As we all anxiously await the release of Missioni’s line for Target, we must remember that there is fashion life outside the big red dot. (Or, maybe I just have to keep reminding myself.)

Yes, Fall is my favorite fashion season, and while my son hasn’t even started Kindergarten yet, the stores and my brain are dreaming of pants and booties. And capes and leather.

And corduroys. I can’t wait until I can put these puppies on.

Red hot, right? Free People Super 70s Cord, $108

While I just got my toenails polished for these last warm days, I just can’t help but thinking about covering them up when the weather gets a teensy bit chillier. I love the tomboy look for Fall, especially with the modern take on the loafer.

This season’s newest flat is worth every penny. The Perfect Pennyloafer, Madewell, $168

Or, rev up your inner sexy secretary with some height. Mia Zolen, $59

As far as accessories go, I’m still all about finding the perfect cross-body bag. I need to be hands-free when I’m lugging around my 28 lb bundle of joy. Diaper bags are for the birds, or new moms, at this point.

I’m seriously coveting. this. bag. Tory Burch Shindo Burch Mini Flap Bag, $365

And let’s not forget how fabulous it is to cozy up in a good fall coat. This season I’ve invested in a basic, black zip-up leather jacket. I scored a great deal on one from Gilt Groupe, but since buying anything off of that site is like winning the lottery, I found some other good options for cheap on the randomest of all sites…

You have to be a member of Overstock.com to get this Members Only leather jacket for $150…

What are you buying for fall?

Don’t whine to me about all the snow you’ve had. I haven’t seen the sun in months weeks either, but yet, I’m dreaming of spring and coveting all the colors and fun I’m going to have once the gray leaves the sky and I scrape the salt off my suede boots before storing them for next year.

Yes, spring is far away, but the trends are not. And I’m bored and lonely on a Saturday night while my husband is working. So, I turn to the internet for help and love. And yes, shopping.

Here’s what I’m thinking of getting now so I can wear it the day the mercury reaches 55 degrees. Because don’t you know? That’s spring in Chicago.

1. A skinny belt. Because it matches those wrap and beaded bracelets that we’re all wearing on our wrists. I want one with a little more color, but was coveting this guy from Krista K Boutique yesterday:

B-Low the Belt, $110

2. Trouser jeans. I’ve mentioned these before, but I got them on sale from the Gap and they are yummy. I’m over being “over” them:

The Gap Pin Tucked Jeans. Get them on sale.

3. Espadrille wedges. I’ve been in a lot of random conversations lately about being tall (I’m about 5′ 8″) and what to wear with the aforementioned trouser jeans. Since I’m tall, and the jeans are meant to be worn with a long inseam, I need to wear heels. I am finding that wedges, especially the casual espadrille one, are the mom-doing-errands answer to stilettos:

At the mom-doing-errands price on endless.com – $60.47.

4. A long charm beaded necklace. I have recently ditched my beloved Helen Ficalora baby charms that I’ve worn religiously for the last four-and-a-half years. They’re beautiful, but they’re everywhere now and, well, it’s time to move on. Onto a statement piece. Charming, right?:

This one from Anthropologie is stunning and affordable – $58

5. A cropped sweater. I cannot believe I gave away all my “short” sweaters after the birth of my eldest. I thought I had just gotten fat, but really it was that the pant waists got lower. And now that they’re higher again, we can all hide our muffin tops. But what top to wear with the cropped top? All my long jersey tops meant to cover my skinny-jean ass are too long. Enter this cropped sweater of my dreams:

Patterson Kincaid Melinda Striped Cropped Sweater, Shopbop.com, $158

What are you shopping or browsing for this spring?

]]> http://www.selfmademom.net/2011/01/29/five-trends-to-watch-for-spring-yes-i-said-spring/feed/ 4 http://www.selfmademom.net/2010/10/17/bloggerrelations/ http://www.selfmademom.net/2010/10/17/bloggerrelations/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 03:22:03 +0000 selfmademom http://www.selfmademom.net/?p=1610

Last week, I was on high alert for an invite to a local blogger event being put on by Gilt Groupe this Friday featuring its founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson. At the Peninsula Chicago where I got married.  It’s a match made in blogger heaven. And, no less than three of my blog friends asked if I was going. I panicked. Had I missed the invite? I mean, if you’re looking for a blogger in Chicago who likes to shop look no further, right? But, I tore through my inbox and had not received the coveted email. In a cold sweat I emailed Kim. Could she help? She said she would and emailed the PR team in charge.

Of course, being that nosy former PR agency type, I asked the necessary questions. What agency? What contact?

