Pregnancy Purge Continues...Anthro, Anyone?

Oh, well.  I might as well go out and just get all these pregnancy outfits out of the way.  Maybe I am nesting.  I spent two hours today clearing my closet for pregnancy clothing...all the while recognizing the items I was packing up were going to be coming out of hiding in May (I even marked the boxes "bring down in May 2012").  :)  I guess I just needed to do SOMETHING.  LOL.

So yesterday's post focused on a whole slew of outfits made from items I had either purchased at Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity, or Motherhood Maternity.  There were six of them.  Yeep.  Guess I was a bit behind.

Today I want to get three outfits published that I created using pieces from Anthropologie.  Amazingly enough, a lot of what I own from Anthro have easily seen me through the last few months.  I think it is a combo of some vanity sizing, general versatility of the piece, and the "flowy" nature of all of their clothing.

Anyhow, Desperate Housewives is on soon, so I am gonna make this quick.  ;)

Outfit #1:

I got out of the house for these shots.  I brought back the arty shot from the summer.  Let's just say I find it WAY easier to dress up and play "model" when it is warm.  I am a super wimp, I admit it.  The day was just warm enough that I didn't shudder at the thought of posing outdoors for five minutes.  How those big time fashion bloggers do it is beyond me.  Maybe they have steel for skin. 

Dress: Maple Mazzola Sweater Dress, Anthropologie, Fall 2008.  Oh, how I love this dress.  I totally fell in love with this dress when I saw it in the July 2008 catalog but since I was heavily pregnant with CW at the time I didn't think it would work for me.  Fast forward to this fall, ebay.  I saw it for sale and for an okay price in a size medium and was all, "screw it, I want that dress."  Turns out I could have worn it heavily pregnant with CW (although July and cotton/angora...not so much).  This dress is far more forgiving than I thought it would be!  I could go with a size small for the non-pregnant days, but since it is a sweater dress, the same stretchy material that makes it utterly perfect for those of us "with child," also make it beautifully flattering to non-pregnant curves.  :)
Tights: George Tights that recently bit the dust (sad!).  Read the last post for more on that saga.  LOL.
Shoes: Stacked Strap Heels, Anthropologie, Size 9.5.  These are by Schuler and Sons and I must say that I was thrilled to have them pop back in my size after missing them from the sale initially.  (Although I was a bit worried they wouldn't ship and worried the 9.5 would be too large--schuler and sons run large on me.)  Aren't they pretty?  And they were very comfortable.  I could have walked in these for hours.  Surprising seeing as they are really high!
Necklace: J. Crew, in store only necklace from Fall 2009.

I added a very unique Elevenses topper to this outfit.  This is the Neo-Houndstooth coat and after seeing it styled in the catalog last fall, I sort of fell for its mid-century modern appearance.

Having said that, I recognize its flaws.  I bought it on super-sale (it went down to $49 from almost $350) because of the flaws.  This is a size 4, which is one size down from my true Elevenses size of 6.  I may have been able to get away with a size 2 it runs that large.

Part of the problem is what you see here in this photo, the open back vent.  There is absolutely NO structure to the vent.  In fact the only reason there is structure to mine is because I added some.  I sewed up about an inch of the vent about halfway down the vent to keep it from flopping open and I safety pinned the bottom part of the vent so that it wouldn't fly open, either.  All in all that took me about twenty minutes, but I feel like the extra time was worth it for such a pretty coat.

I had fun with Picasa Picnik now that I have my new computer.  :)

Don't you just love the view of the barren trees and my neighbors?  I miss the full blooming trees!!!

The other problem with this coat is what you can see here, even on small shouldered moi, I look like I have actual swimmer shoulders (who did lots and lots of butterfly).  I don't mind the extra shoulder girth as I do have a fairly narrow upper body, but on someone who is broad shouldered, I think staying away from this coat may be a good idea.

CW was heading to ballet class.  Her darling Boden skirt was perfect for covering up her ballet costume.

Mazzola and Neo-Houndstooth. by dinagideon featuring three quarter sleeve dresses

Above is the polyvore of this outfit, just in case you are interested in any of the pieces.

Outfit #2:

Speaking of Elevenses, here is a spring coat that I wore about a month ago with a full on pregnancy outfit.  Didn't do up the buttons, but the rest of it felt great.

Coat: Elevenses, Size 6.  I wore it in this post a long while back.
Top: Gap Maternity, Size small.  Only Gap I wear is the maternity stuff.  The regular stuff just kind of looks bad.  (Sorry, Gap!)
Jeans: Mavi, Pea in the Pod, Size ??? (I honestly don't remember).  I literally wear these jeans to death while pregnant.  They feel awesome on and are fit perfectly for my body.  Plus they have a drawstring at the top of the belly band for an even closer fit.
Shoes: J. Crew, Salina Patent Flats.
Necklace: Bloomingdale's Aqua Brand, Multi-Strand Gold Necklace.

