church and state dix dress

my church and state dix dress arrived this morning, and i'm in love! i ordered it from frances may, which is fast becoming one of my favorite shops. i used a style bite coupon for 15% off and ordered it in a size 6. in terms of fit, it really doesn't accommodate larger bust sizes. i'm a 34B right now, and there's a tiny bit of wiggle room, so probably a full B would be ok, but nothing larger.

i can't find any more 6s online, but here are the measurements for reference:
chest--17"
empire waist--16 1/2"
length--40" (just below the knee)

apparently the 4 is 32" in the chest, but i think if i weren't nursing, i could fit into it. my only complaint about the dress is that it doesn't have pockets, but that's only because i love having pockets in all my dresses! i think it will be so perfect with a long-sleeve tee in the fall, too. it's definitely one of those workhorse dresses that can be dressed up. the intricately pieced bodice and brass buttons, plus the loose and swingy waist, definitely makes this one of my favorite dresses.

Frances May, $320 plus 15% discount "xostylebite" (sizes 2, 4)
Le Train Bleu, $352 plus 30% discount "mayday" until May 5 (sizes 2,4)

Sotto Boutique might be getting a few Dix dresses in navy and stripes, so it might be worth contacting jocelyn.

EDIT:
well crap, now i feel stupid. there's a new coupon for 25% off at frances may (FMCANDY).

creatures of comfort sale--rachel comey and maria cornejo

rachel comey bullseye ruffle halter, was $311, now $155

rachel comey striped cut out shoulder sweater, was $299, now $150

zero maria cornejo blue op ruched dress, was $390, now $156

alas, i wasn't in LA for the creatures of comfort blowout sale last weekend (up to 90% off). but luckily for me, they've put a few more things on sale including these lovelies. i am saving my pennies for the church and state dix dress, however....

bensimon for walking in the city

slip-ons at creatures of comfort, $80


la tennis lacet at aqui, $52 (free shipping)

now that boots-season is nearly over, i am dreading my footwear options for the warmer months. sandals are great, but what i really need are lightweight walking shoes for our NYC trips. i used to wear converses, but i haven't found them to be as comfortable as i remember them being in elementary and high school.

does anyone own these? i know they've been circulating on various blogs, but i was wondering whether they ran true to size and were comfortable for all-day walking excursions.

petit bateau marinieres top

yesterday i received two striped petit bateau tops, one for me and one for leon for when he's a little older. don't be surprised to see us walking around like twins in a year. sara, who lives in france, was kind enough to pick them up for us.

today's outfit--waiting for the rain to stop so we can go out and play:
petit bateau marinieres striped top and my favorite agnes b. linen skirt. if i had to get rid of all but one skirt, this is the one that would stay in my closet.

hello spring.

leon, eight weeks old.

i think we've all been holding our breaths for too long, waiting. maybe it's safe to say it's spring now?

rainbow plaids

steven alan tina shirt, $148
a.p.c. madras skirt, $90
a.p.c. madras dress, $120


a.p.c. madras low wedge sandals, $180
(i'm not sure if i love these, but i kind of do. any thoughts?)

oh, and speaking of striped tops (when am i not obsessed with them?), this is the a.p.c. madras sailor top for guys. i'm sure an XS would fit most of us, and it's only $60!

sunja link raglan sleeve dress (for sale)

EDIT:
taken!

so my sunja link dress arrived the other day, and it's really lovely, but unfortunately for me, a bit too snug in the shoulders. with a small baby to look after, i need maximum flexibility when it comes to my arms, so this dress isn't going to make sense for me. i ordered it directly from sunja link, and she doesn't accept returns. sigh. when will i ever learn to try things on before ordering them from places that don't accept returns??

if anyone is interested, please email me.

details:
size--M (fits a 6 or small 8)
fabric--55% linen, 45% rayon, black and white weave (looks greyish). i think this fabric will become very soft with repeated wearings.
shoulders--15.5" (approximately, raglan sleeves)
chest--19.5" (best for smaller chest, probably no bigger than a 34B)
empire waist--17.5"
length--27" from empire waist

fit:
this dress will work better with someone with narrower shoulders. i am 5'5" and it falls slightly below the knees on me. the v-neck is quite deep, also, so i would recommend wearing a camisole underneath. it is such an easy dress to wear, you just pull it over your shoulders. so perfect for spring and summer. i would pair it with leggings and an open-front cardigan. it also works well with a long-sleeved shirt underneath.

price:
i paid $230, new without tags, asking $150, including shipping.
there's also an XS for sale (same price, $150, free shipping) on ebay.

easter outfit

a bitingly cold easter sunday, but it was my first opportunity to wear my nomia tunic dress out. the forsythia are finally blooming, and i'm starting to plan my spring/summer wardrobe. stripes and maybe a few brightly patterned sundresses....

