Anila Shirtdress Summer OOTD

I have a problem with clothing trends right now. I should disclose that it is my conscious decision to have a problem with clothes rather than with my own body shape (and its apparent incompatibility with the clothes). At the moment, the clothes "on trend" are fads that I lived through the first time around as a teenager (and therefore feel too old to revisit), "comfort" chic styles that feel too much like pajamas to wear in public,  or billowy sacks designed presumably to make one marvel over the juxtaposition of the wearer's litheness when compared to said billowy sack. I can't wear any of it to work. And I can't really wear any of it outside of work... at least not without feeling foolish due to the trifecta of my age, my body type, and my status as a mom.

But dressing in the summer has always confounded me, especially when it comes to work. We're in the beginning of summer so I have no sense of outfit rhythm and still feel terribly exposed without tights and layers. Every day I cycle through outfit options, disapproving of choice after choice. It's even worse on the days when I have to go to campus.

I am fortunate in that my job is not rigid in dress code and my summer work can often be done from home. But I am still serving on committees. I am still part of the campus community which doesn't halt during the summer. So there are plenty of occasions to go to work on campus. I just never know what to wear. It would be easier if all my summer clothes fit but I am carrying extra weight due to stress.

Social media are abuzz singing the praises of summer and I am glad for the vitamin D but this is my least favorite season for dressing. Thank goodness life is about more than clothes!

Outfit details:
Anila shirtdress from Anthropologie (old)
Spanx tights (probably one of my last days to wear until fall)
MBMJ punk mouse flats (on sale in black)

Pumpkins with my pumpkin

Last weekend my family got together to visit Triple B Farms. We've been going every year since I was little. And this year there was the added excitement of introducing Emilia to the tradition. She took to it right away! My sister and I took photos with my camera and got some fun shots to help us remember the occasion.

 

Baby OOTD

This was the closest head to toe shot I got of me, outfit-wise... Playing airplane with E.

I think both my parents as well as Chris and I wound up with great holiday photo card contenders (all of which I am refraining from posting here since some recipients are also readers). We all took home pumpkins and pies and apple cider as well as other treats. And even better, we will always have the memories.

Outfit details:
Bailey 44 top (current season version here; maternity version here; dress here)
J. Crew Matchstick cords
MBMJ Mouse Flats not pictured
Orla Kiely tote bag

Baby OOTD:
Mad Sky dress (in another print here)
Tea Collection pants (current season version here)
Minnetonka moccasins (similar here)
Luna Rose Baby headband

See you in September (2013)!

As the weather cools the blogosphere is rumbling with enthusiasm over fall.  I too find the changing season to be exciting. Who doesn't love apples and pumpkins and sweater weather? But without my favorite wardrobe standbys to turn to, I expect this fall will feel decidedly different. Not better or worse, per se. Just different. Although I won't be able rotate through my usual fall wardrobe I also know that as a consummate sap, I will come to feel a great deal of nostalgia for what promises to be a very pregnant fall. Just as I already feel a lot of nostalgia for this time of year in 2010, during the lead up to my wedding date. Both periods came with anxieties of anticipation over all the various "unknowns." But ultimately the stress created from my anticipations remains a happy variety, with optimism over the changing shape of life to come. So while I might feel a lot of uncertainty over how my life will change once I am a parent, I look forward to it. One of the most important lessons I've learned from my family and my parent friends is that love multiplies. It doesn't divide and is not finite.

Philosophically, it seems fitting that fall's inescapable tropes of bounty and harvest correspond closely with the expansion of my and Chris's household. The reality of our scenario change in going from two to three is impending. And I still have so much more to do. But when I'm feeling frivolous, I go through my outfit photo archives to try and envision how I will wear some of my favorite pieces with a child in tow... assuming I am able to fit into them again someday!

Missing my former favorites

It is fruitless to lament the loss of my pre-pregnant body, especially when I have no way to anticipate how/where things will wind up, post-partum. But I do miss my "regular" summer clothes. If it is hard now, the fall might be impossible! And I am not even a person who really likes summer clothing.

Here are some examples of what I would be wearing if my stomach didn't protrude more and more, each day:

Hopefully my enthusiasm for these pieces will provide incentive to return to some semblance of what I regard to be my "normal" (imperfect, curvy, but confident in my own skin). I didn't anticipate having my body image complicated by pregnancy but I also didn't realize how destabilizing it would feel to surrender control to the space of (necessary) body transitions. Don't get me wrong. I am happy that my body is doing what it needs to, in order to accommodate a developing fetus. But I would be denying my own (admitted) vanity to feign complete ambivalence. Are there any "been there, done that" folks who felt similarly?

