I recently received an e-mail from my friend Ashley, who had an adorable little boy last month:
Soo....I thought you could help me :-) My friend from high school is getting married in October. The "problem".... She is having an engagement party on May 1... aka 7 weeks after giving birth. I need a dress!! or skirt and top. Something that hides the belly and something that is easy to wear while breastfeeding. I've been looking but no luck yet! No pressure, but if you see something cute...let me know!!!!
Love~Ashley
I called my sister {who had her own baby on Tuesday} and asked her what makes a garment easy or hard to wear while breastfeeding. She explained that dresses with buttons or other openings in the front {wrap dresses included} are ideal; dresses with crew necks are out. A shirtdress or wrap dress, then, with a high waist and an A-line skirt would be both practical and flattering. I love the fun, summery colors of these dresses:
A skirt and a top is another great option -- again, tops that button up will be easiest {I like thesetwo}. Pair them with skirts that have a high waist, with pleats or gathers to disguise any remaining baby bump, likethese.
I hope this helps, Ashley!
Does anyone else have clothing advice for new moms? What do you think of my picks? Are they items you would wear? I appreciate your comments!
So, sometimes I play the "What if I had to buy an entire wardrobe from one store?" game. Kind of like What Not to Wear meets Where the Heart Is. I don't know why I would ever be in that situation, but then the point of my clothes dreams is not to be realistic, it's to have fun. If I were to have realistic clothes dreams, they would be very short and boring and not at all fun.
Yesterday I played the "What if I had to buy an entire wardrobe from Old Navy?" game, which turned into the "What if I were buying the perfect wardrobe for a beach vacation from Old Navy?" game. Because if there's one thing that consumes my fantasies as much as clothes, it's spending massive amounts of time at the beach. And I came up with four outfits. I love them, and now I really want to go to the beach:
What do you think? Do you like my outfits? What would you love to wear to the beach? If you could buy an entire wardrobe from one store, which store would you pick? And what would you get?
J. Crew is currently offering 30% off all sale items with coupon code EXTRA30. {Shop all sale items here.} This promotion is only good online, only through tomorrow. If you're interested, you'd better hurry and start your online shopping!
Is it weird that I'm really into the Neon necklace? At first I thought J. Crew was going nuts, but after seeing it around for a while, I think that I might really want one. What's on your J. Crew wishlist {or hate list}? Do you think you'll take advantage of this sale?
Since I am a J. Crew fanatic, and my J. Crew cravings must be satisfied, I frequent the blog J. Crew Aficionada. Alexis, blogger behind JCA, has an amazing network of J. Crew fanatics that inform her when, say, J. Crew sends out an e-mail, or has a promotion. And it's nice, because even though I'm signed up for J. Crew e-mails, I sometimes get them four or five hours after they come up on the JCA blog. {You might wonder why. It's all because J. Crew plays favorites -- they know that whoever owns my e-mail address will only buy maybe $100 worth of clothing in a year, and most of that on sale, and so they send e-mails to less thrifty customers first.}
Alexis will also occasionally mention other stores her readers might be interested in, and early last month she blogged about the arrival of Lands' End Canvas. Lands' End Canvas is a trendier line from the original Lands' End -- same quality, authentic inspiration, but modern interpretation is what they're going for. I checked out the site last week, and I am now a fan. It's definitely reminiscent of J. Crew, with a nautical, preppy feel and traditional silhouettes, with slightly lower prices. I love how they've updated Lands' End clothing while keeping it classic. {I also love this model's hair. Can I have it, please?}
Here are some of my favorite items from their site:
1. Cotton Lawn Campshirt, $39.50 {link}
2. Fit and Flare Dress, $59.50 {link}
3. Leather Sandals, $69.50 {link}
4. Super Slim Jeans, $59.50 {link}
5. Print Cotton Linen Scarf, $29.50 {link}
6. Paisley Halter Tank Swimsuit, $69.50 {link}
If I had to choose just one, I'd go for the dress. It's too cute! It also looks really simple; does anyone know how to make a dress like this? Which item is your favorite? Do you think you'll be purchasing from Lands' End Canvas any time soon?
