Old Favorite: Chloé Van Gogh Dress OOTD

Chloé Van Gogh dress, Resort 2008 with Spanx tights, Aqua cashmere cardigan (similar in cotton here), Eileen Fisher Hall flats

Remember when I used to buy a lot of designer clothes (that were either massively on sale or gently used and cheap on eBay)? Me too! I still have a lot of them because they are too beautiful to purge from my wardrobe and not worth the time and effort to sell. Every now and then I will dig one out and see if/how it fits. This Chloé number (called the Van Gogh dress from Resort 2008) is one such dress. It has an interesting bubble hem and a graphic print that looks like doodles of colorful clouds. I used to wear it with a belt (last seen in the Chloe dress here) or just swinging on its own. I wore it to campus last week for the first time in ages. I paired it with a cardigan to give it some structure.

Masking vs emphasizing

Although the option to mask my growing belly decreases with every passing week, there are still some clothes that make it less apparent. The above is not one such example and that is fine with me.   On Thursday at the farmer's market when I was wearing this outfit, I had the first person (a neighbor) notice the change in my shape enough to ask without trepidation when I am due. So that was exciting in its own way.

Even though I don't like for my body to broadcast messages absent from my voice, the reality of nonverbal communication is that clothing worn on the body will often do that already. It also follows that in this celebrity-bump-watch-obsessed world, similar notions about bodies in transition would trickle into the everyday and mundane to cause the development of a pronounced stomach (where there was once a visible waistline) to yield speculation.

I am really lucky that I've yet to have bold strangers attempt or ask to touch my stomach. Family have asked which is fine with me. But no strangers and no friends so far. I also know that when the weather cools, layers will add additional possibilities to a masking repertoire, should I want one. But of late I haven't really tried to mask anything.

BTW, you can always check in on my expanding waistline and weekly belly shots here.

Details:
St. Johns Bay kimono maxi dress (gift from my mom who generously treated me to a bunch of pregnancy-friendly clothes last week. This one is SO comfy! Note that it is not a maternity dress but works great as one) (here it is in another print)
Chloé zipper flats (similar zipper flats here and here)

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)

Pregnant in Anthro: Primary Colors

I bought this dress on ebay recently. It was previously not an item that made my wishlist but now that I am pregnant, I seek out pieces with stretchy panels and room to grow. This one has a ruched elastic back, making it possible to fit my 24 week belly. I first saw it on a blogger named Katie who sported a great deal of Anthropologie throughout her second and into her third trimesters.

I've long suspected that a lot of Anthropologie pieces might work for a transitioning body. The flowy shapes and elastic fabrics offer room to grow. And although not everything that I thought would be useful has been a success, I figured it made sense to share with others what has worked for me (and what might work for them) so I am calling these posts "pregnant in anthro." I am also looking for other bloggers who shared maternity options that worked for them while pregnant. I know Molly did a great post with a bunch of other anthro-fans sporting full bellies (check out Anthrobumpogie here). She also had an amazing Anthro-centric maternity fashion series that you can scroll through here.

For my week by week belly photos you can follow on my pregnancy blog.

Details:
Anthropologie "Anchors Aweigh" dress (another cute and bump friendly yellow dress here)
Gap cropped cardi (similar)
Michelle Franz bag (similar)
Chloé flower flats (similar)

My first actual "maternity" clothing ootd

If maternity wear has ever been a genre of clothing relevant to your sartorial interests, you already know it can be pretty atrocious. Polyester reigns supreme, even within a few of the more "upscale" lines (Hatch Collection, I'm looking at you!). Garish prints are metered out often, perhaps to distract and disorient the pregnant body's onlookers. Outside of fast fashion retailers, prices tend to reflect manufacturers' awareness of the realities of a very limited marketplace and increasing consumer necessity. As your body grows, your options for "regular" people clothing narrow. Every day it feels like I try on a dozen things that used to fit (generously!). And each day as my choices diminish in inverse proportion to my waistline, I become increasingly desperate for comfortable but decent looking options.

