kevin Sousa's newest restaurant in Braddock. The food was really amazing and the space was very cool. I'm glad we checked it out. We went in celebration of my birthday, though we had gone to the Whitfield the night prior and Choolah on my birthday day (the night before that). So much going out! Anyway, I decided to wear this dress because it is incredibly delicate and I worry it won't last much longer. The silk chiffon is beautiful but not necessarily durable. And since it is another on that is about 10 years old, now seems like the time to enjoy it.

I don't know if that designer still releases lines but I always loved their aesthetic when I paid better attention to such things. I believe I bought this from Net-a-Porter or perhaps the Outnet. It was on a good sale, as usual. The Outnet may not have existed yet so it was probably Net-a-Porter. It has an open back so I usually pair it with a black cardigan because I am not about to go braless (even pre-motherhood). It's incredibly sheer and the slip it came with is still extremely revealing so I always pair it with one of my own slips. I'm sure it is outdated but I did get a few compliments from others in the restaurant.

Boden and Backlogged OOTDs

I don't take outfit photos every day anymore. I just wear too many repeats in short spans of time to make it worthwhile. But I don't update the blog frequently enough to not amass an outfit backlog. Here are a few from earlier in the semester. I love Boden's Easy Scoop Tunic but I've learned that if I want it to be the right length on me and not be too short or revealing, I have to order it in a long length. It's so weird to be 5'3" and need "long length" in something.

Another Easy Scoop outfit above. And below is a non Boden repeat.

This semester has been difficult uniquely for a bunch of reasons so thank you for still checking in despite my lack of consistent updates.

Outfit 1:
Boden dress (current season prints are on sale here and here)
Levis denim jacket
Cole Haan Tali wedges (on sale now!)
Spanx tights

Outfit 2:
Boden dress (current season prints are on sale here and here)
Banana Republic Factory cardigan (I lost my beloved black version somewhere)
Tory Burch Revas (mine are dolphin blue and no longer available but they have blue in the travel flats here)
Spanx tights

Outfit 3:
Burberry Brit dress
Longchamp Neo Tote
Burberry Brit Reymoore trench
Not sure what shoes I'm wearing here?
Spanx tights

Poorly timed OOTD

My outfit photo timing has been off lately. I wind up either missing (the ever decreasing) daylight hours entirely or being met with uncooperative rainy weather. I've been such a scatterbrain lately and also misplaced my camera for a week. During this time I took pics but with a timer app on my iPhone. This means that already cruddy indoor pics turned out even blurrier! But I am not sure that I will repeat this outfit during this semester so I may as well document it using what I have.

Jeweler's Choice Cardigan from Anthropologie (old but new to me via ebay)
Burberry Brit dress layered underneath
Gucci wedges

One Burberry dress, (barely) two ways OOTD

I wore this Burberry Brit dress to an outdoor wedding (below) and then the following week I wore it to campus (above). It felt a little fancy to wear on a regular teaching day but I was running late and needed to just pick something and go.  This worked.

I didn't change much about how I wore it on either occasion, save for the shoes and the necklace. I suppose I could stand to get more creative and maybe I will with time. This dress is still new and novel so when I reach for it, it alone feels like "enough."

My broad love for dresses stems from their ease of use. Put on a dress and boom, you have an outfit. Maybe that outfit won't move mountains but I'm not trying to move mountains with my outfits. I just want to be able to get my work done and feel confident doing so.

Outfit details:
Burberry Brit dress
Spanx tights
Gucci wedges (above; in red or black); Nine West pumps (below)

Mad for Plaid OOTD

I'm making a sour face in this photo but the purpose of the photo is to show the outfit so I'm letting it fly. I wore the Burberry Brit Kristie dress to Alphalab for the biweekly cycle 13 teams' check-in meeting, our Covey company meeting (heads up, it's where I've been blogging about motherhood, etc.), and a one-on-one meeting with our CEO.