That’s when the heavenly match fell apart. I put two and two (hundred emails I sent that day) together and realized in haste, I’d asked to be taken off a certain pitchy-salesy list. From Gilt. I’d basically dissed over email the very people I was begging all my friends to get an answer from on my event invite status.

Foot in the freaking sent box.

I’ve ranted of late about how companies nowadays aren’t being thoughtful in their approach and ask of us bloggers. But my recent gaffe reminded me that we as bloggers owe it to PR folks not to send emails that are direct (“please take me off this list” is what I wrote) and then expect to be included in the fun part of the pitch down the road.

I sent over my apologies to the poor PR rep who had now heard my name 72 trillion times by my friends and explained to her how badly I felt. No harm done, she said, and extended a kind invitation for the brunch this Friday.  I’m excited to attend and grateful we worked it out amicably. Lesson learned, though. If I’m going to respond at all to pitches I don’t want, I’d (we should all) better be damned clear about what that means in the long run. Because brand relationships aren’t just about fun events. They’re about listening to the sales stuff too, once in awhile. Even if it’s not a good fit.

And while we’re talking about good fits, I own a shoe by Cole Haan that fits me perfect. It’s the Air Lainey Wedge (to the right). An amazing combination of cute and comfortable. I wore it to my friend’s rehearsal dinner Friday night and promptly left it at the hotel today at checkout. When I unpacked earlier this evening I realized what had happened, and in a cold sweat (I’ve had a lot of these lately, apparently), called the Taj hoping they’d recovered my BSF (Best Shoe Friend). The man in charge of lost and found said he had a pair of black shoes, size 9. I asked, are they wedges!? Like he knew what a wedge was. But, with some explanation and brand recognition, we agreed it was the correct pair. I figured this little forgetful incident was going to cost me a pretty penny. But, no, the Taj said they’d ship them UPS to me for free if I couldn’t come get them in person.

After a weekend of questionable customer service at the hotel and a laundry list of complaints I was about to air in public, this was just what I needed to sweat normal again. I repeated my address no less than three times to the gentleman on the other line (and called back to confirm the address because I’m that neurotic.) I should receive my shoes within 5 days.

Moral of this story?

I’m out my cute shoe choice for the fancy fashion brunch this Friday. Serves me right.

Seems like everyone is gearing up getting their kids ready for school with new clothing purchases and backpacks galore. But I’m protesting. Why? Because it’s not fair that only the kids should get the new stuff for Fall. I want back to school clothes for myself! The eldest is starting at a fancy new school and I’ve outfitted him plenty in comfy but cute Appaman tops, City Threads pants, Geox sneaks and Old Navy t-shirts. The baby gets his hand-me-downs.

As for me, because my eldest is starting at that aforementioned fancy new school, I figure I better look good, too, during school drop-off and pick-up. It also doesn’t help that I’m now completely under the hypo-fashion spell of Amy Tara Koch, to whom sweatpants are like kryptonite. She totally critiqued (in a good way) my mom outfit when I interviewed her last week for Chicago Parent and now I’m a woman obsessed with Bumping Up my mommy wardrobe. Last year, I reveled in my maternity lululemon challenge. It was fun and stretchy, but now that I’m back to my fighting weight I’ve got to up the ante. I’m screwed.

Thus, I’ve been obsessively scouring the internet for pieces that make me look something in between A Real Housewife, and well, a real housewife. Herewith, a list of my coveted items for Fall:

1) Dark grey or black jeggings (for your neophytes these are JEAN leggings): I didn’t quite understand the jegging craze last year, but now that I’ve seen them in action (and on me), I’m hooked. I’m debating between these two:

J Brand 901 Legging in Pitch (photo courtesy of J Brand)

And…

Gap Jean Legging but not in this hideous medium wash – it’s a dark grey, but it wouldn’t copy to my blog! (photo courtesy of Amazon)

2) Some sort of olive-colored cargo pant. I caved and got the J Brand ones in gray off eBay for this summer, but what I really want for Fall are these amazing looking stretchy cargo-cords from Current/ Elliott. It’s what Private Benjamin would wear after training camp. Or, me, after the gym.

Photo courtesy of Saks.com

And what else am I going to wear with all my new skinny pants other than ankle boots? Because nothing says the anti-sweat like some motorcycle boots:

Via Spiga Olga Boot (photo courtesy of Lori’s Shoes)

Or release my inner urban cowgirl with these:

Frye Carson Shortie (photo courtesy of Zappos, but FYI I found them cheaper on Endless!)