I have had some luck with seasonal, summery, "regular people" pieces because of the ubiquity of stretchy cotton fabrics and maxi lengths. Earlier into things, I bought a few dresses that were sized up from my pre-pregnancy needs to help me get through the in-between. But I know I won't be able to do that forever. I didn't start off tiny and I doubt that my pregnancy will be one where I can wear "regular" clothes on a body that is adorably "all belly." I envy those women who start at a physical space and carry their pregnancies in ways that enable them to wear regular clothing through the third trimester. But I don't anticipate that I will be among them.

So I find myself browsing for research and my own impending sartorial needs. Overall, I feel really underwhelmed by the maternity clothing I've encountered online and in person. Granted, I have decided that temporary clothing is not where I prefer to invest my wardrobe budget, so I haven't seriously pursued the fanciest lines. I did buy the above dress in two colorways from ASOS*.

When I wear it I still feel like me. It has room to grow but doesn't scream "maternity." And I welcome more recommendations from the been-there-done-that and/or currently-there-currently-doing-that crowd!

Details:
ASOS maternity striped knit dress (in the other colorway here and here)
Chloé flats (current season double strap offerings here)
Alviero Martini bag (mine is vintage)

*a lot of the summer clothing (regular, plus, maternity, etc.) is on sale at ASOS and with code 10SALE you can get another 10% off (sale on sale!).

P.S. don't forget to enter the Apothica/SkincareRX/Skinbotanica giveaway! There are only a few entries and only a few days left to win!

P.P.S. you can follow my pregnancy musings by going here.

In the Navy OOTD

Thanks to those of you who commented so sweetly on my previous post! I promise to share more details in the coming weeks. I have a bunch of Anthro reviews to get through that I did before there were any significant changes to my figure. And I have been searching for maternity lines as well as regular but stretchy brands that can allow my to bridge my style comfort zone with being ... comfortable. :)

I wore this to run some errands and take care of business. It was simple and comfortable during a pretty intense May heat wave. I feel really sensitive to the heat lately and hope that the warm winter and early heat doesn't portend temperatures to come. If my home had central air conditioning, it would be less of a concern, but it is an older place with giant radiators and hot water heat. So the process of installing a forced air duct system would be expensive and invasive. I should keep more Popsicles in my freezer!

Outfit info:
Anthropologie top (similar here, here, and here; similar plus; similar maternity)
Anthropologie Drawing Parallels skirt (similar here, here, and here)
Chloé flats (this season's version here; similar but for less here)
Vintage Alviero Martini bag (similar here and here)

I'll be back tomorrow with a super exciting giveaway opportunity so be sure to check in! 

Slightly askew OOTD

I wore this ensemble to campus not long ago. It was test-run on a recent First Friday as blogged here. I started the day with it belted but the belt proved to be fussier than I could tolerate.

I tested out a new spot on campus by using my tiny portable tripod. This thing is very bendy (it is the generic Gorillapod) and cute but I am still getting the hang of how to use it so that photos are level. Regarding the location, the second photo in the grass taught me a lesson. The creek that runs through campus leads to very damp surrounding ground. I will not be stepping off the sidewalk in heeled booties again.

Outfit info:
Chloé Landscape Dress worn as cardigan/coat (see other landscape pieces here, here, and here)
DVF Shawnessy (similar here, here, and here)
Spanx tights (20% off with coupon code INTHEFAMILY20)
Rosegold Liz booties (similar)
Kate Spade tote (similar news-themed tote here;  similar KS here)
Kors watch and Target bracelets

Home stretch

At this point I'm plodding sluggishly through the rest of the term and looking forward to conquering my ever-growing piles of grading. They just keep getting bigger and of course I am now battling a nagging cough and cold to boot. I am usually so resistant to illness but the changing climates and time zones and multiple airplanes left my immune system in less than stellar shape. My cold also means I have been avoiding contacts lately. I am in the home stretch and I have only three teaching days left for the term (counting today... which is my long day so until it is over it counts).

 

I wore this vintage dress to campus and dressed in a rush. I haven't worn this billowy frock in years and almost forgot it existed but I was looking through my old contributions to the Wardrobe Remix flickr group (from back in 2007 or so) and spotted it among the fray. I was worried that maybe I donated it along with many other vintage items I edited years ago. The dress was found hanging in the back of my closet, being neglected. It is very sheer and short waisted so I tend to wear it layered for coverage.