I then wore it home to my parents' house where Emilia, Speck the dog, and I stayed overnight because Chris had another work trip and I can always use the extra help. The next morning my parents took us to breakfast so (like a true secret dirt bag) I put the dress back on for that too.

I plan to wear it back to school (classes start today! Oh where oh where did my summer break go?!) this month when the temperature cools enough again to wear tights. I find this dress to be a touch short for me to feel comfortable with bare legs. And it obviously does not look on me the way it does on the model but I still think it is a great piece and I am glad to have found it on such a big discount at the Burberry Outlet.

Outfit details:
Burberry Brit "Kristie" checked shirt dress (also available for way too much money here)
Spanx tights
Marc by Marc Jacobs Owl flats (on sale in many colors here!)
Gifted David Yurman Circle Necklace; Necklace from Chris (unknown origin/brand); Michael Kors Horn watch; random bracelets

Back to School Shopping

Burberry Brit Checked Shirt Dress; Burberry Brit Theola (the one I bought is Navy)

For the first time ever, or at least since I have been school-aged, there are no "students" living in my household. Chris and I are both post-doc and Emilia is just a toddler. So unless we decide to enroll Speck in clown college, I have no legitimate reason for back-to-school shopping. But old habits die hard and I am a professor confronting the start of yet another new term.

Tory Burch Blythe Shirt Dress (on sale!)

Septembers are hectic, stressful months for everyone involved in education and it really helps to have a carrot or two that motivates a gal out of summer (writing) mode and into on-campus teaching mode. Accordingly, I decided to take a few of my final vacation days to shop. Everyone wound up with some new duds as a result.

Marimekko pieces (inc. this dress) for Emilia that I wish existed in my size!

Most of our family finds came from the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall in Florida and the Tanger Outlets in Washington, PA. All of the selections for me were at least 80% off! And many of Emilia's items were gifts from her Grammy and Grandma. As much as I enjoy my existing closet staples, it is always fun to find new things to wear to work/school!

OMG I can button my coat! (well, one of them)

Late last winter when Pittsburgh's Saks Fifth Avenue turned their closing sale into a company consolidation sale, it was bittersweet. Consumers reaped the discounted benefits of brands and merchandise that would have otherwise never been offered in our local store. And I certainly took advantage of the deals. But soon after, I planned and was successful in becoming pregnant, leaving  some of the pieces I purchased during the final sale days still unworn.

But one specific purchase has become a non-maternity maternity superstar, proving to be even more useful than I could have imagined! My Burberry Brit coat is warm and comfortable with an easy, relaxed shape. Somehow, even at 35 weeks it still buttons! I am so glad because the weather has taken a turn for the very cold and although I usually feel like a human oven, I to have a coat for when the temperatures dip into the 30s.

I wore this yesterday to campus and then to a late night dinner date with Chris. It kept me warm and relatively dry through the ongoing rain. Although I didn't pick it intending to have a versatile non-maternity outerwear option for maternity times, it has become just that. And with only five weeks left, I'm so glad I don't have to buy anything else for my temporary wardrobe. Thank goodness for the inverse pleat in the back that enables both its tent shape when I'm not pregnant and its flexibility to fit my belly in my current state!

**As an aside, my mom who reads here and on Consuming Parenthood has implored me to remove the clutter from my mirror photos and ... I promise would if I could. For these shots, I am in what will be the nursery and it is currently bursting with the incredible generosity of our families and friends who showered us with so many gifts. Until we set up the crib (hopefully this weekend) and finish removing the other pieces of furniture that are in there, the organization process is stalled. So please excuse the clutter and mess! Sometimes life in anticipation of great change gets especially cluttered and messy. And that's ok. Also, hi mom! :) 

Dressing Room Outfit

I've been wearing variations of this favorite ensemble from summer 2011 with some frequency of late. It's just so easy and comfortable. Tights are optional, depending on the weather and whether I'll be hanging out in sunshine or in extreme climate control. I also realized I haven't worn my contacts lately, on the blog or otherwise. But with summer around the bend, I'm sure they'll be a go-to.

