tiny ruffles and pintucks at isabel marant etoile

photos by worthwhile

i'm feeling a little iffy on the quality of these pieces. if it were by steven alan, i wouldn't hesitate to order this top because i love the tiny ruffled collar and pintucks.

my thomas sires coat is waiting to be picked up (customs fees need to be paid). of course it's going to be in the 70s this week, but then it will go back down to the 50s, so hopefully i'll get to wear it for a few days.

lauren moffatt sweater in mustard

do i like it as much as the white version?

and yes, i'm still fantasizing about those current/elliott polka-dotted jeans (size down in them, or so i hear!).

a detacher spring 2012--all eyes on the back

a detacher can be hit or miss for me (not a huge fan of last winter's collection), but i love the sculptural backs on this latest collection. it's going to be in the high 50s and low 60s this week and the bulb plants are making their appearance. i can't believe it's only mid-march. looks like i'm going to have a proper spring baby!

ariana bohling sandals

bella sandals at lambs ear

cec sandals at anaise

they may be beautiful, but are they comfortable?

tane organics...one of each please

i don't really need to buy many new clothes for baby no. 2, but that doesn't stop me from wanting every single piece of tane organics' spring line (at sweet william). for anyone expecting, i highly recommend the hadagi. i have a couple from makie (they now have a slightly warmer high-pile terry cloth version), and i love how roomy and comfortable they are (especially for a cloth-diapered bum). you can also layer them with leggings for chilly spring days.

Thomas Sires sample sale online at Of A Kind

It's going on right now! I just ordered the coat in black (small). It was only $180--I couldn't resist.

Rats, I don't know how to blog on a phone, so no link to Of A Kind...

thomas sires online shop

wait, when did thomas sires launch its online shop? the coat that i dearly wanted to buy last december is now on sale for half off. unfortunately they don't have the olive twill version, although i'm still tempted by the plaid and the black versions. this coat is so versatile. the faux fur collar and the sherpa lining are removable, so it would actually work from fall to early spring (especially the twill). i found it to be true to size. the medium fit with room to grow, but i would probably get a small post-pregnancy.

i'm also loving the bright blue ikat skirt paired with an oatmeal colored sweater.

wintry mix on leap year day

anniel liberty print ballet flats at conifer

just the other day i was lamenting the appearance of buds, worrying that a march freeze would ruin spring, and then today sideways wet gloppy sticky snow that finally turned into rain. i'm looking forward to maple syrup season and all that canada has to offer...!

where did february go?!

week 20

week 29

week 34

leon's 3rd birthday at preschool

it's funny how spring break has truly become catching up week. i owe a lot of people emails, but as the weeks go by, it's getting harder to concentrate on anything that isn't related to work or preparing for the baby. 5 weeks to go, and i hope it's at least 5 weeks because there are so many things left to do. i'm operating on a skeleton wardrobe these days. j brand maternity jeans, park vogel sweater, jcrew extra-long hoodie, uggs, mocs, and aigle rainboots (the only shoes that still fit). i'm just happy that i survived the worst of winter without having to buy a new parka or boots. thankfully i have one dress i can wear while teaching because my due date is the last day of class!

just for reference, this was me at week 37 with leon. i can't believe how long my hair was...

not-quite-spring

lauren moffatt crochet sweater

current/elliott stiletto jeans in tiny polka dots

FWK engineered garments for women, bedford jacket, at bow+arrow

yesterday it was in the mid 40s, but it's supposed to snow this weekend. i'm going to pretend it's almost spring and dress accordingly.

time to start thinking about layers in lighter fabrics and knits. this lauren moffatt crochet pullover in cotton would look so cheerful with the current/elliott polka-dotted jeans. i'm seriously obsessed with these jeans. i spent my morning walk to the office scheming ways to get them across the border for the least amount of money. i'm also starting to think i need a spring jacket that is polished enough to wear to class without sacrificing my love of casual comfort. i'd probably be better off getting the SA annette blazer in navy (on sale at conifer), but i know myself too well at this point.

happy friday

new dress by rennes

of course i missed out on jenny's valentine dress yesterday. i happened to be in a meeting for the two hours when it was uploaded. there were only three, so the odds were against me, but still--drats!


at least there's more eye-candy on its way from julia. i am loving the dropped waist and all those crazy subtle stripes.

here's to a spring-like weekend, wherever you may be in the northern hemisphere!

speaking of steven alan....

i've been following the expansion of SA's collection with a lot of interest, but have yet to really invest in any non-shirting items because all i seem to buy these days are button-down shirts. as intrigued as i am by the references to alex katz's paintings for their spring 2012 collection, i am having a hard time finding pieces that really resonate with me. i do, however, like the clean modern lines of many of the pieces. the collection reminds me of the early 90s, and A.P.C. in particular. i am very curious about the quality of their shoes, especially the new mary jane sandals, which are the sandal version of a pair of much coveted A.P.C. mary janes from many years ago.

