Wishful Thinking: The Ones that Got Away

I promise more about my actual purchases (tune in to my tweets for their appearances in my wardrobe, though, if you can't wait), but first...the ones that got away.

Until I track them down online, that is.

First off, a bit of a rant. I tweeted Friday that I was seriously disappointed in the Friendship Heights J. Crew. Women, forget it. Nothing over a size 12. Even an XL is a rareity. Seriously. While I hate to admit to myself that I'm not taking care of myself and really need to do all the right things and get healthy, I used to know J. Crew as a standby to get classic, well made stuff in Real Sizes. Nope. At least not that store. Will do a little investigating and follow up with whether it's an in-store trend or just the skinny-jean-and-riding-boots-wearing Chevy Chase skinny minnies that are causing this phenomenon.

In the meantime, I'll shop at Banana and Gap for my staples, thankyouverymuch.

Rant over.

Now. For my wishlist items...

First up, a J. Crew cropped cream motorcycle jacket with zippers edged in bright orange. That's apparently not available online. Later today, I'll track the sucker down via Ye Olde Fashioned Phone. It was AWE.some. (Note: I'm addicted to orange, apparently.)

But I did find this majorette jacket that might replace it, if the Banana one below doesn't work out.

Then, there was the skirt that may or may not make me look like my mother. Let's face it, I am significantly older now than when Mommy had my BabySister (better known here online as PrettyinPink), but only recently has Mommy stepped it up (with much coaching from us) and out of TeacherStyle (yes, she owned an appliquéd denim jumper. With a schoolhouse.). Either way, this pencil skirt, which you can get in the store in a yellow-green they call lime, is marvelously structured and fits my current nautical additiction.

And while I love the vibrant orange on a mini (apparently I haven't been online and in stores in way too long, because apparently J. Crew doesn't believe in replicating their store inventory online any more), it was just too puffy on this girl to get away with right now. Maybe later.

My other addictions? Nautical anything (I think I tried on every striped sweater or top available). Some of those ended up in my closet. And military anything. None of which came home, but will. I'm determined. Either the one up top, or this one (which was juuuust too small - one size bigger should be perfect).

Not that I need any more jackets. But a Mama does have to have something to wear to the playground and to preschool drop off on these chilly days.

Style Dilemma Solved: WebMama Goes to a Wedding

WebMama wrote in to let us know how things went with her night out:

Hi! I ended up wearing the navy dress with nude hose and pewter heels. The blue tights and pewter heels just didn't look right. I think the blue Betsy Johnson tights were too bright blue and not navy enough. We had a fun night. My friend took a bunch of pictures. I'll see if there is a full body shot I can send you!

 

WebMama, I'm bummed the all-blue look didn't work for you. And you're right, for the monochromatic thing to work, the hues need to be very close. I struggled with the same thing this weekend in a grey sweater dress and grey tights (but my tights had a bit of texture, so I snuck by on that one). We will have to break you of the nude hose, though - in my book, there is No. Reason. To. Wear. Nude. Stockings., no matter how cold. But that's a battle for another style day (Smile)

 

And we would love to see pics of your night on the town!

Style Dilemma Solved: First of the Season

As I wrote in Friday's posts, H had a holiday party Friday night. And I had no dress I was comfortable in. So I bought one.

I was unsure of shoes, and really wanted to accessorize, but was feeling a bit cautious. So I phoned up my sis Prettyinpink, and asked. While we came to no conclusions, we discussed options. The most daring of which was putting the new crystal necklace over the black lace minidress. Would it be too much?

Nope. Just perfect.

While H thought it "disappeared" on top of the lace, I was thrilled. I was absolutely channelling some 60s-era Mama. Jackie O I'm not, nor did I manage a bouffant 'do (unwashed tight chignon was all I could manage in the 30 minutes I had to beautify), but a girl really needs some glitz and glamour.

It was one of those rare times when Coco's mantra didn't apply: I didn't take one piece off before I walked out the door.

Rapid Returns...continued

And this one...Merona chenille (did I really buy chenille?)...but in a deep teal. And again, not nearly as slouchy chic as I wanted, but it'll serve well as weekend wear - and with trousers or a skirt at work on a chilly day (I'm blessed with an office that stays relatively cool, so I can wear sweaters.