Details:
Forever 21 top (current version on sale here and here; similar here)
Anthropologie skirt (similar here; midi length here; midi plus here)
Burberry flats (similar here and here)
Spanx tights
Balenciaga bag in the background

Recent "Outer-wares"

Sometimes I photograph my complete cold weather ensembles because I am such a sucker for a good coat. Despite my archival efforts, I don't always share the visual results on the blog. I tend to wear coats in rotations because they vary in weight and suit different patterns of weather. Some of my boldest coats don't transition across a range of outfits easily. I've noticed that those ones end up being worn less overall. But once I've pulled something and grabbed gloves and scarves to match, my laziness takes over and it becomes the default outerwear for a week or longer.

For Valentine's Day I remembered to wear this Zara coat from 2007.

The bright red can be a tough match because my wardrobe relies heavily on vibrant prints. But I managed to wear it quite a bit.

This week I've been wearing my black and ivory MBMJ coat from 2008 (bought on ebay in 2009-10).

On the coldest weeks I've relied on this old staple which is my warmest coat.

It is another Marc by Marc Jacobs coat but from 2005ish? I bought it in 2007 (also from ebay).

Lastly, I've been wearing my new Burberry coat which photographed kind of poorly but I think is pretty darn cool.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in a place where such an arsenal is unnecessary. But I am glad for the seasonal variety because of my love for coats!

What I bought from the Saks Clearance

Burberry coat

As I've already mentioned, it's pretty bittersweet to be losing the local Saks Fifth Avenue. With the consolidation stock they received, it makes the browsing experience even more fun than usual because there are have brands not typically carried in Pittsburgh. But the knowledge that the store will soon be gone for good is a bummer.

When I visited last weekend I wasn't sure that I would purchase anything. I went to handbags first and found a smooshy gray Rocco bag that tempted me. I even carried it around for a while to figure out if I could manage its infamous heft. Those iconic studs are some serious hardware! Ultimately I put it back. I have plenty of bags so I've become very sensible about impulse purchases (even when things are 65% off!). This is especially important because everything at the Pittsburgh Saks is now final sale.

They are honoring the original return policy for merchandise purchased before the clearance began. And because Anthropologie keeps releasing new colorways for the Pieced Column dress (some of which I like even better than my after Chrismas Saks Bailey 44 buy) I returned it. I read about some quality issues with the fabric and decided I could better put that gift card money to something that will be able to be worn often (lowering the cost per wear) and for years to come.

I've written about my enduring love for outerwear and every year I tend to find one coat to add to my collection. Well, last year was an exception. Although there were coats that I liked, none were the right price at the right time. When I saw the racks of Burberry for 65% off (with a gift card that would make it more than 80% off), I decided to make a purchase. 

Burberry coat

I have already worn it every day this week! 

Note: They still had a lot of the Bailey 44 dresses and they are going to keep marking things down along the way so it might be back in my possession eventually. I will also be sale stalking the Pieced Column at Anthro because I do think it is a gorgeous, fun dress and I liked how it fit me. Eventually I believe I will be able to find one for a better price than retail. Check out Carol's new reviews of the dresses on In Pursuit of Pretty Things. 

The Coldest Rainforest Morning

Rainforest Morning Shirtdress from Anthro (similar here)

Marc by Marc Jacobs cashmere cardigan (in purple here)

Hue tights

Steven by Steve Madden Intyce boots

Tibi coat (similar here)

Burberry scarf (similar for less here)

I wore this to campus on an especially chilly day. I wish I had remembered to layer socks over my tights because cold feet make my cold all over! I am finding it harder to find the energy to care as the temperature drops. If this keeps up I'll be teaching in my kmart uggs, corduroy pants, and boyfriend cardigans soon enough!