Nautical J. Crew fit reviews

Thanks to the deal hunting Fashionism gals, I was alerted that this sweet, striped anchor dress is marked down in stores with an extra 30% off. It is on sale online, too but I hoped to avoid ship costs. I hit up my local J. Crew last night to see if they had it and evaluate whether I could wear it into pregnancy and beyond.

My store had one Maritime Anchor Dress left in my regular J. Crew size: medium. In my opinion, this dress (also available here and here) is cut generously. The medium felt a little loose even after four months of pregnancy. It is a thicker knit cotton that might be a bit warm for summer days. But for a breezy day near a body of water or for evening, I think this dress is perfect! It has two side zippers near the hem and long sleeves. The length was reasonable and I could see this working as a future Memorial Day or Labor Day dress even after pregnancy. Despite the medium's generous cut, I would have tried the large if it existed in my local store. For this price, I still bought the medium on final sale. After discounts it was a great deal! 

While there I stumbled upon the cutest anchor dress and nearly snatched it up at full price. Were it not for my transitioning body, and the practical thoughts that it brings, it would be mine.

I also found it, named the Dizzy Anchors Dress to run a bit large, as I could zip the size 8 with no problem. The only place it was fitted was in the bust, where you probably want a tailored fit. But for my own current bustline, I would probably be better off in a 10. It is a very flattering cut that should suit a bunch of figures. The dress is an un-stretchy, light and airy cotton. Perfect for summer! I believe the bodice was lined though I cannot recall if the lining extended through the skirt. If it did, it was unattached to the outer fabric. The dress features a side zipper and pockets.

A detailed bodice shot above demonstrates how the bust on my size 8 was snug. I must remind those who might usually wear similar sizes that my bust is larger than normal due to my "condition." I think this dress is on the large side of true to J. Crew sizing overall. Ample busts might need a larger size if they're currently in-between. The side shot is just to indulge any bump-watchers. To see more detailed bump shots, you can visit here.

Finally, I tried on this Striped Button Front dress because it was marked down even more so than the Maritime Anchor. It looks so cute on my stylish blogger pal, If Grandma Wore J. Crew.

I loved the length on the striped button dress (wearing size medium) as well as the ease of its cut. It would be a dress that could work through a bit more of my pregnancy (even in size medium) as the waistline was generous. I might even size down under normal circumstances. But I didn't care for the arm/sleeve holes. They were cut a bit larger and the way the tank cut into my shoulders would necessitate a cardigan or tank layer solution. I decided that on final sale, I should be frugal and only pick my favorite of the two discounted stripey dresses. The anchor won.

Hopefully these fit reviews can help my fellow J. Crew fans! I'd check out J. Crew in person this weekend if you are interested in the striped sale dresses since the extra 30% off is currently only available in stores. And my closest, highly-trafficked store (Shadyside, for your Pittsburghers) only had one striped anchor dress left. Happy hunting!

UPDATE: There is now a code for an additional 30% off sale items at J. Crew online. SHOPNOW is the code and as far as I can tell, it doesn't automatically generate a "final sale" designation.

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! 

Craving colorful or printed spring coats

Although I haven't been buying much lately, I have been on the hunt for a colorful or printed sprint jacket to wear with casual, transitional pieces. My current rotation of spring weight coats are black and khaki. It would be fun to have a statement piece or even something casual to wear that can top an ensemble but brighten it up. My cold weather coats are such favorites that this time of year feels inevitably bittersweet. Putting them away for many months might be less of a bummer with brighter, more fun lightweight toppers. I like the above plus size ladies coats from affordable UK plus retailer, JD Williams. But they do not ship to the US. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for similar US bargains in the coming weeks. Where did you get your favorite spring jacket? 

In like a lamb...

I am not a fan of this very early spring weather. My distrust likely makes me sound joyless to some. But my love for cold weather has been documented extensively. Although this early spring with its unseasonably warm weather and already-bloomed crocuses might be welcomed by a vocal majority, it just makes me nervous about bugs, crop problems, and the insufferably hot summer that await us. March came in like a lamb and that is not my preference.

Cynthia agrees and is located further south than me. I worry about this lamblike early March, and the fairly lamblike February especially because my very old, radiator-heated home lacks central air conditioning. It doesn't even have the ducts necessary to install such a thing. And its older slidey windows mean that finding energy-efficient window a/c units becomes even more costly. The other thing I dislike about window a/c units is the effective loss of the practical use of that window for the rest of the season. Already, I see people in sandals and shorts and sundresses with bare legs and while they look adorable and everyone is smiling, something about it just feels wrong. The Pittsburgh and SWPA of my childhood had snow regularly into April. This year there was barely any snow at all. Good for my commute. But bad for my sense of seasonal equilibrium.