Rapid Returns

I really need to post more often. The farther apart my posts, the sillier my "headlines." Sorry.

So Mama scored A Day to Myself yesterday. I took the day meant to honor our veterans, said prayers of thanks for them, and left the kids with H. I had errands to run, but I wanted to do them by myself. And I did. If you followed my tweets yesterday, you know that I was all over the place (and yes, am embarrassed about that "Overshare" badge). But in between stocking up on diaper cream and disposable static cling placemats (yeah, there are such things), I managed to snag a few pieces for myself.

I'm not as comfortable with my body right now as I'd like. I've eaten like crap and haven't made it to yoga class in 3 weeks, maybe 4. But nevertheless, I know darned well that if I have clothes that fit, I feel much better. So I was really hoping I'd score some cheap(er) pieces I could love while Up the Pike (Rockville Pike, that is).

In the end, I'm going to return one dress (did that whole "buy two, take them home, see which is really better" thing), and was going to return one sweater, but it all worked out.

And I have two Christmas dishtowels.

Mossimo "Ultrasoft" merino turtleneck. OK, for it to be this loose and comfy, you'd have to buy at least two sizes up. Seriously. I bought an XL, and it's fitted. And even at my heaviest, that's pushing it. But it's unfortunately a trend w/ Target cuts right now...everything I tried is smaller than it should be - and I'm not the only one - BlueSuitGirl reported the same thing

OK...having issues with Blogger (only one pic at a time? Really?)...so to get these pics up, I'll post a series. It'll look like I'm some majorly prolific blogger. Wheeee!

You Didn't.........? Really?

We all do it. There is no one on earth, not even the most stylish, put-together man or woman to whom we all aspire, that doesn't commit a fashion faux pas once in a while. They may not let it show, but it happens.

And lately, I feel like I'm a walking faux pas. Ill-fitting, untailored duds. Bikini briefs. Which in most ill-fitting clothes, don't matter, but in those 2 pair of pants that actually do fit, yield VPL. Yes. You read that right. Days without makeup of any kind (this damn heat and humidity make wearing anything but the sheerest powder a bear). Bras that don't fit, which let the girls slump. Boring color combinations of black and black. Clothes that should've been retired a long time ago for being just plain old tired. You name it, I've done it.

In solidarity, it turns out that most of you are willing to share. A few weeks back, I asked. You answered:

• Not getting my hair cut for three years
• Sometimes get too matchy-matchy with shoes, belt, bag. Gasp!
• Pantyhose in Atlanta in July. My feet would be all blisters without em.
• hmmm...i suppose my inability to accessorize is considered a fashion faux pas :)

Like my own, all of these could be chalked up to some sort of style-laziness. Yup. I said it. I'm lazy. And so are you. It's what all 25 style reality shows have taught us. We suck, and everyone should be able to put together a reasonably stylish outfit for every. single. occasion.

But reality sets in.

Real reality.

3 of the 4 women who answered are mamas, but I know that even as non-mamas, it's a daily struggle. We'd be remiss and dismissive if we didn't acknowledge everyone's challenges. It's really not that easy to get it together, and we're all envious of the woman (or man) who seems to never have a hair out of place, never forgets to zipper her skirt.

I suppose they're out there, but they probably drink blood.

The Times, They Are A' Changin'

Dylan I'm not, but still, it's true.

Over the last few years, the Infintessimal Readership has watched my life change, well, considerably. From my super-DC nupitals (ceremony next door to the Naval Observatory, reception at local watering hole with history, Chef Geoff's, née Quigley's) to Beans One and Two, I've shared the way I've had to display my style differently. We all have changing bodies, changing lives, changing jobs, and need to adjust our wardrobes to work for where ever we are right now.

As Bean One - aka, the 3-year-old Diva - grew, I managed to share. But then as Bean Two showed up, somehow, it got harder. Sure, it was easier with one, and now there were two, but I thought I'd be able to manage.

What this slacker posting has made me do, though - I'm always thinking of good posts, and as you know, going out to you to get input, so the intent is there - is to reexamine why I'm doing this. And to reexamine whether I'm still that stylish gal - that wannabe It Girl - who can answer your questions and share my fantastic style and foibles.

