Style
Wed Jan 20 2016
Postpartum curves and ten dollar watches
This interim period can be a challenge. That larger number on the scale has a way of immediately crushing some self-esteem, so after weeks (literally) of trying to find a pair of pants that fit alright I treated myself to this watch from none other than Target in order to spice up my wardrobe. It was all of 10 bucks and I'm pretty sure it was marked "mens", but I love it. One day I'll own the ever-so-dreamy Michael Kors watch or dearer to my heart, the Shinola watch or the Fossil watch, but this baby is my current bff, and it's taken a bit of edge off when going into fitting rooms.
I scored these ripped jeans from Kohl's for a whopping 14 dollars. They're killer. I love them, only because I feel pretty bad ass in them. And they kicked my stretchy maternity jeggings out of my closet.
Tue Oct 27 2015
Buying for the bump
I'd like to think that one day I will be in a place where I'll be able to spend a little extra on maternity clothes. But as a young couple just starting out, I've had to get creative in dressing my growing bump (and shape) over the 9 month pregnant period. Here's what I've learned:
Invest upfront in one good bra. There is nothing worse than an ill-fitting bra, am I right ladies? Depending on how you gain weight, this may not be an issue for you. But for some ladies, those chests just expand and there's nothing we can do about it. With my first pregnancy, I measured myself, went out on my own and tried on different styles, but ultimately left in tears every time. I never found something that fit well and made me feel good, which set me up to feel sub par no matter what outfit I had on. With this pregnancy, the very first thing I did was go to Victoria Secret, got measured, and asked about styles and fits. I went home, found a promo code, and bought a good bra on sale for around $50. Yes, it was a little pricey. But it was the best decision I made, and I haven't regretted it for a second. (If you're going to invest in a little nicer of a bra, be sure to take good care of it - seldom wash, use lingerie bags, wash on delicate, etc.)
Find the good sales and search for promo codes. Old Navy's maternity selection is reasonably priced, so their sales tend to be good deals. Google maternity clothing and look for sales. Asos sometimes has great sales on maternity clothing. PinkBlush Maternity has flash sales every so often. I've found to have better luck with Kohl's online than in-store. Find a promo code and you're golden.
Buy the basics overtime. Neutral colors, layering tanks and tees, dark wash jeans. They are your friends. You're able to intermix your pieces making for many outfits from a limited selection. Buy a couple basics as you grow so 1) you're not dropping a lot of money at once and 2) properly buying for each trimester.
Don't be afraid of consignment shops. I found a local baby consignment shop that had a maternity section. I found a high-end pair of flare jeans and a couple tops for 15 bucks. Yes, please! Consignment shops are especially great for women who are working and finding themselves needing to buy a work wardrobe to accommodate their bump.
Forever21 is your friend. Forever has Tees, and tanks, maxi dresses, and over-sized sweaters that are all decently priced. I found a tee that would look good if I got a size or 2 bigger and bought a couple in black and grey for no more than 10 bucks (each). They've lasted me well and I can wear them post-pregnancy.
Look into renting. Did you you know you could rent higher end maternity clothes? I sure didn't until I saw a spot on Good Morning America. (Thanks, Ginger!) This is a great option for women who are planning to work throughout the nine months and need to have a variety of pieces. It's the perfect option for finding a dress for a holiday event or your baby shower. Or you simply want to get a couple pieces that make you feel good without breaking the bank.
Get creative with your husband's wardrobe (Great for first months of pregnancy and postpartum months). I took an old pair of my husband's jeans, cut off the bottoms, gave 'em a cuff, and claimed "boyfriend jeans." I've also worn tees of his getting away with the over-sized look. He's been generous and patient with me.
Towards the end, opt for accessories. When you're nearing the end, there isn't much left to do. Not only are you dealing with the weight gain and big bump, but you could be puffy or swollen only adding to the discomfort. On top of that, you don't want to spend any more money on maternity clothes because you're "almost there." This is also when the wardrobe can feel exhausted, so if you're feeling like you need to spruce it up, get a scarf or watch or bold necklace or even a lipstick. You'll freshen up your look for a limited cost and you'll be able to use it after you have your little one.
