Slanted and bumpy stripes OOTD

When I saw the Slanted Layers top in Anthropologie stores, it was after it already made it to a temporary sale. I liked the length and hoped that the pattern could trick the eye enough to flatter an increasingly visible pregnant belly. I tried it on (in large) and it seemed great as a maternity top. Very stretchy, long enough to not require constant fussing, and more attractive than the majority of legit maternity tops I had tried recently. I bought one for the discounted price and have been very pleased with the purchase. I wear it a lot and although it doesn't hide my bump (which would be hard to do at this point) it emphasizes it in what I hope is an inoffensive manner.

I wore this to go shopping with my mom and sister. They hadn't seen me for a few weeks so it was fun to debut a bigger belly. To follow the progress of my belly, you can browse the week by week section of my pregnancy blog.

Details:
Anthropologie Slanted Layers top
Gap "always skinny" cropped maternity jeans (not so cropped on me, somehow; btw, that name... ugh)
Coach flats
Kate Spade Daycation Bon Shopper in NYC street map print
Kors watch; MBMJ bracelet

Cooling off ootd

Lately, I've been able to swear pants without melting. My heat sensitivity is heightened due to my "delicate" condition so that is really saying something! I wore this ensemble to run some errands that were long overdue. Maybe it is the horizontal stripes but I feel like I really look the nearly 6 months pregnant that I am here!

 

Details:
Oasap top (c/o)
Gap maternity jeans
Michelle Franz bag (old) (similar)
Chloé flats (similar)
YSL sunglasses, Linea Pelle bracelet (similar), Redraven Studios necklace, Betsy Johnson watch (similar)

Recent Dressing Room OOTD

Believe it or not, and despite the recent heat wave, no so long ago it was cool enough to wear this ensemble in the evening to my local Anthropologie. I'm already getting to the point where the largest and loosest of my regular pants are tight and uncomfy. I guess I will not be one of those pregnant ladies who is all and only belly?

Details:
Anthropologie top (from many years ago so I have no idea what the name is)
Splendid lightweight drapey cardi (similar here and here)
J. Crew matchstick cords (thank god for the rubber band/hair tie trick with the buttons!)
Chloé flats (this season's version; cute and budget similar)
Kate Spade Bon Shopper in the "Journal" newspaper print (clever travel mag edition on sale here)

Easy weekend outfit

I wore this (and was actually a bit too warm with the cardiwrap) for neighborhood errand running, a trip to Target, and a dog walk. I've been trying to make more of an effort to photograph outfits outdoors. I know it will not be practical for me to do so all the time. But when I can, I plan to try.

March feels a bit less busy than February in some ways. But all of my formerly postponed tasks have been re-prioritized so I am really just as swamped. My on-campus hours have eased up a bit which is nice. Next month brings my birthday, the end of the term, and travel to San Diego. I have never visited this city and will be staying in Little Italy (which feels fitting as a current resident of Pittsburgh's Little Italy) so bring on the restaurant, sight-seeing, and shopping suggestions! I will be there for a conference but hope to also have some fun.

Outfit details: 
Parameter cardiwrap from Piperlime (similar and well priced)
Gap body shirt underneath (via Gabes)
J. Crew matchstick cords
Coach captoe flats (similar)
Anthropologie scarf (via Gabes) (similar)
Cynthia Rowley bag from Zappos (similar and budget similar)

As an aside, I was featured on the Facebook Page of Hanes Hosiery! I have a few pairs of thigh high and control top sheers to giveaway and will be doing so this week. So stay tuned! 

Quick weekend shopping OOTD

Fair Isle sweater by Aqua (on super sale!)

J. Crew draped neck silk blouse

J. Crew Matchstick cords

Tory Burch Revas

Michael Kors Calista hobo

Misc. bracelets (gift, KJL, Target)

I wore this to the mall with a girlfriend where I got my new watch band fitted to my wrist and grabbed some pretty table linens from Williams Sonoma who was having a huge clearance sale. It's nice to go to the mall in January cause it is so much more peaceful than it is in the lead up to Christmas.

How was your weekend?

Quick ootd

MBMJ coat

J Crew button back top and cords

Anthro blazer

Stuart Weitzman studded purple suede flats
Balenciaga Day

Wore this for errands and some early holiday shopping. More pants!

Another quick pants outfit

To a Tee Blazer

Zebra top from Anthro (similar here)

J. Crew matchstick cords

Tory Burch Revas

Kate Spade Bon Shopper tote (loving this matchbook print version)

I wore this for errands and to stop in Anthro the other week. I am so behind on posts and outfits and life! I might just do an omnibus entry with some recent hits. Though first I need to have the breathing room to compose such an entry... I also apologize for my absenteeism among my fellow bloggers. My reader is stocked full of your recent posts and I am looking forward to when I can comb through everything.

Wearing the pants

J Crew matchstick cords

J Crew cocoon merino cardigan

Anthro top

Missoni wool scarf (scored from DSW for $20 years back!)

Reva flats
Misc bracelets and necklaces

Lately as the temperatures have cooled, I've gravitated toward layers and pants. I don't think I wore pants to campus much last year (if at all). That will not hold true for this coming year.

Weekend Casual OOTD

Alma Mater blazer from Anthro

J Crew Rosette sweater

J Crew chinos

Gucci wedges (in suede here)

Back in February I bought these chinos at J. Crew on major sale. They were about a size too big and way too long but I figured I would branch out from my comfort zone of printed dresses and skirts to try something trendy for a change. I knew I wanted to cuff them and wear them baggy so too big and too long fit the bill. The pants remind me of my favorite pair I wore to death in the 90s. Those were a steel gray color but the feel of them was exactly the same. They're slouchy and I am sure that my somewhat short, non-lithe body was not who they had in mind when they imagined people wearing slouchy chinos, but I enjoy doing something different now and then.

Harem Pants

Harem Pants. They are everywhere. But you will not find them on adult me. I wore them in the early 90s. I was probably around 11 at the time. And I have to be honest. I LOVED them. They were silk and billowy, and adorned with a paisley print.

Now Anthropologie and Forever 21 (to name only a few of the mass, chain retailers) are trying to sell them to me again. Anthro actually has a WHOLE section dedicated to harem pants, some of which include the increasingly popular "drop crotch." The drop crotch phenomenon is a detail that I have affectionate rebranded as, "dumps like a truck." And I don't mean the type of dumps Sisco discussed in "The Thong Song."

screen grab from Anthro's website
Note the "view all harems" link!

I have yet to see these look "right" on someone who is not model-tall and model thin. And even when they look "right" they are still just off in a fashion victimy sense. My 5'3", fairly-stout body + drop crotch/harem pants = a catastrophe of hilarious proportions.

Perhaps it is fashion un-forward of me, perhaps you will argue that "we all said that about skinny jeans," perhaps it will betray my age to be so unwilling to revive this aspect of late 80s/early 90s style. Maybe it makes me seem out of touch? But as god is my witness, I will never wear harem pants again!