P.S. Right now you can get $10 off your regularly priced purchase of $50 or more with the coupon code 3552. {Thanks to Chloe for the tip!}
I've been scouring the J. Crew website quite a bit this weekend {if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I'm planning a trip to my nearest brick and mortar store today, and I like to go prepared}, and among their many drool-worthy items, I particularly love this blouse. It epitomizes summer for me, but I can still think of twenty ways to wear it for spring. After gazing at it for a while, I realized that it reminded me of a top from this post, which also comes in white:
Philo Eyelet Blouse, $78, J. Crew {link} Embroidered Linen-Blend Top, $24.50, Old Navy {link}
I think it's a dead ringer. What do you think? Do you love the top from J. Crew? What would you wear it with? Do you think the Old Navy version is close enough? {Do you want to come shopping with me today? I'm leaving in half and hour.} Leave a comment!
Back in August, I said that there are two times during the year that I go shop-crazy: fall and spring. Something about the changing seasons feeds my already intense desire for new clothes. After reading this post from Uber-Chic for Cheap, I starting thinking about the gaps in my wardrobe and items I would love to have for spring. Here's my shopping list:
1. Printed Ruffle Sleeve Blouse, $47.86, Asos {link}
2. Classic-stripe tissue tee, $32.50, J. Crew {link}
3. Full Bouquet Clip, $18, Anthropologie {link}
4. Corso Como "Festive" Ballet Flats, $59.99, Bloomingdale's {link}
5. Scoop Basic Tee, $24.50, The Limited {link}
6. Leather Zip Around Crossbody Bag, $59.95, DSW {link}
7. Nostalgia Nail Lacquer, $2.80, Forever 21 {link}
8. Neon necklace, $28, J. Crew {link}
9. BC Oh Sailor Sandal, $49.50, Delia's {link}
10. Bubble bow skirt, on sale $122, The Outnet.com {link}
11. Faded dark flared leg jeans, on sale $39.99, Gap {link}
12. Floral Printed Full Skirt, $58, Urban Outfitters {link}
13. Featherweight cotton long cardigan, $69.50, J. Crew {link}
I went with gray and silver neutrals, with pops of bright coral and yellow, which is my chosen color palette for spring. Most of these items {with the exception of the Neon Necklace from J. Crew, because I haven't been able to find anything else like it} stand more for ideas of what I would like to have. For example, I'm not really going to spend over $100 on a tweed skirt, because I found one at a consignment shop last week for $10 and I love it. {Like, I really love it; it's totally adorable.} Similarly, I purchased a new pair of Gap jeans on that same shopping trip for $8, and I'll probably pick up a new white t-shirt at Ross the next time I go instead of buying this one from The Limited for $24.50.
Do you have a favorite item? Are you thinking of filling some gaps in your own wardrobe? What would you love to own this season? Leave a comment!
I got an e-mail this morning about how Banana Republic is in love with coral right now:
I was instantly smitten. I checked out the stuff they had at BR, and frankly, was not impressed. I decided to throw together my own collected of tantalizingly coral pieces. Coral is such a springy color, and I love to see how different brands interpret it -- orangey salmons, rosy pinks, and everything in between:
1. Embroidered Linen-Blend Top, $24.50, Old Navy {link}
2. Elegant Spread Cropped Cardigan, $17.80, Forever 21 {link}
3. Robert Rose Hinged Enamel Bracelet, $20, Lord & Taylor {link}
4. Filigree Flower Earrings, $4, Charlotte Russe {link}
5. Dotted Woven Top, $17.80, Forever 21 {link}
6. Canvas Pump, $48, Urban Outfitters {link}
7. Essie Nail Polish, $8, J. Crew {link}
8. Asymmetrical Ruffle Tee, $32.50, J. Crew {link}
9. Here & There Dress, on sale $79.95, Anthropologie {link}
10. Solid Embossed Beach Dress, $98, J. Crew {link}
11. Coloured Super Skinny Waist Belt, $8.55, Asos {link}
12. Lucy Bow Detail Ballerina, $25.64, Asos {link}
13. Origami Applique Cardigan, $26.50, Old Navy {link}
14. Windswept Floral Skinny Scarf, $29.50, Loft {link}
15. Basket Plaid Scarf, $29.50, Loft {link}
16. Poppie Jones Selma Satchel, $34.95, DSW {link}
I do agree with BR about the idea of pairing coral with neutrals, and especially lighter neutrals like sand and gray. Navy would also be great with coral, I think. What do you think? Are you all over the idea of coral for spring? Which item is your favorite {and what would you wear with it}?