We were headed to a friend's house for the night.  This was dressy enough but also filled the bill of being comfortable enough, too.

Side view.  If this was a month ago, then I was about 26 weeks.  (I just turned 30-31 this week, so I am guesstimating.)

Outfit #3:

Alright, I admit this is a bit of a stretch on the Anthro front, but the shoes and scarf are Anthro.  :)

Top: Loft Starry Night Bubble Hem Top, Size Extra-Small.  Yum.  I definitely think I can make this one work non-pregnancy.  If I can't, oh, well, but I love the way this top looks.
Pants: Gap Maternity, Size 6/29.  These are awesome capri dark wash denim that I purchased a few months ago.  They fit as well as my Mavi jeans in outfit #2.  Definitely can't wear them on super cold days, but since we have only had a handful this year, I have been able to pull them out a lot more than I anticipated.
Cardigan: J. Crew, Size Small.  This is one of those infinity cardigans from a year or so ago.  I like how proportionally it works with the shorter pant and oversized blouse.
Scarf: Sketched Surrealism Scarf, Anthropologie.  I wanted this in one of the three prints in came in, didn't really care which one, but as soon as it went on sale (and with an additional 50% off), I bit.  I love the super-soft silk and the infinity styling (the loop makes it easy to style--here I have it looped twice).
Shoes: Miss Albright (Anthropologie), Anticipation Heels, Size 9.  Definitely wear these a lot.  LOVE them.  :)

The kids are in a selection of mini Boden (CW in baby Boden).  I got those not on sale, but they are currently in the clearance section (a lot of the sizes might be sold out, bear that in mind).  I plan to add these to the Boden Weekly Review Roundup this Wednesday, so if you are interested in their pieces, there will be reviews then.  :)

Okay.  Gotta catch up with Gaby, Lynette, Susan, and Bree.  Love those ladies.

Two Anthro Blazers and a Pregnant Belly. Chortle.

Before I begin this showcase of how adaptable jackets really are, I want to say a few things!

1. You all are too sweet. I had such a rough day when I wrote my last post and all the comments were wonderfully uplifting. I know that the road to Rex's success is a long one, but at least I know I am not alone in my journey--that others have also had similar challenges and came out in the end. :) Whew.

2. A parent from the class (she is also pregnant), saw the whole "Rex" incident and was MORTIFIED over what happened to me as a parent (the teacher basically took Rex out of the holiday sing-a-thon in front of all the kids and other parents and loudly announced that he needed to be with me) and was so very sad for us. She said I handled it well and she understands how embarrassed I felt. She actually said she would have been livid if it had happened to her daughter and her and would have had words with the teacher. She was surprised at my patience. Huh! I thought I handled it poorly, I am glad to know that an outsider felt I held my own...

3. I am reading a book, though, regardless of all incidents, that I picked up because I felt like Rex needed some extra parenting on my part. It is called "The Explosive Child," and OMG, it is wonderful. The advice is spot on AND it also makes me realize that I had some explosive tendencies of my own as a child. (Albeit differently...I was the type to explode exclusively at home when there was a change in my daily routine. I never ever exploded or acted out in public or at school which made my anger and sensitivities a bit easier for my dad to bear.) I have such a clear understanding of why and what is occurring now that I feel so much better...it is like experiencing thick fog and then suddenly seeing blue skies and trees, enlightening and uplifting. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with their own explosive child.

4. Onto (somewhat) less pressing matters...my darling brother has ordered the part for my computer and he will fix it himself. :) Cross fingers that this means in the next week or so!!! I miss having access to disqus or facebook or etc. SO FRUSTRATING.

5. Speaking of computer issues, mine means no disqus, which means NO access to awesome giveaways like Molly's of My Closet Travels.  Just 'cause I can't enter doesn't mean you all can't!  Anyone want to win a $50 gift card to J. Crew?  If you win, spend it on something glittery and fun, so I can live vicariously through you!

Okay, now onto true frivolity--CLOTHES! Just kidding...clothes are only slightly frivolous.

CW's pose is cracking me up.  She looks like a nutcracker.

We were headed to see Santa that night and I figured since I made both of my kids dress up, I should be festive, too, which in my world means sequins and ruffles.  Of course it does.

Jacket: Anthropologie Elevenses Boucle de Souffle Jacket, Size 6.  It does not button up.  It still can be worn as my shoulders haven't grown, so yay for jackets working in pregnancy!  YAY!

Top: J. Crew Collection Glimmer Mist Tissue Tee, Size small.  I am finding as long as it is stretchy material, most tees still fit fine.  Especially J. Crew ones as they run really long, which is ideal for me during pregnancy (not so much when I am not pregnant, they look really long normally, hence my adoration of crewcuts tops).

Pants: I can't remember.  Maybe my Mimi Maternity Black Bootcut ones?  Hmm.  Doesn't matter, Mimi Maternity is gone now, which kind of bums me out...was a great company.

