dressing for warmth

leon insists on being in all of my photos. he also insists on holding my hand.

as you can see, i've been wearing pretty much my regular clothing aside from my new jbrand mama j jeans and a primoeza cardigan. i'm one of those people who can't stand belly panels, so the jbrands work perfectly for me. i ordered them online, but i highly recommend trying them on because i think i probably could have gone down one size. i usually wear long underwear if it's colder than 30F, but the waistband isn't very comfortable for long periods of time.

one of the things i struggle with is footwear because my feet went up half a size after the first pregnancy--and never went back. i can still wear most of my shoes with thin socks because i always buy shoes that are too big for me. however, my No. 6 buckle ankle boots are the only things that comfortably fit with heavier wool socks, but as i get wobblier, they'll probably have to be replaced. thankfully there hasn't been much snow or ice, so far! if i weren't pregnant--or if i could be guaranteed an ice-free winter--i would order these No. 6 shearling lined lace-up boots in an instant.

maternity friendly coat

even at $718 i don't think i can justify this pringle of scotland swing coat at la garconne (20% off sale items until saturday, "GARCONNE20").

after a lot of thought, i think that a roomy knee-length swing coat that can accommodate a lightweight down coat (i have a fiona from patagonia) would be my best bet. i own two swing coats--one was butchered by a tailor in harvard square, the other is a short-sleeve opening ceremony flare coat better suited to temps above 40F. if i had the energy and time, i could probably find something just as serviceable at the many used clothing shops in toronto.

i think the narrow shoulders and tailored yet roomy fit are what draw me to this particular coat. for now, i'm wearing a barbour bedale sans lining with my alpaca primoeza cardigan, j brand mama j denim, and a virginia johnson shawl draped over my belly because the jacket doesn't button all the way. when it gets below 0F, i have to wear an old ginormous parka that makes me feel heavy and sad.

a new semester

a few things on sale at frances may....

steven alan annette jacket

mociun leggings in my favorite print
beautiful brown shade of acne pistol boots

and i wish there were a womens' version of this pendleton ranch coat

looking forward to the totokaelo end of season sale that starts on saturday. i just submitted grades for the fall semester and have 10 days before class starts up again. i finally joined a gym because outdoor winter jogging just isn't happening this year. am i crazy for wanting the sisii fishtail parka? it's much much colder than i imagined it would be in toronto. i don't mind snow and slush, but -15F windchill on tuesday had me ready to book a flight home to california. i have a very warm maternity friendly parka, but it is so heavy and difficult to move in.

speaking of which, once i find my camera cord, i'm going to do a couple of posts on the challenges of maternity dressing when it's colder than 20F during the final trimester. it's not for the faint of heart!

a dress for new year's day brunch

stine goya bloom dress

day after christmas shopping

my dear upstairs neighbors decided to have a party at 2.30 am. after trying to go back to sleep for a few hours, i gave up and started ordering things from stella mccartney kids. it seems the only thing i can buy these days is kids clothing. i still can't make up my mind about a maternity-friendly winter coat or new boots, so i'm wearing a ratty patagonia fleece under a down coat that no longer fits around the middle and a pair of 13-year old uggs that look their age.

holt renfrews was a zoo on boxing day, and i couldn't deal with the crowds. i ended up buying a few pairs of oeuf alpaca leggings for baby and leon at kolkid on queen street west. i was desperate to go to gaspard, which looks beautiful, but it interfered with leon's lunch and nap. maybe this afternoon if i finish my syllabus and make a head start on a cover letter. it was so nice having 4 days off to loaf around, read 'persuasion' and 'a moveable feast,' and bake sugar cookies.

p.s. i'm in love with these punto pigro boots that stephanie posted at unruly things.why is it so hard to find slush-appropriate boots that are relatively nice-looking, light-weight with a flexible sole? the ice from last night's snowfall is making me anxious.

barneys sale

 

i just spent 30 minutes waiting in line at anthropologie in order to buy holiday cards (as always, i'm way behind), all the while wishing there were a barney's in toronto. 

bodkin kelvin sweater, $179 (marked down from $460) in x-small, small, and medium

boy by band of outsiders grey flannel blazer, $409 (marked down from $1030) in a 2. i would definitely get this if there were a 6 left.

isabel marant grunge jacket, $329 (marked down from $825) in a 2. oversized fit, but more structured.

i guess boxing day sales are a big deal, so i'll probably be at robber on monday. lots of last minute christmas shopping, and maybe a trip out to crate and barrel. matthew requested shortbread cookies, so i'm going to try my hand at these.

mayle on gilt today at noon

i wasn't expecting to see this in my inbox, but there you go!

maryam nassir zadeh

bodkin caos sweater, $282 medium (i would take this in a small)

isabel marant vertilla dress, 30% off

isabel marant jabeth dress, 30% off

lots of lovely things on sale at maryam nassir zadeh...

i'm dreaming of a thomas sires coat to ward off the imminent cold. if i'm lucky, i'll catch it on sale in january.

rennes yard sale and back from nyc

photo from w magazine

after nearly 11 rainy hours on the road, i'm happy to be back home. oddly enough, i didn't do much shopping for myself while in nyc aside from muji socks, although i did fall in love with a new (to me) store, thomas sires, on elizabeth street. lots of eating and talking with good friends, which made it all worthwhile.




also, have you ever checked out julia (rennes)'s yard sale? she just added a bunch of very nice things including the isabel marant striped zita sweater. i LOVE mine, although i have to be honest, it's a bit delicate for my rough and tumble ways. at any rate, it looks great alone or paired with a button-down in the winter.