Anyone else in the home stretch for the term? I know my institution ends things a bit earlier than most because we have a truncated holiday break between fall and spring. 

Outfit info:
Vintage dress
Marc by Marc Jacobs cashmere cardigan (current season version here)
Spanx tights
Chloé lock flats (similar here)
Redraven Studios necklace

Outfits of the throwaway

I have mostly resolved to venture outside of my office walls and take some better lit (or at least non-fluorescent-lit) outfit photos. But I still have a cache of office outfits that document what I've worn to campus spanning the last few months of time. I didn't post them because most were repeats already blogged in semesters previous and the quality of photos was too poor. Still I wanted to put them together in a post for my own semester-to-semester archival purposes. 

Row one, left to right:
See by Chloé dress, MBMJ captoe pumps
Anthropologie dress and cardigan, Chloé flats
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, J. Crew cardigan, Jimmy Choo flats

Row two, left to right:
Callixta dress, Missoni Target tights, Aquatalia boots
Marc by Marc Jacobs dress, Old Navy ls tee layered underneath, Chloé flats
J. Crew factory cardigan and cami, Anthro skirt and belt, Miu Miu flats

---
An unrelated aside: I was so saddened by the death of Adrienne Rich this week. What an amazing, revolutionary mind! I still assign "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" when it suits the curriculum. I was feeling especially weepy and inspired after reading her obit in the Times which included an incredible quote she made upon turning down the National Medal of Arts:

"Art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of the power which holds it hostage."

I keep thinking of it. So I want to share that food for thought and thank her for her legacy. May she rest in peace and may the rest of us do what we can to enable a more equitable and less hateful world.

These days

With the return of cold weather marks an opportunity to squeeze in some of my favorite dresses before they need to be stored away. Although this particular silk See by Chloé number can be worn into spring, it's a touch too short to wear to work without tights. I paired it with flats for a long day of lecturing.

On campus, we're entering the home stretch of the semester and although the end is in sight, my commitments and responsibilities are amping up considerably. April promises to be a busy month and I feeling a bit tired just thinking about my schedule. Currently, I'm drafting a keynote address for the freshman honor society induction ceremony this weekend. Being busy is good for my bank account because I've had no time to browse, let alone shop.

I'm wearing:
See by Chloé dress (from 2009ish?) (similar)
Cece cashmere cardigan from Bluefly (similar though not cashmere)
Spanx tights
Chloé lock flats (similar)
Michael Kors watch
Anthro initial necklace (similar)

*A note on the location: Although it looks like I'm taking photos in the middle of a country road, I assure you that this is on my campus, at an hour when many have already left for the day. And this particular road is currently closed to vehicular traffic during new building construction.  (Other than taking indoor office photos) This being only steps from my office is the easiest, quickest outdoor one for me, complete with a nice little stand on which I can set my camera sans tripod. I'm sure I'll have to relocate once regular car traffic is permitted again. But I still feel quite sheepish about taking photos in public. This is something I don't expect to get over any time soon. Bloggers: do you try to scout private locations for your self photos?

Consumed by creative layering

Chloé Van Gogh print dress

Halftee layered underneath (c/o)

Kate Spade belt (from another dress)

Spanx tights

Tory Burch Revas

Jewelry: Target, Michael Kors, Hiptique

Although this isn't uniformly the case, a lot of my favorite dresses can transition from season to season with the help of creative layers. And among those favorites that can only be worn during cold weather months, the fabrics all claim to require dry cleaning. As a not-so-secret dirtbag and frequent monogamous dresser, I tend to use layers to enable longer periods of wear between cleanings. This saves me money and time which is frankly even more valuable at the moment. It's helpful to avoid the inconveniences of frequent drop off and pick up errands.