Don't forget to enter my giveaway for your chance to win $40 in gift cards to eShakti!
I noticed a wonderful sale going on at The Limited and thought I should share. {Mostly I only noticed because Chloe pointed it out to me, so I feel it's only fair that I pass the tip along.} Currently, all trench coats are 30% off, all skirts are $39.50, and you can get 20% off your entire purchase, including sale items, by entering coupon code 774 at checkout. {Definitely check out the sale section, even if you pass up the regular-priced items; discounts upon discounts add up to some very low prices!} Additionally, you'll receive a free umbrella with any trench coat purchase. Zing! Here are a few items I would love to own:
That red trench is really amazing -- I love the gathers at the shoulder seam. On the other hand, the yellow trench is also drool-worthy; I love that color! It's a good thing I don't need to decide between them {my budget and self-restraint currently won't allow me to purchase either}, because I think I would give myself a headache. What about you? Do you have a favorite item? Do you think you'll buy anything? Thanks for reading!
Christian and I went to see the movie Valentine's Day about a week ago. While I didn't think it deserved an F from Entertainment Weekly, it also wasn't nearly as good as Love Actually, which it was clearly trying to imitate. {Side note: I heart Love Actually almost as much as I love watching edited movies. It's my second-favorite movie of all time, and my second-favorite Christmas movie, and I just now realized that my two favorite movies are both Christmas movies. Yikes.} Mostly, I thought it was equal parts entertaining, amusing, and completely ridiculous.
One of the best elements of the movie was Jennifer Garner, who I think is just so gorgeous. I love her dimples, I loved her hair {I'm now thinking about getting highlights of my own}, and I loved her character's personal style. Between Julia Fitzpatrick {see pictures here} and Meg of Fresh Brownies, I am now finding myself in desperate need of a red cardigan. And that brings me to the point of today's post, which is my re-creation of Julia's airport look. I thought it was too cute:
Catrina Cardigan, on sale $29.50, Delia's {link}
Ditsy floral ruffle blouse, $42, Fred Flare {link}
Mossimo Black Large Hobo, $22.99, Target {link}
Lasting Finish Professional Nail Polish, $3.99, Ulta {link}
Delicate Initial Necklace, $18, Urban Outfitters {link}
Braided Wedges, $29.99, Charlotte Russe {link}
The Flirt Boot-Cut Jeans, on sale $19, Old Navy {link}
total: $165.47
What do you think? Did you see Valentine's Day, too? Thoughts on the movie? What do you think of the outfit? Do you think you can find a ruffly, button-up, floral-printed top for less? {I dare you!} Thanks for reading!
J. Crew is currently offering 20% off all Final Sale items with coupon code EXTRA20. Here are a few {okay, so more than a few -- I got a little carried away this time} of my favorite items on sale:
What do you think? Is 20% enough of a discount to get you interested? Which of these items is your favorite {or do you have another favorite item on sale I didn't include in this post}? Leave a comment!
{I got the word via one of the many, many e-mail notifications I receive every day. They seem endless, but somehow they still never keep me as well informed as Chloe, who seems to know about every sale going on everywhere. By the way, she has created a new blog specifically to share shopping sales and secrets. It's amazing -- you should check it out.}
Today through President's Day {Monday, February 15th}, take 50% off select spring styles, both online and in stores. See all styles included in this sale here. No coupon code is needed; the discount is applied automatically at checkout. Don't forget that you can also get free shipping on orders of $125 or more!