I've dressed a bump as a full-time employee and as a stay-at-home mom. It's without question easier to buy for and dress the growing shape while at home. There are some days when I opt for the sweats with no regrets. But it is possible to keep personal style and stay (relatively) comfortable without spending a great deal of money. Planning, researching, and buying over time is the recipe for success.
Wed Oct 21 2015
Pregnancy style
I'm currently working on a "buying for the bump" post, so I thought I'd take a look back over the past 9 months and share a few of my pregnancy looks. Styling is a passion of mine and I find a bit of joy in the sometimes challenging process of finding good, flattering pieces for my growing bump and shape. My tips on buying for the bump will be up next week!
Many of the pieces featured below are older and non-maternity, but if you're interested in a particular piece, leave a comment and I'll give you more info.
Fri Aug 07 2015
PinkBlush Maternity Feature
PinkBlush Maternity, a maternity boutique that sells cute maternity clothes and dresses, recently reached out to me and offered me to choose a few pieces to feature. When I came across this dress, it nearly jumped off the page and made a home in my closet. The Periwinkle chiffon piece is, in my opinion, way too comfortable to be a maternity dress and gives my large-and-still-growing-bump a classy, understated appearance.
I picked this piece because it's the perfect from-Summer-to-Fall transition piece, hence my bold, black booties. (The back to school floor sets have crept out after all.) It can be dressed down for that final Summer date night or be worn to an early Fall wedding - you know those first Fall days that are still pretending to be Summer.
Nearing 7 months pregnant, I have to admit, it's often hard to find pieces that make me feel the perfect dose of feminine and edgy. But with this lightweight beauty, I've got nothin' to fear.
All there's left to do is to go get me a cupcake and mark this Summer date night as one to remember.
Fri Jul 31 2015
A day in Portland
One of my best friends is in town this week, so we've made a couple tourists out of ourselves and have been exploring our new home. We headed into Downtown Portland and hit up a couple bakeries and the infamous VooDoo Doughnuts. It was the hottest day of the year, but that didn't matter because I had my best shorts and nautical vibe on my side. My nautical vibe was supplied by PinkBlush Maternity, a maternity boutique that sells cute maternity clothes and maternity dresses. The soft, breathable shirt kept me cool and comfortable as I strolled the hipster streets of Portlandia. And with that distressed denim I looked like I fit right in among all the edginess.
Tue Mar 24 2015
Casual Sunday
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| My "I'm-going-to-make-it-modeling-poses". |
You wouldn't know Ella was screaming and laughing in the background. But that's what the scene looked like in real life - a lady walking by with a walk-man and accompanied by her dog as well. Casual Sundays are the best, aren't they? They're spent with family at the park and eating your weight in Nutella crepes. Or is that just us? No matter where our Sunday went, I knew when I put this cardigan on, it was going to be a great day.
Sunnies :: American Eagle
Shorts :: American Eagle
Tee :: Old Navy
Cardigan :: American Eagle
Shoes :: Target
Tue Mar 17 2015
Gettin' Beachy
I forgot how awkward it is to model an outfit in public. You may be able to tell by these pictures, but I frequently busted into dance to take some of the edge off. But we captured these shots of this casual beach outfit.
I love pairing a skinny strap tank with a maxi skirt in the Summer. It feels chic and effortless. Since we went out to brunch and we had some errands to run, I added the bangle to give a more put-together and complete look. Simple as that.
When it's 95 degrees out, less is always more.
Tank :: Kohl's
Maxi :: Target
Bangle :: Old Navy
Sunnies :: American Eagle
Mon Jan 12 2015
My style
When I was in college, I started a style blog as a class project. The lukewarm blogger I was at the time, I didn't keep up with it. From time to time, I regret not keeping the project going. But I learned a lot about my personal style and ultimately found my style through documenting my outfits.
What's my style?
But when I get dressed in the morning, I like to be comfortable. So you'll rarely see me in a skirt. Because I find them horribly uncomfortable. I'm too paranoid in skirts. Can I pick up that pen I just dropped? Will the wind be out to get me? And I've never really found the perfect skirt that flatters my figure (although I love a good pencil skirt). I was the person who loved the gauchos in middle school. They were comfortable. I love huge, wide-legged flare pants. I like jumpsuits. I like turtlenecks. Because I think it takes little work to look chic and put together in a good jumpsuit or a good pair of flares. Or in an oversized scarf (see above) or in a pair of leopard flats (also see above).