My layering strategies thus far have had mixed results. I've tried slips, which help make more opaque otherwise sheer pieces and when exposed can add length or dimension to an ensemble. I've tried cotton shirts which create a machine-washable barrier between me and the dry-clean-only fabrics. And I've tried tops with slips which provide a lot of coverage but add a lot of bulk. Added bulk is annoying and it becomes an issue especially when I try to layer underneath garments with thinner fabrics (like silks). Rather than harboring anxieties over "panty lines," I am left to worry about layering lines.

I was recently approached by folks from Halftee about reviewing one of their pieces and I am happy to report that this very reasonably priced invention helps solve the bulky layering lines problem. The Halftee in my estimation is a washable cotton slip for the upper body. Its name is apt as it is a half t-shirt that can be layered underneath clothing to provide a barrier between you and your more delicate, dry-clean-only clothes. Some women also might use the piece to make more modest and covered their garments that otherwise expose décolletage, shoulders, or even upper arms. The nice thing about the Halftee is that it stops underneath the bustline, so you avoid bulk through the midsection and hips. I found them to be comfortable, stretchy, and average in fit. I took a size medium in the 3/4 length sleeve version. My only issue was that when I layered underneath dresses with deeper neckline plunges, the Halftee came up higher than I'd like. It wasn't an issue with the above ensemble and I imagine this is a good thing for those who buy it for modesty enabling. But for me, I do like the option of a deeper scooped neckline. Hopefully they'll release one eventually!

The Halftees are offered in a few colors, styles, and fabrics with different sleeve lengths. And readers of Consume or Consumed can use the exclusive coupon code "consume10%" to can save 10% off the entire website!

First Friday Unblurred OOTN

Chloé landscape dress worn backwards as jacket* 
(similar but costly Dries landscape print dresses here, here, and here; colorful, slightly less costly non-Dries option here)

DVF Shawnessy underneath (similar here and here)

Spanx tights

Rachel Comey boots

I wore this outfit to Unblurred to visit the galleries along Penn Avenue in Garfield and Bloomfield (just a stone's throw from my home) last Friday. In Pittsburgh (and in many other cities) on every first Friday of the month, gallery storefronts open their doors to feature new exhibits, complete with refreshments, live music, and the opportunity to mingle (or at the very least people watch). It is a fun ritual and in between last Friday night's downpours, I made a break for those spaces that were nearby.

I opted for unbelted but I think belted works too.

Although Pittsburgh's First Friday event transcends the corridor near my residence to reach various areas of the city, I love that I can walk to some of the galleries. After a week's worth of commuting I try to avoid my vehicle as much as possible on weekends. Before I had this job my car would regularly sit for days untouched. I like living in a very walkable area, also serviced by public transit. So I recognize this to be a luxury of location. Even though I'm not crazy about my commute I wouldn't trade it for the lifestyle I can live on my days off and when I can work from home.

Highlights from First Friday: The opening of the Center for Postnatural History -- a small but information-packed museum space examining the scientific, corporate, and genetic interventions made by humans over the recent and less-than-recent past toward the manipulations of crops and creatures. 

Stephen Tuomala's exhibit, "The World Made Flesh" at Modern Formations Gallery. The artist took pages from Biblical texts and fastened them together for his canvas. Although this re-purposing might be controversial among some audiences, the result of the anatomic prints is stunning and graphic in its visual display.

And on a lighter note, I really enjoyed the Irma Freeman exhibit of Cat Paintings at the Irma Freeman Center for Imagination.

Speaking of Pittsburgh art and artists, be sure to enter the Redraven Studios giveaway! 

*As an aside, I fell in love with this Chloé dress years ago and found one on ebay last year. I have struggled with finding ways to wear it because it is a bit shorter than my usual comfort length. I realized that the functional full back zipper opens up additional layering opportunities and I think it worked out well. Although for teaching I would probably wear it belted, I like the way the thicker fabric drapes when unfettered.

Sometimes it takes photos

See by Chloé Jardin print dress

To a Tee blazer from Anthropologie (similar)

Chloé lock flats (similar here)

Balenciaga Day bag in black

Misc. bracelets (Macys, Gabes, Kate Spade from TJ Maxx, Target, gift)

I really like shapeless See by Chloe dresses like the one above but I don't always want to look shapeless. So I tried to style it in a way that reigned in the billow with a blazer. I thought it worked pretty well until I saw how short my skirt looked. That's one of the perils of messing with a billowing dress... the length might shrink up on you. And I'm feeling a little long in the tooth to pull off mini. Black opaque tights would have been a lot better with this outfit. But in general, I don't think I'll be styling this dress similarly in the future.