Here are a few of my favorite items:
1. Marisa Pleated Cropped Pants with Belt, $24.75 {link}
2. Twisted Silk Trim Tee, $14.75 {link}
3. Ruched Sleeve Top, $22.25 {link}
4. Lei Trim Tee, $18.25 {link}
5. Twist Neck Pullover, $19.75 {link}
6. Faded Blooms Scarf, $17.25 {link}
7. Ink Dot Sheath Dress, $39.75 {link}
8. Dark Wildflower Modern Boot Cut Jeans, $29.75 {link}
9. Knit Dress with Pleats, $34.75 {link}
I love me a 50% off sale! They're a refreshing {and money-saving} change after hearing about an almost endless stream of "free shipping off orders of $150 or more" deals from J. Crew. Let me say, I think those promotions are so lame. If I ever spend $150 at one store at a time {which I don't think I would ever do, unless I won the lottery, which is impossible, since I don't gamble}, then I would expect free shipping without any kind of coupon code. But moving away from my love/hate relationship with J. Crew...
I also love the colors Loft is featuring this spring. They're so bright and sunny and fresh! And definitely tempting. This sale is a good opportunity to purchase a few items you've been eying without going over budget.
What do you think? Will you take advantage of this promotion? I love to shop online because I can always find what I'm looking for, I can use coupon codes without having to deal with people face-to-face {which is something I'm weird about}, and there's always a great selection. I understand the value of in-store shopping, too; namely, that you know how an item will fit you before you buy it. Do you prefer online or in-store shopping?
I got my new DownEast Basics catalog in the mail today, and I'm excited about what they have in store for spring! Here are some of my favorite items:
1. Fancy Tee, $16.99 {link}
2. Pearl Bib Necklace, $14.99
3. Union Square Top, $19.99 {link}
4. Silver & Black Jeweled Bib Necklace, $12.99
5. Frosted Flowers Cardigan, $34.99 {link}
6. Satin & Bead Necklace, $14.99
7. Impressionist Skirt, $29.99 {link}
8. Top Tier Skirt, $34.99 {link}
9. Outside the Box Top, $24.99 {link}
10. Chiffon Flower Necklace, $12.99
One reason I'm so excited for these new designs is that I feel like I've seen them before. The Impressionist Skirt reminds me of this adorable pencil skirt from Kate Spade, the Fancy Tee looks like something straight out of J. Crew, and the Silver & Black Bib Necklace resembles almost exactly this one {that I blogged about here} from Max & Chloe. I love the direction in which DownEast Basics is moving, and I'm going to scoop me up one of those Fancy Tees as soon as they get some in stock!
Which item from DownEast Basics is your favorite? Are you {like me} waiting with bated breath for some items to become available? If you could ask DownEast to make a more affordable or modest version of something, what would it be? Leave a comment!
NOTE: Not all of them items I've featured in this post have corresponding links because not all of them are posted on the website yet; I took the pictures, names and prices straight from the catalog.
Here is a version of the outfit from earlier today for less:
Please excuse the cheesy, poorly executed Photoshopping that I used in the above picture; I was trying to make it look similar in every way to the earlier outfit.
Clockwise from top left:
Women's Boyfriend Cardigan, on sale $15, Old Navy {link}
Geometric Floral Top, on sale $9.99, Charlotte Russe {link}
Merona Satchel in Red, $26.99, Target {link}
Short Linked Leaf Necklace, $10.20, Asos {link}
Beverly Bracelet Set, $6.80, Forever 21 {link}
Betty Oxford Pump, $24.80, Forever 21 {link}
Crystal Flare Jeans, $29.99, Charlotte Russe {link}
total: $123.77
I feel like I've seen a purple geometric top almost exactly like the one from Ruche, only with shorter sleeves -- if anyone has seen it, knows what I'm talking about, knows where to find it, if you could send me the link so I don't think about it all day, I'd appreciate it. What do you think? Do you think I came close? Do you prefer this outfit, the more expensive version, or would you mix and match between them? Leave a comment!