more dresses, and a shoe question

it looks like a lot of us are in love with these dresses (frolic and unruly things).

frances may has the prettiest dresses. not only is their shop in portland a treat to visit, but their blog and webshop are equally charming. i wish i were back West so I could go to all of my favorite shops this spring. i love these new church and state dresses (also available at le train bleu).






leanne suggested esska as a possible shoe option for us flat-footed, prone to blisters girls who avoid heels and other pretty shoes. has anyone tried them on?

leon's announcements

the ever talented stephanie made these announcements for leon. she hand strung those tiny garlands, printed facsimiles of his footprints with a gocco, made envelope liners, and hand pasted every single line of text. i am in awe.

mociun tie-front dresses

ignore the socks, it's cold inside my apartment...

speaking of dresses, here's my not-so-new mociun tie-front ikat dress from beklina. it's a little too big on top, so i'm going to have to get it altered when i have the chance. as you can see, it's quite short on me (5'4"), so i'll have to wear leggings with it. matthew doesn't really care for the print ("too 80s"), but i think it's lovely. on a postive note, this is a perfect dress for breastfeeding, so i'm sure i'll be wearing it often this summer.

perfection

sunja link raglan sleeve dress
rachel comey bergen heel


sunja link dress
rachel comey heel
fox in mociun bag
lina rennell top

sunja link dress
rachel comey heel
fox in mociun bag
lina rennell top
nanushka sweater coat


this is pretty much how i would like to dress every day of the week. yet again, totokaelo shows me the way. the sunja link dress is very tempting, as are those rachel comey bergen heels (but you know my track record with her shoes...).

le bouton linen dress on etsy

this is the last time lisa will list her linen dress on etsy. there are 10 available, made to measure, in the color of your choice. it's $180 right now, but the price will go up when she adds it to the le bouton catalog. now's the time to order if you've been on the lookout for one.

i just ordered a bunch of things for leon, so now of course i'm feeling guilty and can't decide whether to order this dress or something from makie or matta instead.

laws of general economy--spring cleaning

i'm slowly going through my closet, looking for ways to streamline it (and justify new purchases). there are a few new things posted including three of my steven alan tops, a pair of radcliffe jeans, and an adorable marni bag.

matta spring 09

matta rabari cotton top, $164 at nonchalant mom.

here's a wrap top that i can actually see myself wearing.



and this dress would be great for summer museum outings. both are well under $200, which somehow seems like a bargain to my shopping-starved eyes. today i bought a one-piece for leon from baby gap. i love dressing him up, but honestly, i need/want clothing, too!

toast options

nowadays i'm only on the lookout for pieces that will work with leon's feeding needs. this chambray dress might work. the blouse probably wouldn't be as practical, but the pattern is lovely.

also looking for suggestions on wrap dresses and tops that aren't too diane von furstenberg...

makie for grown ups

i love makie for babies, but their simple collection for women is tempting me, too. so effortless and understated. it would be nice to have a few pieces to wear to offset the bright colors that i also crave. plus, the prices aren't too bad.

the shop at 109 Thompson Street, nyc, is definitely worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

toward a new functionality

(seen on frolic)

the print and colors are gorgeous on this new rachel comey trader dress at frances may (one of my new favorite shops), and the silhouette reminds me of how much i love vintage dresses, but what really has me hooked is the bodice.

lately i've been depressed because i realized just how difficult it will be to nurse leon in my dresses. it was challenging enough making my existing wardrobe work with pregnancy, but now i'm faced with the logistical problems of breastfeeding. i wear a bella band to keep my stomach warm/covered, but button down shirts and t-shirts are my new best friends. something like this dress would be both functional and adorable. plus, it's 100% cotton, which means it'll be easy to care for, unlike my vince cashmere cardigan which is now covered in spit-up. sigh...

shades of purple

unintentionally continuing my meditation on shades of purple.
marc by marc jacobs button down top (bought ages ago on clearance at saks)
martin clothing straight leg jeans
psling avant in sumile (i know it's riding my shoulder, but i can't figure out how to better wear it right now).

9 days since i left the house....but it's time to put on normal clothing again.

laws of general economy update...

sorry i haven't been up-to-date with the clothing blog, all things leon have been keeping me occupied.

anyway, there are a lot of shoes and other accessories posted right now, including this cute pair of jcrew suede ballet flats ($35), which i'd love to have if only they were the right size.

in the next few weeks i'll post a few more things including a pair of vanessa bruno white jeans that were too small to begin with and will never fit, and my paige maternity denim that i never grew into.

spring is afoot, which means shopping and cleaning out the closet. even though my financial situation hasn't changed lately (i.e., i didn't lose my job since i was never employed to begin with), i must admit that reading the nytimes has made me very nervous about spending money on nonessentials. hopefully Laws of General Economy can continue to be a space for us to 'shop' without feeling too guilty. plus, i really need to get rid of more clothing...