Who knew that my back to school shopping guide for moms would hit such a nerve? People really came out of the woodwork to tell me they liked that post! So, after feeling such confidence from my picks online, I had to go test the waters in real life. Read: I did a little shopping.
With baby burrito in tow (my g-d he was an ANGEL!), two of my friends and I dragged strolled our little bundles of joy around the fabulous stores on Armitage Ave. this past Saturday to check out what is in for Fall. At least those stores that are still open. And, score! Score we did. Herewith: my key pieces for Fall 2010.
This 525 America leather trim riding jacket. I got it in black from Art Effect. Don’t laugh if you see me wearing it every day.
This desert boot by DV by Dolce Vita. I was debating the Clarks version, but they didn’t sell that at Lori’s.
And the Pièce de résistance — the Gap jeggings. In indigo wash. They’re already sold out online, but I got mine at the 1969 store on Rush. Better than J brand!
I’m still coveting:
These Sam Edelman shoes. I know they’re like the desert boots, but the wedge is for nighttime… right?
The Effie. They’re effing awesome. (Photo courtesy of Shoes.com – 15% off right now too!)
And…
This bag. OMG This. Bag.
A Marc by Marc Jacobs bag would make a nice accent piece, right? (photo courtesy of Shopbop.com)
What is your key Fall item! Do share! I know I will covet it, too.
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.)
For all the inconsistencies in content and posts on this blog, there’s one thing I am good about writing about – Mother’s Day. Besides my birthday (also known as the high holy day around here), Mother’s Day is one of those days I revel in being just a tad selfish. (Ok, that goes for other days too, but who’s counting?)
Remember last year when I took off with a friend for a lux ladies lunch and day of shopping? That will likely go down as one of the most fab Mother’s Days. I wish I could say history was repeating itself, but that would be oh too good to be true.
Now today won’t be known in the annals of history as bad as the Mother’s Day I spent at my brother’s graduation ceremony, but the fact that my husband has to take off for a business trip in a few hours is putting a small dent in my celebratory mood.
It’s like, “Happy Mother’s Day until 1 pm!” day around here and the countdown until I’m alone with both kids has unfortunately started in earnest.
But don’t feel sorry for me. The guilt from my better half resulted in me scoring some new lululemon tops that aren’t 3 sizes too big from my lululemon-obsessed pregnancy days.
My new heather-grey Remix Lulu hoodie. Glad those preggo photos are over.
So I’ll take my four hours of peace plus some cute sweatshirts. Mother’s Day may not have turned out exactly how I expected it today, but it’s still pretty darn good. And comfortable.
My least favorite part of post-pregnancy aftermath is definitely the loss of hair. You know, the clumps that gather in the shower drain, the strands that fall out like crazy when blow-drying and brushing. And, the worst culprits: those little bang thingys that grow in to replace the strands that have fallen out like crazy when blow-drying and brushing.
I knew things were getting bad for my hair, but I didn’t realize how bad until I visited my beloved hairdresser, Manolis (he’s so cool he goes by one name), and he was like, “OMG your hair looks really weird.” I took weird for looking like [insert expletive here], but was grateful he used the word “weird” instead.
I mean, I had to agree. My pregnancy ‘do of soft layers around the face with longer layers in back just looked stringy now that everything but the gray hairs had fallen out.
Yes, post-partum is that glamorous.
However, because he is a hairdresser g-d and I’m a willing subject, we came up with a plan of attack. Chop it off. I’ve done this before, as some of you know. I’m not scared of a good haircut. So, we cut off what I thought was at least 6 inches, but what everyone else and their mother assured me was way less than that. The result?
Me, circa stringy hair day.
Me, in my post-partum glory.
I say, when in doubt, remove all evidence of your formerly luxurious pregnancy locks. What say you?
Cross-posted at Second City Baby
In a change of events to my personal plans (read: need sleep, stop nursing), I can no longer use the awesome nursing supplies provided to me to review by the ever so generous folks over at Bravado.
But, as the saying goes, my loss is your gain.
If you’re nursing and can tell me your MOST embarassing nursing in public story (I didn’t say it would take nothing), you will win a FREE NURSING BRA from Bravado! Winner gets to pick their own size and color and will get the tank within 2-4 weeks (go to - www.bravadodesigns.com to pick).
I’ll say this contest ends next Friday, mmm k? Good luck!
Back about 8 weeks ago, I was singing my own praises about my abundant milk supply and breastfeeding prowess. Now, I’m just a regular-old nursing pro. But while I have mastered the hooter-hider, (I highly recommend the Bebe Au Lait ones, and I’m not being paid to say that.) I have not mastered the attractive or comfortable other nursing gear.
Tempted not to spend a lot of money on a product, like a nursing bra, that I might have only used for a week or two, I bought a few cheapie ones at Target. Ten weeks later, they are still highly unattractive and not very comfortable.
Which is why I jumped at an offer by my friend Beth to test out (and giveaway) a new nursing wardrobe by Bravado. (I am being compensated to say this.) Bravado, apparently a well-recognized brand in the lactation nation but unknown to a rookie like me has come out with an affordable line of nursing gear at Target called Basics by Bravado. Yay! Just one more thing I need to add to my cart.
The stuff looks totally comfortable, and I like how on their website Bravado itemizes each item’s use and purpose.
See? She didn’t cheap out on nursing gear like I did.
I’ll tell you how it lives up to its promise when I get my gear to test out.
But, in the meantime, you can enter to win $500 worth of must-have baby items by entering the Basics by Bravado “Spot a Mom” by following these easy steps:
- Find the nearest Target store in their area offering Basics by Bravado nursing wear.
- Visit the store and snap some pics of themselves finding the Basics by Bravado store display.
- Email their photo, along with their name and contact details to basics@bravadodesigns.com.
Let me know if you decide to do it! If you do, I’ll put you in a pool to win Bravado nursing gear plus a DVD. I NEVER do contests like these, but now I’m like a member of La Leche or something. Well, not quite, but who doesn’t like free stuff? Good luck!
Disclosure: I am being compensated for writing a review of Basics by Bravado and conducting the contest. Not for breastfeeding, although if I was I’d be a bizillionaire right now.
This desert boot by DV by Dolce Vita. I was debating the Clarks version, but they didn’t sell that at Lori’s.