The gals over at Sensibly Styled are hosting a giveaway from DownEast Basics. And yes, I entered to win! I created an outfit around the Longitude Cardigan, one that I would love to own for spring. All outfits have been posted on the Sensibly Styled website {one of my favorite modest clothing blogs, btw}, and readers get to vote for their favorites. Head over here to check out all the outfits and here to vote. I appreciate any support from my readers, but there are so many adorable outfits, I encourage you to vote for the one that's really your favorite.
Here's mine:
Clockwise from top left:
Amethyst geode silk top, $38.99, Ruche {link}
Longitude Cardigan, $34.99, DownEast Basics {link}
Curtain call tabbed purse in red, $39.99, Ruche {link}
Handmade golden leaf necklace, $44, Ruche {link}
Hasina orange beaded bracelet, $16.99, Ruche {link}
Pink Studio oxford pumps, $49.99, Ruche {link}
Long & lean jeans, $69.50, Gap {link}
As you can see, I relied heavily on Ruche, mostly because I totally love their style, but partly because if I had looked all over the Internet for my absolute favorite combination of clothes, I think my head would have exploded. The whole outfit really adds up to much more than I would ever advise spending on one outfit {almost $300 -- yikes!}, but since I was going more for aesthetically pleasing than affordable, I let it slide. Stay tuned, I'll post a similar outfit for less later today.
DownEast Basics is currently offering 30% off all items in their clearance section; just enter coupon code THIRTYB1 at checkout! DownEast has come out with some very cute items recently, so I'm excited to see them at such low prices.
Here are a few of my favorites, all under $30*:
1. Festive & Fancy Top, on sale $13.99 {link}
2. Perfect Portrait Top, on sale $10.49 {link}
3. Eye Candy Cardigan, on sale $24.49 {link}
4. Gallery Coat, on sale $24.49 {link}
5. Classic Cord Coat, on sale $27.99 {link}
6. Over the Top Dress, on sale $14.50 {link}
7. Jetset Skirt, on sale $17.49 {link}
8. Alpine Skirt, on sale $17.49 {link}
9. Matchstick Cords, on sale $18.89 {link}
I especially love #3 and #5. Which ones do you like best? Are you going to take advantage of this sale? Let me know what you think!
*The prices I post reflect a 30% discount -- they're the prices you would receive after using the coupon code, not the prices posted on the product pages.
One of my all-time favorite blogs is The Rockstar Diaries. It's not a fashion blog, but I'm mentioning it because Naomi has some amazing style. She never really talks about it, but you can see from the pictures she posts that she is a fashion maven {seriously, I want to be her when I grow up}. Naomi recently had an interview with 21st & Ivy and talked about where she shops. I'm always on the lookout for great clothing resources, so I was very interested in what she had to say.
I stop by my favorite Etsy vintage shops on a regular basis to check out the new stuff. I love DearGolden, Thrush Vintage and Sally Jane for awesome dresses, blouses, and skirts. Urban Outfitters, Zara, and Anthropologie are always a good bet too (especially the sale rack).
The news about UO, Zara, and Anthropologie was no big surprise {get in line for the sales rack, sister}, but the vintage Etsy shops? You all should know by now how much I love Etsy. Bing! It was time for some research. And here's what I discovered: I love Thrush Vintage. She has a great selection, most items are very reasonably priced, and she organizes all items by size, which I think is perfect {because what's the point of falling in love with a gorgeous top at first sight and then realizing it's not going to fit you?}.
What do you think? Does Thrush Vintage sound awesome, or what? Would you buy something vintage without being able to try it on first? {I think I might...} Do you know and love The Rockstar Diaries as much as I do? Leave a comment!
Urban Outfitters sent me an e-mail yesterday, letting me know that the strong shoulder is coming back into style.Not that UO is the only proponent of the returning trend -- fashionistas everywhere have been noticing its comeback since early 2009. Strong shoulders were popular in the 1940s and 1980s as well; the idea is to emphasize a wide line at the shoulder, making the waist seem smaller.
UO has one of the largest {and most inexpensive} collections of clothing featuring strong shoulders that I could find. View all of their strong-shouldered items here. Here are a few items that I like:
Personally, I tend to be thin and straight, so done right, a strong shoulder could give my body some shape. Done wrong, I could end up looking like I'm lost in my daddy's jacket. Find some great tips on wearing a strong shoulder here.