As for what’s on top, I’d rather splurge on pants and shoes that will last more than one season and buy some wear and tear tops from Zara, H&M, even Target (shhh). But I’m all about the long cardigan with the skinny pants and I’m loving the one I recently bought…

Open Front Cardigan by Splendid (photo courtesy of Nordstrom)

And if you really want to go all out, you’ll go out and buy yourself a military-inspired coat like I just saw in a Burberry ad in Vanity Fair. Amazingly, I had the foresight to buy a coat just like it a few years back by Marc by Marc Jacobs when I was more flush with cash. (Oh, weren’t we all!). Good knockoffs by Juicy, too.

My sad, old, but in style Marc by Marc Jacobs military coat. Needs a pressing. (photo courtesy of my crappy Blackberry)

So, what are y’all buying for Fall? Next up… accessories! And, watch for a fashion challenge come September. I vow to amp up my mommy wardrobe for 30 days straight! As soon as the heat drops and there’s no threat of my legs sticking together when I walk.

(BTW, this blog was NOT sponsored, but if anyone out there wants to throw in some free jeans, by all means.)

Are you dying to know how I’m doing ensconced in nylon day after day? Well, on Day 17 I’m finally wearing a pair of long pants as the temperature has dipped below 75 degrees. (My criteria for wearing long pants has drastically changed due to my limited wardrobe options.) And one of my three sweatshirts. So I feel that I now have some more clothing options. Because really, wearing the Bulerias or Power Y tank EVERY DAY was just getting a little nasty.

Luckily the ‘lemon washes quite nicely and hasn’t stretched out into weird proportions considering my stomach is looking more and more like I swallowed a watermelon every day.

But trying to work the ‘lemon into my repetoire every day can be a bit daunting. Especially as I try not to look like a gym rat/ haven’t showered/ only wears sweatpants kind of mama every day.

So today, I paired the wrap pant in charcoal grey with my uber-cute but potentially blister-inducing Tory Burch Bryce Clog.

Because every pair of sweatpants needs a patent leather clog to stay above the sloppy fray.

It’s a wonder what a little T logo can do to the maternity fashion psyche.

Sponsored Link: Maternity Dresses

You all know of my love of lululemon.

You all know I’m a faux frugal who really, really likes to shop.

You all know I’m pregnant.

Thus, I’ve put myself up to a challenge.  A fashion challenge. Having not bought any “formal” maternity wear my entire pregnancy, and having gone on a serious lululemon bender the past week after my joyous pregnancy news, I’ve decided to see if I can possibly wear a single item of lululemon clothing every day for the next 8 weeks of my pregnancy. Because, well, what the heck else am I supposed to do as I wait out the waning days of pregnancy? (And, I just saw Julie/ Julia and this could make a heck of a book. Ha!)

Behold, The lululemon Maternity Wear Challenge:

4 tanks, 3 sweatshirts, 4 sweatpants, 6 workout pants, 8 weeks, and who knows how many more pounds to gain.

I even made a widget on flickr (who knew I could figure that out!). (edited to add: and I figured out how to make it appear on my sidebar, yay! Check it out to the right.)

I’m now 31 weeks along, and for day 1 of the challenge I wore the Bulerias Tank in Black and Dance Studio II*No Pants in Coal. I felt stylish and swishy while walking down Michigan Avenue.

Here’s to being comfy and ensconced in nylon for many, many days.

At first, I was going to write this post about all the scary things I’ve been reading about regarding endocrine disrupting chemicals and their affects on unborn fetuses. I mean, Dr. Karp told me personally to avoid nail polish and other beauty products in order to avoid being a phalate-carrying menace. Boy did that put me in a bad mood. Double-whammy for me is that this crap really matters in the first trimester, and since I’m almost at month 6, well, hell, I’m going to get my feet rubbed and scrubbed. (In all seriousness, though, Nicole of Nine Naturals did send me a link to this site, which is pretty helpful.)

But no, not even after trying to find a safe, toulene-free nail polish (although OPI brand does not use formaldehyde anymore), I gave up and started worrying about something else entirely.

I’ve lost the desire to shop.

It’s scary, I know. I have no interest in perusing stores, browsing online or gasp, even going to the low-hanging shopping fruit known as Target.

I should have known something was amiss on Friday, after I got my haircut downtown and had no desire to make the three block walk from my salon to H&M. I always like going to H&M.

But the pregnancy hormones have overtaken even my frugal shopper hormones (remember when I was supposed to be all about being frugal here?)

I’m not even a frugal shopper anymore. I’m an abstinent shopper. I don’t have the drive or the will. (Or the money.)

Maybe the winds of Fall will also bring my shopping mojo back again. But until then I’ll be high and dry and wearing my old, elastic waist duds.