I've been wanting to get back into doing some style posts. So here's what I hope to be the first of many!
*I don't know if this even makes sense. But in my mind it's someone whose wardrobe you'd love to have.
What's my style?
A little manly.
I think a little bit of my short run as a middle school tomboy has stuck with me. Because in this picture I'm wearing an old pair of my husband's jeans. A few months postpartum, a lot of my pants didn't fit me, and I was particularly feeling the "boyfriend" look at that time in my life. And why pay 50 bucks for a pair of "boyfriend" jeans when you can just buy man pants? I've also been known to shop in the men's section. (Calm down, I love womanhood and all that.) I just can't deny some good oversized man flannel. |
| Excuse my baby's fingerprints. |
A little lazy.
"Simple" might be a more flattering word choice.But when I get dressed in the morning, I like to be comfortable. So you'll rarely see me in a skirt. Because I find them horribly uncomfortable. I'm too paranoid in skirts. Can I pick up that pen I just dropped? Will the wind be out to get me? And I've never really found the perfect skirt that flatters my figure (although I love a good pencil skirt). I was the person who loved the gauchos in middle school. They were comfortable. I love huge, wide-legged flare pants. I like jumpsuits. I like turtlenecks. Because I think it takes little work to look chic and put together in a good jumpsuit or a good pair of flares. Or in an oversized scarf (see above) or in a pair of leopard flats (also see above).
A little random.
My closet is full of hand-me-downs from grandmas and friends. This sweater is from a friend. It's a little big, so I went with the oversized-sweater, statement necklace, and tight pants vibe with this outfit. I try to take pieces that may not totally suit me on their own and make it a part of an outfit that works well with my figure and style.Full of black and white.
I try to add color into my wardrobe, but every time I'm out shopping I flock to the black and white. So much so that I told my husband last time I went shopping to not let me buy anything black or white. He wasn't successful. I bought that moto jacket and turtleneck in the picture above. You just can't go wrong with black and white. It's classic. It's timeless. But one of my goals for 2015 is to continue to look for the perfect fuchsia top. (It's been a long hunt.) Step aside, marsala.And of course, a little feminine.
When trying to find a picture that shows the feminine side of my style, I kept going back to my wedding dress. Which may be strange. But I went with it. When looking for my dress, I had no idea what style I wanted. All I knew is I wanted it to be a little unconventional, simple and with a hint of detail. And that's probably how I would describe the feminine aspect of my style. |
| YEAH YOU DO. (Picture found here.) |
Style spirit animal*
I have quite a few style icons. Nicole Richie, Kate Hudson, Blake Lively, being a few. About 9 years ago I would have said my style spirit animal was Serena Vanderwoodsen. Because. Obviously. But today. The title goes to Claire Underwood from House of Cards. Without question. This woman's wardrobe is flawless (unlike her character...). And every time I watch the show, I find myself just as into what she's wearing as I am the plot line. (Yes, I watched the Golden Globes this weekend partially for the clothing.)I've been wanting to get back into doing some style posts. So here's what I hope to be the first of many!
*I don't know if this even makes sense. But in my mind it's someone whose wardrobe you'd love to have.
Fri Oct 10 2014
In a crop top
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| Jeans: Old Navy/Crop top: Target/Watch:Jewel Mint/ Sweater: TJ Maxx |
Here's to stepping outside of our comfort zones this weekend.
Happy Friday.
Mon Aug 04 2014
A jumpsuit love affair
When I was pregnant, I made a post-pregnancy wish list. On it was the perfect jumpsuit. A couple weekends ago, I found the one. My husband and I went to the Banana Republic outlet store which has easily become our favorite place to shop. They were having a 40% off clearance sale. So I scored big. This time I opted for a print filled with brights, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a classic white or black piece.
I can't wait to try different looks with this piece!
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| An #ootd selfie, of course |
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| A better look at the print |
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