Slanted and Enchanted in Plaids

I've been listening to a lot of Pavement lately. I think it is partially the change in season. And it might also stem from nostalgia for when Chris and I were courting. I think any relationship milestone thrusts a person into a mindset of reflection and reverence for what came before. At any rate, I noticed the other day that I had on an unusual amount of various plaids. It could have certainly been less coordinated, but I was still surprised. This decision that occurred around 6:45 am was likely also influenced by the colder weather. Plaid makes me think of flannel. And flannel makes me think of being bundled and warm. So here I am wearing three plaids at once. I think it works.

Plaid 1: LA Made dress from Anthropologie fall 2009 (anyone know the name of this one? I forget it)
Plaid 2: Burberry scarf
Plaid 3: Burberry jacket (cuffs trimmed with plaid)

I also wore Hue tights, Chloé lock flats, and a Streets Ahead bow belt.

My Back to School Indulgence at Larrimor's in downtown Pittsburgh

I've always looked forward to the fall season and not just because of the wonderful clothes. My nostalgia for this time of year stems from my childhood. As the daughter of a schoolteacher, I'd help my mom set up her class room. We'd decorate and assemble welcome kits for her new students. I'd pretend to be the teacher and imagine what it would be like to have my own big desk in the front of the room. Every year when she tells me she is about to embark on this tradition, a part of me wants to drop whatever I am doing and meet her at school. Sadly, this summer was particularly too busy to do such a thing.

The excitement of shopping in anticipation of a new school year is also counted among my fondest memories of summer. It might seem silly or simple but the ritual of stocking up on pens and pencils, being indulged with a brand new big box of Crayons, tucked into a fresh bookbag, picking out the first day of school outfit, and the entire process of preparing for what is to come was always so satisfying to my childhood self. Sure I would lament the end of summer like any other kid, but the newness of everything (teacher, grade, locker, bus rider friends, lunch table mates, etc.) and my curiosity about who would be in homeroom were almost too much to bear by mid-August, anyway.

In a way things haven't changed. I still consider the end of summer to be a bit bitter but mostly sweet. I am thrilled by the transitions that await me. And I still rationalize a few indulgences in my current "back to school" anticipatory ritual. This year's was a bargain found at a very lovely Pittsburgh store.

This Burberry jacket was from the 70% off sale rack at the beautiful and well appointed Larrimor's in downtown Pittsburgh. I stopped by the new space for the first time the other week and was so impressed by the level of service and attention I received even though it was kind of obvious I was only there to scope the sale.

The salesperson was attentive without being intrusive. She informed me of the sales in men's and women's, let me know it would be going on until the stock was gone, and gave me her card. I was pretty excited when I spotted the Burberry jacket hanging in the sale section among a bunch of gorgeous but at the moment for my lifestyle, too-fancy dresses. I was also impressed by the stock. For some reason, I always had an impression that the Pittsburgh shopping institution catered to an older crowd and wouldn't have things to my taste. That wasn't the case at all and a number of the fall arrivals caught my eye. Sadly my budget couldn't justify anything full price. But the experience made me confident that I should return. And it made me already recommend the store to a number of friends.

Rainforest Evening: Anthropologie OOTN

I wore Moulinette Souers' Rainforest Morning Shirtdress to dinner with friends the other day and snapped these photos after I got home. I knew it was humid but didn't realize I was about to dine in a place with an amazing patio. When given the option and weather permitting, I will always choose to eat outdoors! By the end of the night I was glistening a bit (as you can see above), but very sated. I paired it with my Anthropologie pop-back Infinity Belt and gray Burberry Jeweled flats. I carried a vintage satchel by Coach. Chris was mocking me and my indulgent self-photography in the center side view, hence my bemused look.

