Forgiveness in Blue

Desperation calls. The eternal search for The Perfect Jean.

It's almost as bad as the search for a New Bathing Suit.

If you follow my tweets, you'll know that I'm a devotee of Stitch's and Gap jeans. I have an amazing pair of NYC-bought fancypants jeans, but, well, I bought those on my honeymoon. And in the back of my closet I have my beloved first pair of Designer Jeans, bought well-pre-wedding at Nieman Marcus. They're now worn and perfect, but even now I can't quite make it into them without them threatening to finally wear through in one of those spots.

My Stitch's I bought post-Bean #1 at a DSS. They're incredibly forgiving (despite what you'd think from the website of scrawny mavens in skin tight jeans), if even a bit too stretchy. It's the problem with jeans with a little bit of stretch - they do. I'd have included some in the set below, but their site doesn't "clip" well. So pooh on them.

My other two standby pair are both Gap - one a trouser jean with a nautical flair and the other a 1969 Long & Lean that, well, is. Or rather, makes me appear so. I tend to the trouser jeans right now, as they're a little higher cut, and therefore make me fuss less with ye olde muffin top, but I still adore my L&L pair.

So my recommendations for the vast majority of us, who carry a little bit of extra, um, padding? Pretty straightforward: high(er) waisted (go totally high-waisted for an amazing finished, modern Kate Hepburn look), head straight for those "curvy" labels, and yes, a teensy bit of stretch. Boot cut isn't as reliable as you'd think (some of them can get pretty skinny on you), but trouser jeans are usually a sure bet. A little bit of tailored denim goes a long way in making a girl feel slim.

So yes, the set below is long on the Gap pair, but there are a couple of high-end outliers, with the purveyors of my favorite cords, Ann Taylor LOFT, thrown in for good measure. Those light trouser jeans might cause some trouble in the hips with those pockets, but I just love the look, and think they're worth a try.

Forgiveness in Blue by DCCeline

The Big Climb: What Made It Into My Closet (or in a shopping bag on the chest in my bedroom because I haven't managed to put them away yet)

As promised, here's what I did buy in my 3 hours, 4 stores whirlwind tour of Chevy Chase (read: Friendship Heights. Let's get real, people. The places I shopped are not the Shops.)

Loehmann's: I bit the bullet and annoyed the Fitting Room Lady with too many items. I actually had no interest in trying on anything. At all. But I did. And despite the MICHAEL Michael Kors dresses not fitting, and the German-designed (designer totally escaping me at the moment) blouses being wonderfully

structured - but not for my current body, I didn't lose hope. I only ended up with a dark mocha pencil skirt, but I did walk away with inspiration for The Climb.

J. Crew: As I tweeted day of, I was very disappointed that this shop (and I do still need to research whether it's a company-wide policy) doesn't carry anything above a 12. Seriously. That's why I went there. Because I know I can get well-tailored, good quality, classic clothes in sizes that fit. In my bag going out the door? A great black & cream sailor T with shoulder buttons (to satisfy my apparent obsession with All Things Nautical and 4 (cream, grey, black, white) cami/tanks I can wear underneath things like Big Comfy Sweatshirts.

Banana: Ah. Home. Here, my frustration was that the 12s and 14s were not. At all. I'm certainly willing to concede differences in cut, but really? You know when you start to try something on, get it only so far, then find yourself saying, out loud, "Uh, no"? Yeah, that's what happened with the trousers I tried on. I did, however, walk out with a cute navy ruffle-front T, a pale blue sort of ballet crewneck sweater, and a Wrap Dress That Fits (oddly with no online picture). I have an eternal struggle with any belted dress, the supposedly flattering on everyone but not really wrap dress included. So when I found this graceful cream and navy version in a weighty, elegant jersey, I was thrilled. I haven't worn it yet, but that's just because I can't bring my self to put tights on with it, and, well, sometimes a girl lets things go longer than she should in the winter.

Gap: My two rouched Ts, black knit dress, and poppy dressy T with flowy scarf neck (bought without trying on at the counter) were the only things of interest in the store. Seriously. I find that The Gap ('cause that's it's real name, and I refuse to change it) goes through long periods of Nothing. This is apparently one of them. The store was filled with Bad 80s and Grey. I'm in love with Grey. Love. But this was too much. Entirely too much.

Cafe at Mazza: mango smoothie and spinach and feta croissant to inhale on the way home to take The Beans to the playground

Still to go?

Buy new shoes. I have a Girls' Weekend coming up next weekend here in Jersey. We're planning a trip to the outlets in AC. If I don't find anything there, I'm banking on ginger and simply soles at DSS. All but one of my Go To pairs I scored there at those boutiques.