Generally, the answer is yes. So my body's changed and I have a little less time to pour over mags and the internet in search of Good Style. But a couple of interesting things have happened.

We Style Bloggers are known to wait by mailboxes with baited breath for the Next Issue. Miss Spinach and Belle, for example, are always sharing their inspiration from the latest pages. I, on the other hand, despite having some forced reading time when Bean One is in preschool and Bean Two is asleep in the stroller, stand in front of the CVS magazine stand (an actual subscription to something is way too much commitment for me) and just, well, feel uninspired. When I do manage to pick up a Vogue or Marie Claire, I'm left cold. I'm not sure if it's that I don't feel the creations inside aren't relevant to my life - that's not really the point of fashion, now, is it - or if fashion has taken a dive in creativity. I got the same feeling when I wandered through Pentagon City the other day. Nothing on the racks was even remotely interesting - not Michael Kors' mid-tier safari shirts nor my standby cocktail dress place, BCBG (no one takes the runways down to real life better, I think) made me want to try anything on, let alone plop down my card.

So what does make me want to plop down my card? What does get me excited now? Eeek. Two things: Duds for the Beans (though why I'd ever feel the need to buy anything for them, as they get more gifted clothing than anyone could ever wear), and Household Items.

The first we'll take - very loosely - as an extension of my own style, a way to help my children develop their own comfort levels and personal style (yes, they're 3 and 5.5 months, but hey, it's never too early, right?). The second? Not so much. I suppose we could stretch it to say that I'm styling my home. But that would be a massive stretch. We're not talking throw pillows and paint there. We're talking kitchen gadgets, food, and organization stuff. Right now, I'm more comfortable walking into The Container Store and Williams-Sonoma than even a Very Safe Ann Taylor Loft (though I must say, there's some very cute stuff there at the moment).

Folks, I'm trying. I'm somehow scared to buy anything new - clothing, that is - and not for lack of need. I'm perpetually unhappy with my closet contents - just ask H in the morning before work. I've got $100 to spend at DSW - and beloved shoes that are going to go to Shoe Heaven soon. I've documented some of my recent, boring, "staple" purchases. I'll get out there soon. Really.

Warning: Mama Post Ensuing

Apologies in advance to those of you without kids...but read on if you know anybody with young'uns or expecting - I'd be thrilled to get these as a gift.

In the two and a half years since The Bean arrived, mamastyle has evolved. If you remember my posts back then (and I've alluded to them now), I was jonesin' to wear a dress. As a primary source of nutrition for my Beans, I have to wear things that provide easy, discrete access. And pulling a dress over one's head just won't do the trick. So "back then," I had a few nursing camis in black and white, but the couple of shirts I tried were just atrocious. Always faux-wrap, always boring. So I resorted to button downs and nursing camis layered under Ts or other light shirts.

This time around, even the nursing camis have gotten better. While I haven't managed to master the sling nurse, the company that makes my sling now also makes "hands free" nursing camis. Only in black and white, sure, but the detail on the bodice is very flattering, and the length is comforting and slimming to a mama trying to loose the Bean weight. I can't say I'd wear one on its own, but the shelf bra is substantial - and comfortable - enough for at least upper-medium endowed mamas. So maybe when it's hot outside I'd throw on the black with some easy bottoms for a jaunt to the playground.

And in the more stylish department, thank you to Daily Candy Kids (did you know there was one?) for the tip on milkstars. Sigh. Fabulous. Wear them with your favorite (and I use the term VERY loosly - they're god-awful) nursing bra, they have bright colors any fashionista would be proud to don. I've already tried two - the Michelle and the Jenny. After wearing each for a day, I wanted to order more. Softest, softest knit, they feel luxurious (hey, I'll take what I can get in this time when I can barely manage to wash my hair), and their ingenious construction - full panel layer on the inside - offers access discrete enough for an "open air" playground nurse for even the boob-skittish.

So like I said, even if you don't have or aren't expecting any little ones, and you're struggling to find a new mama gift (the baby gets plenty - mama needs a little attention, please) for a friend, go buy. Now.