Shoes: Galaxy Leather Ballet Flats.  From a long time ago...still love them, even though one of the gems fell out (sad face).

Bracelet: J. Crew Stone Mosaic Cuff.  Ooh, I got this one this summer.  Found it on ebay for a decent enough price.  I took a close-up pic of it for you all...you will see it a bit later in the post.

Couldn't resist.  CW looks so darling.  LOVE!  :)

Close-up of cuff bracelet.  The color and stones were a nice match to the cream and light blue of the outfit.  The cuff is a tad big on me, but I have wrists that are small enough to wear children's watches, so I think if you have average wrists, you would be fine to buy this and not have it be too big.

I am teaching Winter Wardrobe again...that fashion class for elementary kids that I teach every few months.  I had to skip out on Fall into Fashion as I was feeling really bad in October (and I was going to France, so it would have been CRAZY to do both) and I will skip out on Spring into Style (might not be a good idea to leave a week old newborn in the care of someone besides momma, lol), so Winter Wardrobe is it this year.  I had a meeting last Monday, so I wanted to make sure that I got dressed up, but I don't have a ton of "business casual" looks for pregnancy, so I made due with what I had in my closet (except the dress, which is new).

Jacket: Anthropologie Cloaked in Roses Jacket, Size Small.  Yum.  This felty wool jacket is warm, pretty, unusual, and has the distinct advantage of sort of doing up even though my waist is pretty ginormous compared to what it normally looks like.
Dress: Liz Lange for Target Cowlneck Jersey Dress with Pockets, size medium.  This dress is really large through the top, but since the top has a cowlneck, it sort of looks "on purpose" and not because of my specific lacking in the "lady" department.  Ha.
Tights: Ralph Lauren Grey tights I have had forever, like four years going.  I have good luck with tights.  Fortunately, because I fall in love with tights and how comfortable they are and would be super sad if they ran after one wear.
Shoes: Clarks Artisan.  I wear these all the time.  Definite best buy of my 2011.

The dress has pockets!  And is pretty long!

Necklace: J. Crew Palm Springs Beaded Necklace.  My good blog friend, Marietta, let me know about this one, and OMG, she is so right...lovely, feminine, and very much old school J. Crew.  I won't say it is as awesome as my double strand frog necklace, but it is pretty darn decent for J. Crew 2011. It does not have the heft of the original double strand necklaces from 2006-2007, but it is glass beaded, and the brooch bit is well done.  Thumbs up if this type of necklace is your thang.  I have it double looped around my neck here, but below you will see it worn its "original" way.
 

Nice plain view of the dress and of the necklace.

Closer view of the necklace...and of my very pale face.  Guess I put a bit too much powder on that day.

Okay, all, remember, THANK you for all your sweet comments, even though I can't respond back (easily, that is, I can respond it just takes forever to do it through my e-mail), I am reading every single comment and appreciating all you have taken the time to say!  You all are the best!

A Tank Two Ways!

You all! I am so busy...and truly sorry for taking so long to publish. It has been a LONG time since I have taken such a break. :P At least I have a cool, stylish reason for this break, but still, I have missed you!!! :)

Spring Into Style is going well...the kids are fab and all very sweet. I even have one little boy in my class, and he is very passionate about creating looks for both men and women alike. To see such creativity and expression at 8, 9, and 10 years old is amazing!

A Tank Two Ways! by dinagideon featuring Seven For All Mankind jeans

Above is the polyvore from an outfit I wore on a Saturday a few weeks ago. It was still a bit cold out and I knew that no matter what, I would need a coat and tights. :) I love this tank, and found it the perfect pick-me-up on that day. Plus, it looks fab with grey and denim, so the overall look was very lovely.


Here is the tank with the jeans, constellation cardigan, and the animal print flats. Very comfy, but with that bit of bling on the cardi, a little special, too!

Sizes:
Tank: Size small.
Cardigan: Size small.
Denim: Size 30.
Shoes: Size 40. (These were the shoes that ran REALLY big by Boden.)

And I had to make sure CW matched!!! ;)


Too cold to wear the outfit on its own, so I paired it with one of my favorite spring coats, EVER. This is an Anthropologie find, brand Elevenses, that I bought 5 (???) years ago. LOVE this color, print, fabric, cut, etc. Unfortunately, I had to put it DEEP in the closet until I lost all the way...this coat is cut very close, and has only recently fit again. I am wearing a 6 here.

Does anyone remember what catalog or season this coat is from? Or even better, know the name of it? I would love to find an image of it...


And here is the other way I wore this tank, paired with the short, full indigo skirt by J. Crew, and the tie-front cashmere cardigan in black. The tights are grey, and make the skirt seem less revealing.

Sizes:
Cardigan: Size small.
Skirt: Size 8.
Tights: Size Medium/Tall.

Have a great day, all. Hope to get back and publish soon...there is A LOT ready to go! :)