End of Fall outfit

Chloe dress

Anthro belt

Miu Miu flats

MBMJ bag

KJL, Linea Pelle, and misc. bracelets

I wore this to the First Friday gallery events for December and to grab some late evening drinks at Salt of the Earth.

Work Party/Last Day Outfit

J. Crew top

Off Fifth skirt

Cece cardigan

Chloé lock flats (similar here)

Spanx tights

Rosette Necklace (gift)

I realized I have no good photos of my conference outfits (save for a couple mirror shots) so I am going to have to play dress up to share them. But in the meanwhile, the semester has ended and for the last day of teaching, I also dressed to attend the faculty and staff holiday party in my building. My mom is a schoolteacher so I come from a family that sartorially observes holidays. But I wanted to bridge looking serious with looking festive so I avoided over-the-top green and red combos. I wore a beaded silk top from J. Crew (bought on major sale last January), a festive rosette necklace that was a gift from my friends Em and Cee, and a skirt from Off Fifth.

An old favorite

Chloé Van Gogh print dress

BP cardigan

Belt taken from a Kate Spade dress

Spanx tights

Studded cuff and watch

Rachel Comey Barbaro boots (without studs here)

I took my new elfin boots for a spin and wore them to campus. They were comfy! What I noticed about the above two photos is how much my hair settled over the course of a day. The left was taken as soon as I got to campus and the right was after a few hours. I guess I should be using hair spray to compensate (cause I am a fan of big hair). Anyway, I've worn this dress many times before. Last Thursday was the first time I wore it this semester. Terri from Rags Against the Machine astutely pointed out via comment that one of the great things about professorial work is how every semester you have a fresh start with your wardrobe (since the majority of folks you encounter have never seen it before). Here's a shot of my weird but cool elf boots:

Belt crazy

J Crew cardigan and top

Anthro skirt and belt

Chloé flats

Spanx tights

I belted another cardigan. This isn't even a look I normally wear because of the adjustments and fuss required. But last month I bought two thin belts on sale, that actually seem to stay in place, and now I can't seem to stop. One of the reasons why I've been doing it is because of how it changes the proportions of a look. I am a bit short waisted and I am generally just short. So cardigans are often a bit longer on me than I might like, especially if I am wearing them over a dress or skirt. The belt emphasizes a waist that might otherwise get obscured in an outfit. But I feel overly fussy when I do it. And by the time I am done for the day, about to commute home, the first thing to go is the belt. 

See by Chloe for lunch

See by Chloé dress (75% off from yoox)

J. Crew factory celosa cardigan (still on sale with extra 30% off coupon code)

Anthropologie belt

Chloé peep toe pumps

I wore this outfit to lunch with a friend. And I will probably repeat it for campus soon too. For me, different audiences means the freedom to repeat without revision. It might be boring to some but when I find a combination that I like enough, I often repeat in quick succession. Look ma, no tights! It's been too hot to wear them and that is fine.

Maximum Skirt

Kate Spade Rosette Top

Maxi skirt from anthro

Chloe flats

My mom's vintage wooden bracelet

Although I could probably wear it into fall and beyond, I am wearing this maxi skirt like an arbitrary expiration date is approaching. That is, when I am at home. School started this week and I've been swamped with campus business. When I'm not on campus I am trying to wrap up some summer projects. I plan to hunker down a bit this weekend to be as productive as possible. I haven't had much free time to go through my google reader either. Hopefully this time next week I have a handle on all the things again.

There's still a little bit of time to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway! Just click on the image at the top of the right hand side bar for details.

Hazy Days of Summer OOTD

Anthro top and skirt

Cynthia Rowley bag

Chloe flats

I wore this to go out with friends to our favorite bar. It was the first time I finally managed to incorporate a top that has been tough to wear cause of the color and sheerness. Thankfully the bar is lit dimly.