regardless, i will definitely be purchasing at least 2-3 new SA button-downs in the coming months. you can't really go wrong with their shirts. add a pair of slouchy Current/Elliott jeans in a fun color and a new pair of sandals for my ever-growing feet, plus my old stand-bys, Surface To Air boyfriend jeans, and i'll be ready for spring.

on trust and expectations

is A.P.C.'s quality consistent?

amanda recently raised an important question about declining quality in many of the brands that we love and save our pennies for. maybe they were trustworthy in the past, but perhaps quality control has fallen by the wayside in recent seasons. many of us shop online and rely on fit and quality reviews, but even trying on and purchasing a much coveted piece in a brick and mortar store can lead to regret later on.

it has been a while since i've bought anything besides hand-made clothing, so i can't attest to the current quality of my go-to brands. i try not to post items that are all looks and no substance, but it's hard to know which brands to trust without trying them on and living with them for a while. for example:

• my no. 6 clog boots recently fell apart. the staples came undone. it's easily fixed, but i'm a little annoyed.
• i never buy knits from jcrew. i also will not buy anything from jcrew unless it's at least 50% off, because that's what i think it's worth. most of their pants don't fit me. i find that madewell's quality is worse than jcrew's.
• in the past 5 years i haven't had a single issue with Steven Alan shirts.
• i have a corduroy A.P.C. dress that keeps coming apart at the seams, but the rest of my A.P.C. pieces are fine.
• hand-made clothing is typically better made, but you may end up more disappointed if the fit isn't perfect on you.
• my mom gave me her new LV bag, and after a few months of infrequent use, the surface coating on the handles has rubbed off in patches.
• a longchamp bag developed holes in the bottom corners in less than 6 months.
• i've never had an issue with my frye paige riding boots in the past 3 years.

in general, i buy fewer things these days. i don't really know what the investment pieces and brands are anymore. maybe that's why i've been focusing on sturdy basics that aren't necessarily the prettiest or most interesting things out there. i used to be more cavalier about shopping, but these days i really hate the idea of wasting my money on clothing that disappoints after a few wears, or even after a year or two.

which brands do you trust? or do you believe that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to quality, regardless of the price point? how long should an article of clothing last, anyway?

in love with linen--pip squeak chapeau button down shirts and wiksten dresses

my closet is looking quite barren these days. i guess i was a little too strict when i started wardrobe purging a couple of years ago. my shopping list post-baby grows ever longer...oversized linen button down shirts from pip-squeak chapeau, mark mcnairy boots (i swear my feet are going to go up another half-size), current/elliott roller jeans in pastel shades and a denim shirt, and if i'm lucky, this wiksten valentine dress. i'm normally not a tie-dye person, but i do love how it turned out on linen. i guess there will only be 3 available, and the upload will probably happen during my lunch meeting this thursday, so i'll just have to admire from afar.

more printed denim

remember these patrick ervell printed jeans (now on sale, still super pricey)? why not add these polka-dotted current/elliott jeans to my post-baby wish list...

Current/Elliott pin dot stiletto in lake at Metier

shoes on sale at lambs ear

forget Hunter, Aigle Parcours are the most comfortable rainboots around for anyone who has to walk a lot in the rain, slush, and mud.

rachel comey nisou sandals for summer. these have been around for a while, but they've been marked down to $170 and would look equally nice with dressy and casual outfits.

stripes and blues

my birthday came and went without much fuss, which i guess is what happens as you get older. i'm still hoping to do a bit of celebrating after a big deadline in early february, but for now we're contending with daycare eye infections and stubborn colds as well the usual teaching load and trying to write an article. oof.

spring wish list (all from conifer shop):

current elliott perfect shirt also in this cozy imaginary outfit

organic by john patrick chambray pullover

organic by john patrick merino striped pullover

current elliott roller jeans colorful jeans in a slouchy shape!

more thoughts on uniforms

from more & co's blog, photo by mav (?)

i saw this photo on more & co's inspiring blog and wondered how many of us wear a similar type of uniform. oversized button-down shirt, skinny jeans, and a messy bun. even though i'm at my office every day, i don't have to dress up unless i'm teaching. i've been struggling to find button-down shirts that cover the belly but aren't too huge in the sleeves, but after seeing this photo, maybe loose all over isn't necessarily a bad thing. i guess it helps to roll up the sleeves.

for those of you who wear oversized button-downs, do you buy men's shirts? or are there specific brands or styles for women that offer the right combination of slouch and flattering details?  i suspect i'm over thinking something that is really quite simple, but finding the perfect fit isn't always easy with basic pieces.

birthday wish list

UZI disko kimono top. because i'm only going to get bigger in the next 3 months.

Kaico Enamel Milk Pan at Anaise.  for hot chocolate

etoile isabel marant qimi shirtdress. for later when i don't have time to fuss with my outfits.

apc forest green crochet sweater

today is a black and forest green kind of day. rain and fog with snow in the forecast for tomorrow. i wish i had this sweater in my closet.

marked down to $105 at arrow & arrow in a medium and large.

denim on denim

i love arrow & arrow's blog. the styling is always makes me want to move back west. and i think i need a pair of boots like these mark mcnairy's.