Outfit details (worn on a colder day):

MBMJ coat

Silk skull scarf from ebay tied with the coat scarf ties (McQueen or not McQueen)

Tory Burch Revas
Kors watch and misc bamboo enamel bracelets (though mine were cheaper and from Target)

Christmas Eve OOTN

J. Crew top

Kate Spade skirt (current season version here, others on sale here and here)

BP cardi (that I left in my purse all night)

Spanx tights

There were many contenders in the running for my Christmas Eve Outfit of the Night. But I ultimately chose this combo because it felt festive. Every year the Italian side of my family gets together for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. And like many Italian families, there are a lot of us! I look forward to it as soon as the holiday season begins because I get to catch up with relatives and eat the incredible seafood made by my aunts and cousins. Chris might look even more forward to it than I do because of his deep, abiding love for baccala (salted cod). It is one of those annual events where I have an elephant's memory for my outfits. I remember what I wore when I was 8 and what I wore when I was 28. So I always toil a little over the possibilities. But I was pleased with my final ensemble. And I had a wonderful time! Happy holidays!

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.

'Tisn't the season for island inspired prints

Currently, I'm enjoying a little post-semester voyage with Chris, due south. We're in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. We've never been before, so we're pretty excited. This time last year we were honeymooning in Brazil. And thanks to an about-to-expire flight voucher Chris had to use, we are lucky enough to escape for some warm weather yet again! I'm excited to work on my December tan before heading back to the snow and cold in Pittsburgh. But above is a taste of what I packed. Linens, cottons, and silks. Breathable is key.

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.

My last minute costume

Chris and I went as Revenge of the Nerds-themed Greek geeks. These costumes were not much of a stretch for bookish academics. But this semester has been crazy and we have had little free time for costume brainstorming/creation. Going as a Tri-Lamb was Chris's idea entirely. My own laziness led me to co-opt it by going as an Omega Mu. Judy was my inspiration and Chris already resembles Anthony Edwards, the actor who played Gilbert. I realized when I got home that I forgot to finish cutting out the bottom of the Omega symbol. Oh well! Here is Judy:

We went to a Halloween themed punk show where local bands covered full sets of Joy Division, Kiss, the Misfits and more. It was great fun. The fog over Pittsburgh Saturday night was exceptional. It was also pretty creepy! I live very close to the oldest cemetery in the city, which added additional spookiness to our walk home. Chris looks like a zombie here.

 

What was your costume?

Weekend buys

Mrs. Roper Tory Burch maxi dress
Similar here and here

Although I've not been shopping much, there are a few things that tempted me enough to bite. Consuming strategically still poses its challenges. For deal hunters and shopaholics alike, just about any purchase can be rationalized. I admire those who have managed to abstain fully from consumerism (like The Year of Nothing New). But making do or doing without can be easier said than done!

I have been trying my best to limit the impact of sale goggles. I've avoided the kind of shopping that is basically meandering (less temptation). And I've not had time to scour my favorite websites to glimpse all the pretty fall fashions. Still, end of season clearances make now a great time to buy a bathing suit or a summer dress. Because I have a trip planned for December (that will yield the opportunity to wear summery clothes) I sniped the above maxi dress by Tory Burch on ebay and I bought a new swimsuit on clearance from figleaves.com. 

Rachel Comey Barbaro Deluxe 
Similar Comeys but with triple buckles here

I also wanted a new pair of booties for fall. I have suede ankle boots by Rosegold that I wore all the time last winter. Regular leather will be even more versatile for Pittsburgh. I tracked down a pair I loved and for a price I could swallow. The current season Rachel Comey Barbaros were out of my budget at retail, but I found these studded Deluxe booties gently used. I am really happy with these purchases!

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.

Lusting for fall booties

Just as I didn't really need anything for back-to-school, I don't really need anything for fall. In my closet, cardigans, cords, and lightweight topcoats are plentiful. I already stocked up on my favorite tights during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (btw, yay for Nordstrom's free shipping both ways!). The only thing I am missing is a pair of cool black leather booties. I am obsessed with these. Rachel Comey, why are you so expensive?! Blogger shout outs to Sarah of Motion and Heart and Gretchen of Gretchen's Closet for introducing me such beautiful footwear on their own blogs.

Boots by Rachel Comey
Boots by Ld Tuttle

Also, there's still time to enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway!