Sources:

Dress – Banana Republic Outlet (pre-pregnancy worn here)
Tank – Maternity, Target
Sandals – Target
Necklace – AE, years and years ago
Bag – Dots, bought in high school
Wooden bangle – thrifted

Endnotes:

In my last post, I embraced my pregnant belly as my ‘Best’ for Dress Your Best Week. But as I was trying to come up with my other ‘Bests’, I realized that I have to take a more wholistic approach this time around. Last year, when we picked our top five things to celebrate, I remember naming things like my legs, my hair, and my smallish chest. This time, those same aspects of myself have been distorted and changed by pregnancy.

My legs, which I loved for being shapely as well as toned and powerful from many miles of running, are still strong but no longer resemble the legs they used to be. I’ve gotten cellulite where there was none, they’ve been retaining water and looking and feeling puffy, and they no longer even accept the thought of being squeezed into heels. It’s all flats, all comfort these days.

My hair, which I always loved for being full and curly, is still full and curly but is now betraying me in that it’s gotten increasingly grey and I’m powerless to hide that. I started getting grey hair a few years ago and have consistently colored it as a way to hide that. Since being pregnant, I decided to skip the chemicals in hair dye and wait the nine months before getting another dye job. As those pesky wirey white hairs spring up all around my temples and forehead, I feel like I’m increasingly made to look older and more weathered than I am.

And, alas, that smallish chest that allowed me to easily fit into any top and not think twice about going on a run. Yeah…those changed about two months into the pregnancy and will likely continue to change (read: grow) as time goes on. Sigh.

I’ll spare you the laundry list of everything else that’s changed and will cut to the chase; perhaps this is what happens when you get older. Perhaps this is what happens to all women, regardless of whether you’re going through pregnancy or your body is just changing with the passing of time. Hopefully, as this happens, you realize that it’s not about pin-pointing that ‘perfect’ feature of your body but rather about embracing the whole and what it does for you. So I’m taking a much more wholistic approach here and celebrating my body in its entirety.

This same body that gives me a million and one reasons to feel frustrated also gives me just as many reasons to be happy and grateful. It’s been carrying my baby to almost full term now (and having had several friends for whom this has been a problem, I know not to take that for granted). It’s still propelling me forward on my bike, on walks, at yoga class, and in the pool. It’s healthy and resiliant and this, too, I know to value. And while it’s changing in many ways, in just as many ways, it’s still me. It’s still the same body that ran a marathon, that used to have a waistline, and that once long ago thought grey hairs and cellulite a thing of motherhood and adulthood. Well, here I am, on the threshhold of motherhood and certainly with both feet into adult life, so I might as well embrace all aspects of this stage. As my yoga instructor has us say at the end of each class, I bow down to the divine within me and I celebrate this body for all that it is.

Sources:

• Lace-edged Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Cardigan: H&M
• Belt: American Apparel
• Skirt: White Rice
• Tights: Target
• Oxfords: Crown Vintage via DSW
• Necklace: gift from sister

Endnotes:
Really? Tights in spring? Tights in the middle of May?! Yes folks, sad but true. The daffodils are blooming, fruit trees have burst into fluffy balls of white flowers, and my allergies are going haywire (pun intended), but the chill is not out of the air some days where I am. I had sworn off wearing tights after spring break, mostly because my waist and stomach were tired of being constricted like that, but I had to give in and break them out on Friday last week. To really feel sorry for myself I started to look back at when other bloggers around the country had packed up their winter tights for the year.

The ever hip and stylish Clare of Between Laundry Days was still wearing tights (or at least posting tight-ed outfits) in April, but has recently been enjoying sunshine and nylon-free gams.

The oft-skirted and always adorably dressed Tanya of What Would a Nerd Wear decided to freeze her kneecaps one particularly cold spring day, but she hasn’t donned tights in weeks (just look back at her recent posts!). Even my lovely co-bloggers out in academichic central were ditching their tights back in early April!

However, I do have a (reluctant) tights companion in the artistically photographed, well dressed and hilarious woman behind Hello, Monkeyface!, who also paired spring florals with tights this month, and the queen of color combos, Audi of Fashion For Nerds, also sported some firey red tights recently. Thank goodness! I really was starting to feel sorry for myself (wink wink)

On the flip-side, the always thoughtful and encouraging (and well heeled!) Sally at Already Pretty lined up some great ideas for how TO cover up even when it is warm out.

How have you been keeping warm during the mud season between winter and spring? Do you have a cut-off point for some wintery items that you refuse to wear after a certain date or season change?

L.

Sources:

• Shirt (tunic): French Connection
• Skirt: Calvin Klein outlet
• Belt: mom’s
• Shoes: Tahari via endless.com
• Necklace: Gift

Endnotes:
I believe that one of the most fun things in life is twirling around while wearing a very full skirt. This skirt lends itself to playful swishing, swooshing, and all out spins. I had wanted to wear this shirt/tunic again, and I realized that the teal and lavender of the shirt would look great with this skirt and obi belt.

I’m sorry I haven’t been writing very lengthy posts lately, but much like everyone at this time of year, I’m crunched for time as the academic calendar winds down and tests, papers, and projects roll in my door. Sometimes a bright, sun-shiny top, or pop of color, or comfortable stand-by is what gets me through. Other times a full, fancy, almost bustled skirt will do the trick and I can twirl, twirl, twirl myself right into a happy mood. It makes me think I’m a carefree kid again – not like I was exactly twirling around as a kid all the time – but again, too many cotton commercials have conned me into believing that I wore cute summer dresses and spent lazy afternoons rolling down grassy slopes and swinging around to see my skirt flutter around me. Even if it didn’t happen, isn’t it ok to dream? As Miriam Toews put it in her beautiful novel A Complicated Kindness, “The stories that I have told myself are bleeding into a dream, finally, that is slowly coming true… Is it wrong to trust in a beautiful lie if it helps you get through life.”

What do you all think? If we’re talking about more than mixing up your memories, is it wrong to trust in a beautiful lie if it helps you get through life? What “lies” do you believe in?

L.

Sources:

• Sweater: Cable & Gauge via Marshalls
• Tank: Banana Republic
• Belt: BR
• Skirt: Gap
• Shoes: Madden Girl via DSW
• Necklace: gift

Endnotes:
Spring is taking its sweet time coming to my neck-of-the-woods, and in the meantime it’s been grey and rainy for what feels like months (real time: probably only a few days out of each week for the last few weeks). I’m not sure about you, but my mood is more than a little influenced by the weather, so all these cloudy, chilly days have not been making me too happy. However, I am happy that April is national poetry month! Today especially, I’m reminded of T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” and some of the most famous lines in all of poetry:

April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.

After a rain soaked weekend, I decided to dress like the spring rain and dull roots and don blue and grey. This is basically another version of a monochrome outfit I put together last summer for our Color Wheel Challenge. As for memory and desire, well, the memory of past summers is the only thing making me smile in this picture.

The subtle embroidered flowers on the skirt and my flower belt also perked me up a bit, and I wore my green torsade in an effort to convince myself that all the rain really was bringing new, fresh, green things into the world. Usually I try to wear bright colors on days when I’m feeling low or the weather is bad, but today it was wearing little hints of spring that me happier. What are your tricks for changing your mood or combating a dreary climate?

Sources:

Tunic: Tucker for Target
Belt: thrifted
Jeans: Old Navy maternity
Wedges: Crown Royale Vintage, via DSW

End Notes:

It’s ended up being a crazy week in my household and while I opted for easy earlier this week, yesterday I’m went for can’t-help-but-smile.

When I was pregnant with little e., the first time that I belted below the bump was a big deal to me, both personally and stylistically. This time around, I’m more comfortable with my changing shape, and it’s time once again to embrace a silhouette that is preggers-specific.

And now, it’s time to hustle everyone off to the airport for a weekend visit to N.’s family for Easter…

PS. Here are a few other ways I’ve remixed this bright floral tunic.

Sources:

• Shirt: Ninety via Filene’s Basement
• Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Necklace: made by my aunt
• Belt: mom’s closet
• Skirt: Juillet via Neiman Marcus
• Shoes: Crown Vintage via DSW

Endnotes:
Dear DSW,

Thank you for my $10 birthday month gift certificate. I bought these shoes and I love them.

Sincerely,

L.

But seriously, if you’re a shoe junkie like me and live near a DSW outlet then it is definitely worth signing up with them (and no I’m not being paid to say that – but I would accept payment in shoes if anyone reading this is from DSW!). I know rewards programs are really ploys to make you spend more money, but I love that DSW sends me gift cards in the mail to spend on shoes. Only shoes.

I bought these at the end of March and was envisioning this exact outfit when I was debating the purchase. I know that I’m about two years late on the oxfords trend, but that’s what happens when you only shop sale and clearance (with very rare exceptions). I like the contrast of traditional men’s pieces (oxford shoes and button down shirt) with the ultra femme floral and eyelet lace skirt. I was inspired by other bloggers like the lovely Monkeyface, who wears her oxfords with jeans, with skirts, and even with red socks! You should also check her out because she’s a talented photographer AND a witty writer AND has amazingly perfect hair. I think I have a bit of a blog-crush :)

In other news, last Thursday night my mother and I went to the Boston Ballet’s opening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and let me tell you, it was spectacular (look at the video on their website for a glimpse)! The costumes, made of diaphanous chiffon, were gorgeous and ethereal. The music was mellifluous. The glittering wings on fairies and donkey head for the character Bottom were fine and delicate and in contrast bumbling and hilarious. It’s the first time I’ve actually laughed at the ballet! Also the first time I was sipping on champagne while watching – who knew you could do that?!

Sources:

• Dress: Banana Republic
• Belt: J. Crew
• Scarf: vintage (from mom)
• Shoes: vintage Calvin Klein (from mom)
• Purse: Lauren Merkin via Neiman Marcus (gift from mom)
• Necklace: from mom
• Ring: gift from mom

As for my attire, I had been trying to think of a way to wear this purple scarf (which my mom had bought at street market in Paris a million years ago), but the deep fringe stymied me and it seemed like it was not for everyday wear. For this more formal event I wanted to wear it over my shoulders, but didn’t want it just hanging loose down my front. The trick was to belt it and put the belt backwards so just the pink patent leather showed and the buckle was hidden behind the back.

It was a wonderful evening with my mom, and as you can see, I take much of my style sense – and much of my clothing, jewelry, and looks, for that matter – from her! Thanks mom, I love you!

Sources:

• Wrap Dress: Banana Republic
• Tank (under): BR
• Scarf: Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Bandolino via DSW
• Rose Pin: grandmother’s
• Necklace: by me

Endnotes:
I’ve written before about building an outfit around one element and this is how this look came together as well. It was all based on a pin that was my grandmother’s, which I cherish for its connection to her as well as what it stands for.

Let me explain. This pin, which is made of both yellow and rose gold, was my grandmother’s favorite. I distinctly remember her wearing it on the lapel of her blue suit when we would go out for lunch on Sundays, and it was always the first thing I’d pick out of her jewelry box when I was little and would snuggle up in her bed in the morning and go through her things the way little kids do. The reason I love it even more is because of the story that goes along with it: She was a young woman in her 20s living alone in Toronto when she needed to have her wisdom teeth removed. She decided that to reward herself for going through the ordeal alone she would buy a nice piece of jewelry – and this is what she bought. I think I like this story so much because it reminds me of how strong, independent, and young she was, and also because sometimes we do need to reward ourselves for the things we go through in life. Whether it’s a fancy dinner out with friends, a weekend trip, a piece of jewelry, or a bowl of ice cream and a night on the couch, I think that it’s good to every once in a while say to myself, “Nicely done, L., nicely done.”