I owe a lot to another Sarah. First, she gave me some great insight in how she’s living  frugal life. Check out her story and others in my newest Chicago Parent article.  (Yay! A little freelance work in a sucky economy!)

But more importantly, Sarah gave me the brilliant idea to my other money making venture: Selling off my old, yet still terribly stylish clothes, on eBay. I mean, the clothes are just sitting in my overstuffed closet gathering dust.  Wouldn’t they look better on you?

So, herewith is the beginning of my weekly-ish eBay auctions.  We’ll see how much stuff I can clean out and how much I can clean up in the world’s largest online auction space.  Ah, I love the internets.

For sale this week: my barely-worn lululemon Still pants in royal blue. They’re fabulously comfy, but just don’t fit me right anymore.

Be still my beating heart from this terrific workout pant.  

Somewhere between the chlorine fumes at the pool and one too many Boston Coolers this summer I’ve lost the will to be motivated.  By month six of my self-imposed retirement, I was ready to take on the world. Now, nearing the end of month eight, I’ve let go the nanny I’ve always been wary of mainly because I am not filling my free time doing anything that meaningful. (Ah yes, there is beauty in shopping at Target, but cheap sweaters don’t always fill the void.)

Once the eighty-degree sunny weather hit and decided to stay for more than a week, I decided to turn it off and tune into the wonders of two-year-old (TYO) dialect.

TYO: Mommy, what are we gw’an to do noowwwww?

Mommy: I don’t know, whatever we want.

TYO: I want to paaaaay.

TYO: No no. No want to go to errands. Want to paaaay.

So play we do.  All day and night.  Until I realize we’re out of milk or something and then I walk to the Speedway on the corner and buy some bad, hormone-laced in BPA bottle generic brand that will disintegrate my child’s brain or something. I haven’t posted in quite sometime over there where my mug shot smiles out from some alternative working mom universe.  I did post here recently, mainly because I had a sob story to tell and I don’t want my friends Jill and Beth to think I’ve completely gone AWOL in the blog world.

Speaking of AWOL, so are any vestiges of readers I once had here. I know you get what you give, and I’ve given so little of late, I’m not surprised by my lack of readers, but it’s yet another reminder of the lazy-ass summer lovin’ blob I’ve become. I’m even 3 episodes behind on Project Runway and wasn’t even sure if what I was watching was the new season.

It’s quite fun forgetting there’s a world of motivated mothers out there.  Those who defy the odds, grace magazine pages, have hit books , so on and so forth. I can see why people opt-out never to return to the world of deadlines, projects, and conference calls.  Sure, paychecks are nice, (there are so many fall items like THIS BAG that I’m seriously coveting, but seriously cannot afford), but they’re nothing compared to a sweet farmer’s tan and your kid’s dirty fingernails.

Ahh … that purple sure is perrrrty, though…

Dear Emily bag,

It’s been a long year since I first received you as a present for Mother’s Day.  I coveted you, as I saw you on many a friend and celebrity’s arm.  When I used you I was giddy. You looked like a purse, yet you were waterproof, well-insulated and had many a pocket that I happily filled.

It was unfortunate when things started to go wrong early on in our relationship.  I don’t know why, but all of a sudden your strap started to rip and fray. I tried to mend and glue you back together, but it didn’t work.  So I had to take you back.  I waited a month for your replacement, ready to start anew.  However, your cousin of same size, shape and color treated me the same.  Her strap broke and her inside pocket leaked. Disappointed, I perservered. For $150, I figured I could make our relationship last. I stuck by you through wet wallets and soggy diapers.

But two months ago, things got worse and I returned you once more.  The storekeeper at my favorite store gave me crazy eyes for bringing you in again, but she couldn’t dismiss my arguments of shoddy craftsmanship.  By a stroke of luck, and maniacal comparison tests, there was yet another new version of you available for me at the store to take home.  You had been revamped.  Different stitching on the strap! Better buckles and latches! The storekeeper and I hugged and parted ways. I hoped not to have to traipse through her glass doors again.

Now, though, I have to reject you once and for all.  Your third cousin, once-removed, in pewter is now in tatters. Your strap, like your relatives’ is ripping, and your beautiful, once shiny and pristine body is now covered with flaky scars. 

Some things don’t look good “broken in.”

I saw this happen to my friends’ pewter Emily bags, but I never thought that it would afflict me as well.  But it has, and now it is the final straw. I must reject you, Storksak Emily bag, for good.  As much as it pains my fashion-savvy self, I must turn to other brands. Perhaps they can help me find a new bag in time for Mother’s Day because Emily, we’re through.

Sincerely,

Self-Made Mom