What do you think? Are you into the strong shoulder trend, or are you still too nauseated by the idea that 1980s fashion is making a comeback?
You may recognize #1 as the same sweater from this post. It was originally $110, I found it when it was marked down to $49.99, and now it's $22.41. Am I tempted? Oh, yes. So tempted. Also, I feel like I should tell I get a lot of my sale info from The (Chloe) Conspiracy. I love her Deal(s) of the Day posts -- they're an excellent resource.
What do you think? What's your favorite sale item? Do you think I should go for the sweater? Leave a comment!
For a limited time, Martin + Osa is offering 30% off all Winter Sale items. No coupon code is necessary; the discount is automatically applied at checkout. M+O is a store that generally hovers above my price range, so getting a discount on items already on sale would definitely be the way to go. Here are three things I would be glad to own:
1. Open Weave Print Silk Pocket Tee, $31.46 {link}
2. Peacoat, $90.96 {link}
3. Embroidered Shawl, $27.96 {link}
I think the tee is my favorite. The subtle print is rad.
A quick note about things being rad: When I was at BYU-I for one semester, first of all I was completely miserable and cold all the time. But I had a roommate named Randi, and she was awesome. We had so much fun together, making late-night runs at the laundromat, going to Horkley's, playing Phase 10 and watching Whose Line Is It Anyway. When it was time for me to pack up and leave, I got the crazy idea for her to sign my navy comforter with a bleach pen so I could always remember her. {Ummm.... It was late? I was eighteen?} But when she went to sign, she misspelled her name, and ended up writing "Rad Randi Blake," which I have called her forever after. {Before then we always called each other Stu, short for Stu Pididiot}. So when I call something rad, just know that I am honoring the best non-husband roommate I ever had, and that I really really mean that it's rad.
Back to normal stuff... What do you think? Are you up for a M+O sale? See anything that you like? {Do you have any awesome roommate stories you'd like to tell?}
Ever since the very beginning of 2010, I've been trying to hold myself back from thinking about spring. I know in my mind that I still have the long, cold months of January, February and March to get through before the blessed warmth of April. My head knows it's not time for spring yet, by my heart keeps getting excited. "Flowers!" it yells. "Shorts! Picnics!" "Hush," I say. "It's supposed to snow tomorrow night. You're bumming me out."
But then while browsing online today... I think I was looking at bauble necklaces {I like this one, this one, and this one}... I came across a necklace that wasn't what I was looking for, and actually it wasn't very pretty, but it was the most gorgeous shade of yellow. Yellow is one of my favorite spring colors, and immediately, I began to crave yellow. All kinds of things in all shades of yellow. And so, here is my wishlist of yellow things: my schizophrenic, head-fighting-heart, winter meets spring {seriously, leather gloves and sunglasses together?} wishlist of yellow things:
1. Destined Nail Color, $2.99, Tilly's {link}
2. Opacity Posts, $24, Anthropologie {link}
3. French Connection Aviators, $48, Nordstrom {link}
4. Silk tiered cami, on sale $29.99, J. Crew {link}
5. Classic Leather Gloves, $39.95, Martin + Osa {link}
6. In-A-Moment Dress, $118, Anthropologie {link}
7. Lei Trim Tee, $36.50, Loft {link}
That dress from Anthropologie, the only item on my list over $50, is nonetheless still my favorite. {Although if I were ever lucky enough to own it, I would probably wear it with this to make sure my legs were covered down to my knees.} What do you think? Do you have a favorite yellow item {either from my list or from elsewhere}? Are you craving spring already, or are you still enjoying winter?
When I first created this blog, it was just a way for me to express my love of clothing without going super-psycho and buying everything at J. Crew. It's a little amazing to me that people {as in, more than one person} would be interested in the fashion ramblings of someone who once looked like I did when I was thirteen.
I love talking about clothes, shoes, and accessories; I love to put together outfits; I love comments. I am LDS, and I strive to present clothing that is fashionable, affordable, and modest. You can read more about me, my awescredible husband, and our life together at my personal blog, here.