Get healthy. Getting there. H and I are vegan for Lent. He's Orthodox, and it's the way they do it. So I'm supporting. I'm not strident about it (evidenced by the Break Day today, in which chili and ice cream were both ingested), but I can tell. Even after just a few days, I feel less well having had my Break Day. So back on the bandwagon tomorrow.

Buy a few pieces I love NOW. Started. And still working.

Keep going. Yup. Am still going.

On the verge: Buying on the Summer Cheap

Well, I've yet to hit the "checkout" button on my gap.banana.oldnavy.piperlime.com shopping cart, but at the rate I'm going, I'm going to have to so I have something to wear on the steamy summer days.

I have nothing right now, and even getting to Target at the moment is a huge challenge, so I'm going to have to resort to online. Normally a fan of web shopping, I was really hoping for a little me-time to browse racks.

Not to be. Other than a massive computer problem that gave me some found time to wander the Clarendon shopping district (really not a bad place to shop), there's no way in heck I'm gonna get to a store.

But I really want a fun summer dress and a pair of sandals - at minimum. And I'm willing to buy a few extras & return if I have to. In my cart now...

Reminder: Give in Style

Don't forget! Gap.com (and Banana and Old Navy) is giving you a chance to save big - and give big this weekend.

What: Gap Give & Get - 30% off (using the online coupon), and 5% of your purchase goes to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

When: Starting today! through Sunday.

Why: Duh.

See you there! I'm pondering this adorable Old Navy keyhole dress (from an already affordable $24.50 to $17.15, and .$85 goes to LLS)

or maybe this polo dress for The Bean.

Or maybe this lovely red knit

Or maybe this fun orange wrap dress that looked so gorgeous on my cousin

Or...

Give in Style: Give & Get from GAP

A bunch of you said you wanted ways to look good during these (blah blah blah) economic times. Staples-stockers like GAP are always a great option...and in March you can jump that down even lower - while doing a good deed. Try these deals on for size...

Trouser jeans - perfect for dressing up a casual outfit, with snazzy double-button and hip pocket details. On sale online (though promotion is in-store) for $49.99. With 30% off, a very reasonable $34.99, and about $1.50 (not much, but every little bit counts) of that goes to charity.

Pintuck cuffed shirt - a twist on the white standard, and an easy way to brighten your wardrobe. $44 down to $30.80, again donating about $1.50 to charity.

What: GAP Give & Get.

When: March 12-15 - In Store Only

Why: 30% off your purchases, and use the coupon as many times as you like, then 5% of your purchase goes to

the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Why even better: Good at any Gap Inc. store - including Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic

Shop away!

PS - If anyone's feeling particularly generous, I have a dear friend who's trying to help another dear friend through leukemia - they're looking for a donor. If you can help with a donation - or better yet, are willing to get tested (a private test kit costs $175), please email me directly at dcceline.blogspot@gmail.com.

Style Dilemma Solved: No Pants!

Now, now, British members of the Infintessimal Readership, it's not what you think. I am wearing underwear.

But three weeks ago, when I packed for our trip to the country, I realized The Bean was all set. She had what she needed to stylishly galavant through the Pennsylvania country fields and along the promenade in Sea Isle City, NJ. Pants, onsies, dresses, bloomers, bonnets, and sweaters.

But mommy didn't. I had no pants. Correction. I had one solitary pair that wasn't M clothes, and that pair, while a favorite, was stained and has seen better days. Now, lounging around at my mother's place required absolutely no real clothing (yoga pants and t-shirts were the extent of my wardrobe for the majority of the week). So just before I left to go down the shore, my mom and I took The Bean on a desperate jaunt to The Mall (choices are not that broad in not-even-suburban Philly; and we were in need of speedy shopping).

The Gap was closest to the mall entrance. So while Grandmom changed The Bean (and into a morbidly uncoordinated outfit - note to mommy: pack only solid color onsies as backups in the diaper bag), I ran in and tried on about 10 pairs of pants as fast as humanly possible. I also snagged a couple of Ts and button downs - the latter of which were sweetly detailed with great patterns and ruffles. I thought they'd look great with the rough and tumble cargos I'd snagged.

The result?

Ruffles don't look good on nursing boobs.

But I did come out with 1 pair of higher-waisted (think Kate H.) trouser jeans, 1 pair of hip mommy cargos (pockets are key for things like binkys), and 1 pair of caramel slacks - in case I feel like dressing up someday. I also snagged two marvelously soft Ts with great detailing on the neck.

Now...if only I could follow my own fashion advice....it's terribly important to pair opposite silouhettes: slouchy with tailored, plain with frilly, etc. Which means I shouldn't wear the mildly slouchy Ts with the cargos if I don't want to look like the super slouchy mom.

But if you see a happy lady pushing a stroller down the street, looking all baggy (yet somehow stylish), that's me.