In this outfit I’m using this fantastic pin to hold the bottom of my wrap dress together since I wasn’t too keen on flashing my slip around school. I kept up with the rose theme and added in a pink tank and this flowy scarf that is tiny florals on one side and stripes on the other. It’s hard with wrap dresses to wear a belt, but I’ve done this before with a lighter scarf that just goes on top of the built in ties and is loosely knotted.

When’s the last time you did something nice for yourself?

L.

Red cardi – free from swap
Dress turned tunic – Old Navy
Jeggings – TJMaxx
Flats – Joseph Seibel
Necklace – Earring turned pendant
Bike (below) – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

I’ve been wearing a lot of Jeggings on weekends and on non-teaching days. I never thought an item composed of the words ‘leggings’ and ‘jeans’ would enter as frequently into my vocabulary as it has, but given the comfortable fit and forgiving waistline, it’s become a staple in my casual preggers wardrobe.

These pictures were taken last Friday, which is my one non-teaching day of the week. I spent the day first cycling to my midwife appointment, then wasting a bit more time enjoying the warm weather and biking around our downtown, until finally settling into a coffee shop for some dissertation chapter revisions. Jeggings were a perfect fit (literally and metaphorically) for the kind of day I had. I paired them with a summer dress turned pregnancy tunic and comfortable flats and was good to go.

Have you embraced leggings or jeggings as part of your wardrobe? I think it’s great that these items are making a comeback because I loved them as a kid in the 80s/90s and I love them yet again as an adult. But I do have to add that I would never wear them as an alternative to pants while teaching or doing anything that would require me to look professional and I also only wear them paired with tops long enough to cover my bum.

What’s your take on the leggings/jeggings trend? – S.

Sources:

• Tunic: Tucker for Target
• Belt: Gap Outlet
• Skirt: Anthropologie
• Leggings: Gap
• Wellies: Banana Republic

End Notes:

This wasn’t quite how I envisioned this outfit going. I was thinking bare legs and cognac boots, maybe tights and sandals if things went just right. But, alas, I woke up to snow this morning and so it was thick leggings and two-tone wellies in deference to winter’s lingering hold.

And this is how I feel about that:

For whatever reason, in the mirror I wasn’t getting so much of an angled, shirt tail hem with the tunic, and I’m not sure if I like it that much over the full but stiff-ish skirt below. But, I of course love the color pairing, and I can definitely imagine revising this outfit with the skirt over the tunic. That will have to wait, however, until I have a little less going on in front.

(Contrary to what yesterday’s photos suggest, the belly is still here.)

There’s something about patterned garments that make me feel emboldened to take more style risks over all, whether in proportions or color pairings or pattern mixing. So while I might not be in love with this remix overall, I have to admit that I’m proud of myself for wearing this tunic in three significantly different ways this week. And, to reader Sara, I believe that you’ll see this with my floaty white skirt in the near future…

P.S. Did you see Tania and Kelsey offer up even more remixes a couple of days ago?

Sources:

• Sweater: Banana Republic
• Tunic: French Connection
• Belt: BR
• Skinnies: BR
• Shoes: Frye

Endnotes:
Can you tell how pleased I am with this outfit? For our first day back in classes I decided that despite the dusting of snow we got last night it is most definitely spring and therefore I will break out the florals! Of course, while this shirt has a pretty tropical motif, in reality it is still in the 30s and the sweater was a necessity rather than a choice.

{Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Hitentaisei Rikon (Li Gun: Chinese name) from the Shuihu zhuan, 1827-30}

This tunic is another birthday purchase from my sister (thank you C.!) and I fell in love with the bright florals, which seemed vaguely reminiscent of Japanese prints. (Thanks to reader Alison for the correction! This is a Japanese print of a Chinese story, not a Chinese print as I had earlier written. Alison says that “this is a classic example of the Japanese ukiyo-e style.”)

I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my new flower belt from BR is a perfect match! I really wanted more of this shirt to show, so I pulled my sweater to the sides. This also created a more pronounced hourglass shape with the belt pulling it all in at the waist. How do you fool the eye to accentuate different body parts?

L.