Color Drenched Travels and More Thoughts on Monogamous Dressing

I've been in and out of town a lot lately, with a number of voyages on the horizon. Some are merely weekend getaways for pleasure, while others are lengthier research-driven stays. I spent some time at my parents' house this week, enjoying the beauties of Washington County's farm landscapes and my folks' central a/c. This is what I wore for the hot drive to south of the South Hills. The heat made it necessary or at least desirable (for the sake of my dry cleaning bill, in particular) to layer cotton underneath the silk of this dress.
Color Drenched Dress from Anthropologie (similar here)
American Apparel tshirt underneath
Burberry jeweled flats (similar here)
vintage belt

Sometimes I worry that I remix the same pieces too soon or too often to bother including on the blog (I just blogged the above dress here). But I don't really live a "wear once and retire" kind of lifestyle so I guess it is just being honest to show how regularly I will re-wear a garment. The style/shopping/fashion blogosphere definitely seems to favor those always able to wear new or new-to-the-blog outfits. I hope my financially practical strategy of monogamous dressing, that factors in price per wear when I contemplate a purchase, isn't too dull for the audience.

I also apologize for not responding to comments. With some of my travels, I am internet-less and scheduling the blog to update is a lot simpler than staying on top of thanking all of you who comment and offer your input on my posts. I promise when I am settled I will be catching up on all correspondence!

Chilly again! OOTD

I wore this outfit to teach this week when it became chilly again.

The bubble hem dress is a few years old from Forever 21. I pulled it out because it reminded me of this far fancier Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas dress I saw recently:


I paired with it:
Cece cashmere boyfriend cardigan in eggplant
Wolford Heart Tights (similar but sheer here)
Burberry Jeweled flats
Vintage pewter cameo necklace
Shoshanna coat on top

Chilly Casual Colors: OOTD

I wore this the last two days basically. For dog walks, for teaching, for running to the store. It is an easy and quick outfit that I think looks relatively pulled together.

J. Crew Annalise ruffle cami in a cinnamon (which is a deep mustard rust hue). (similar here)
Charter Club embellished cardigan from Macys in navy. (Similar here)
J. Crew stretch bootcut cords in Aubergine
Burberry jeweled satin flats (similar here)
Swatch watch
Flower cuff bracelet (similar here)

My mom got me the cardigan for my birthday. It has really cute details in the trims and button choice.

I like the mix of colors, in part because the navy paired with a deep mustard cinnamon reminds me of this MBMJ Alessandra Pussy Bow dress that I haven't worn for a while.

I guess I gravitate toward familiar combinations. Maybe I am subconsciously sending a message to wear the above again soon?

Feeling Lucky, Punk!: Trendspotting Studded Accessories

Over the last year or so, the movers and shakers in fashion colluded to resurrect, yet again, aesthetic elements from the punk music subculture. The iconic signifier of choice this time around was the metal, raised stud juxtaposed with leather. While this trend has been around for decades, designers and mass retailers are adding key components that embody sophistication and luxury.

My favorite of the more contemporary punk inspired offerings was the Marc Jacobs winter resort collection from 2007 (I think), which featured the "Sweet Punk" bags. Each bag was named after an icon of 80s punk (Sid, Debbie, Siouxie, etc.).

These bags were pretty rare and had an obscene retail price point so I've never laid my hands on one. But I continue to covet them! This particular photo makes the leather look pretty bad. I've seen nicer, non stock photos on The Purse Forum.

Because I haven't won the lottery and still don't have a time machine, I have settled for other items that pay homage to the subculture of my youth.

I was fortunate to know someone who attended the recent Linea Pelle sample sale in LA. My friend, Sandy (aka Lilykind from Fashionism.org), went with the intent to help out all her far away pals in need of a sophisticated stud fix. And she didn't disappoint! Here is the haul purchased on our behalves:

I bought the black double buckle pyramid stud belt and a double wrap cuff in crimson.

They've already become staple accent accessories in my wardrobe! Thank you so much to Lilykind!

I immediately wanted this Burberry studded watch but knew that the obscene price point would make it an impossibility.

Thankfully, Betsey Johnson must have had the studded watch idea a few seasons ago because I found this style on deep discount at the Nordstrom Rack in Shady Grove, MD.

The yellow gold tone sets it apart from the masculine leather cuffs and studded accoutrement I wore as a teenager. I discovered she also made them in a pewter black and possibly silver. The price point was about 5% of the retail on the Burberry.