Creatures of Comfort private sale

25% off with "PRIVATESALEFW11" starting today. i *think* it works for pretty much everything, but i haven't tried the code for fear of temptation!

we're heading to nyc in less 6 days, so i'm saving my pennies just in case i can't resist ABC Home and Carpet.

IM pretties on sale at Heist

Kobby jacket, $495

Ina coat, $350

Vertil top, $170

Isatan jacket, $325

Heist's contact info:
310.450.6531

customerservice@shopheist.com

astier de villatte

one of my greatest weaknesses is the scented candle, especially one with an unusual scent. i've been obsessed with the narratives generated by C.B. I Hate Perfume, and these scents by Astier de Villatte (at Worthwhile) seem to be in a similar spirit.

anna allen holiday 2011

i've been feeling a little down in the dumps because it keeps raining here in toronto, our thirteen year old car won't start, and our nyc/cambridge plans are becoming increasingly uncertain.


but look, anna allen's latest holiday collection will actually work with my waistline! i caved in on Black Friday and ordered a pair of J Brand maternity jeans because very little in my closet has been working with this pregnancy. most days i wear my APC tunic dresses belted over tights, but as it gets colder and colder, i'm running out of ideas.

just lookin...

etoile isabel marant 'xavier' coat  $369 size 2 and 3 left

i already have the etoile baki, but i prefer the neater pockets on the xavier. i can wear either a 1 or 2 in the baki, but went with the 1 because it wasn't as bulky (the 2 had more room at the hips when buttoned).

happy thanksgiving!

APC ski pullover at Creatures of Comfort.

oddly enough, there will be plenty of black friday sales here in canada. alas for me, i have to work today (including student meetings and a working lunch). we may end up going out for dumplings in chinatown, but it just won't be the same.

here's hoping everyone has a lovely, stress-free thanksgiving!

yes no maybe

i like my dresses to be statement pieces, but when it comes to jeans, i tend to go with the more practical (boring) choice. so there isn't any colored denim in my closet, let alone prints. but these patrick ervell jeans at creatures of comfort are somehow compelling in spite of my self-imposed restrictions. i think the price alone will make them a pass, but i'm going to enjoy looking at them all the same.

steven alan dresses

aside from the fact that very little i covet will fit me, i have been dreaming up shopping lists for nyc. the agnes dress reminds me of my catholic school jumper. it would be so sweet paired with a thin cashmere sweater, wool tights, and oxfords. i'm still in love with the vivian dress in the floral print. next to rachel comey, steven alan makes my favorite prints.

anyone else out there pregnant this fall and winter and feeling frustrated by the fitted waistlines this season? i need to invest in a pair of j brand maternity jeans and a down parka, but am at a loss when it comes to everything else. dressing for a long winter can be daunting, especially as every additional layer adds to your discomfort.

scenes from fall in toronto

Leon's robot costume, fashioned from an old shoe box

i saw greasychickenface's pet portraits on megan's blog and knew it was time to have something done for hector and turtle. we're so pleased with the results.

 

 

after stephanie added these olsson clogs to her svpply, i ended up ordering them. it only took 2 1/2 weeks for them to arrive from sweden. i'm still patiently awaiting the arrival of my primoeza cardigan. 

 

i'

leon became very ill right after i took these halloween photos and has spent the past week recovering. yet another reason to live close to family so you don't have to take time off from work because your baby can't go to pre-school. and now i'm sick, which marks my third illness since september. i'm off to baltimore in a week (conference), and then hopefully a nyc trip in early december. we've decided to drive because the plane tickets are so expensive after you add taxes and fees to fly in and out of toronto. i can't wait to be back in the city.

color therapy

Untitled, originally uploaded by julia / rennes.

 it isn't so much the gray but the rain that's getting me down. i actually love overcast skies and the occasional drizzle (my year in seattle was by far my favorite).  the light gray cover really makes other colors pop.

so i was happy to see these peachy-pink leather pouches on julia's blog. i have one of her striped totes, and her attention to detail never fails to inspire me. paired with the taupe, steel blue, black, and gold, this particular pink looks especially autumnal to my color-starved eyes right now.

lovelies at anaise

aside from the fact that renee's blog is a source of inspiration, her shop anaise is a perfectly curated collection of nearly everything i could desire without feeling overwhelmed.

i don't wear heels, but the a detacher huxley buckle clogs are fun to look at anyway. i ordered these more practical clogs after seeing them on stephanie's svpply. they have yet to arrive, but hopefully they'll fit.

it's finally cold enough in toronto for knit tights. i've been wearing the same pair of kunerts for the past 10 years (the most comfortable waistband i have ever found), but a pair of alpaca tights sounds heavenly. 

i'm slightly regretting my mociun wrap linen dress. it's a bit too tight in the shoulders and isn't really working as a maternity dress. i should probably just keep it because the print is awesome, and it's from the last collection. i'm still kicking myself for not having bought more of her men's tees because matthew lives in them. i probably would have been better off with a mociun blouse, but i can't have everything.

moving day

finally, a place we can actually make into a home. it is such a relief to be out of an apartment where everything is falling apart and filthy. it's nice to no longer have 13 people living above and below you in a rickety house where every floorboard creaks and band practice lasts until 5 am. i can't believe how big this place is, we've never had so much space before.

now if only i could find a good hairdresser, tailor, cobbler, and facialist. any recommendations?