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.

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.