paris

renee has been posting photos of her honeymoon in paris. i know exactly where i want to be right now....tsumori chisato, isabel marant, and pain au chocolat.

sorry for the lack of posts. it's been tough these past few weeks getting the place ready to sell, and now we spend our days cleaning and waiting. as a treat, i've been buying flowers every few days to brighten up the place.

dreaming of rachel comey shoes, which are very soft but still too narrow.
sidewinder mocs
cushings twist bootie

spring time outfits (something old, something new)

it's hard finding the energy to shop now that our place is on the market. cleaning is a monumental task with a very active and curious toddler. while packing away clothing, i've rediscovered a few things that i had stopped wearing, including a twelfth street by cynthia vincent cotton-silk tunic in the most wonderful shade of purple.

two new purchases:
oxford blue shorts from jcrew ($30 with student discount)
j brand twill mid-rise skinny jeans ($158)

i've given up on my denim hunt for the time being. mainly i bought the j brands because i loved how soft the brushed twill was. i sized down to a 26 because people had told me that they do stretch out a bit. i had to shimmy to get them on the first time, but they're fine now. i don't think they're my favorite pair of pants. they crinkle around the thighs and calves rather than staying smooth, but the stretch and mid-rise is very comfortable.

as for my boy, i cannot believe how long his legs are. i call him a bruiser and a scamp. he is always up to no good.

embroidery on denim

isabel marant leal denim embroidered dress
at metier

so many pretty things i'd like to buy, but it's hard to justify shopping when i'm busy packing away or donating my clothes.

hope you have a lovely weekend filled with sunshine rather than rain. i will be busy finishing a paper for a mini-symposium and playing with leon in the sand lot.

manimal mocs

apparently all i can think about are spring shoes in the midst of selling my place. as much as i'm in love with these vegan ankle boots, the baby mocs are even more irresistible. if only they were made in sizes 12 months and up. oh manimals...

top photo by lena ~>O<~

plain oxfords

lately i've been drawn to minimalist oxfords like these. does anyone have the dieppa restrepo? i'd love to know if the leather is stiff at the ankles (my main problem), or if they run narrow.

1. dieppa restrepo cali, $248 at totokaelo
2. zeha berlin slim ghost, $495 CAD at lark
3. common projects lace up boot, $472 ($401 until 4/1) at creatures of comfort

steven alan sullivan dress on sale

photo from frances may


i was at the tannery (the new one, not the downstairs one) in harvard square, and they have the sullivan dress on sale for 50% off (originally $236). i saw a P, S, and M. i recommend sizing up on this. i tried it on at stel's, and it's tight in the chest and short. i was fine with the length in the S, but the buttons were pulling at the chest (and i'm just an A cup).

i also tried on the topsiders, and the shop guy told me they have to fit snug. my heel was slipping out of the 8.5s, and they were out of the 8s, but he said that should be my size. i'm normally an 8.5 or 9, so i'm feeling nervous about buying something that ends up being too snug. it seems like it runs true to size, but do you feel like it's best to wear them tight like slippers (sockless)? i didn't mind the color they had, either, although i still like the lighter color at jcrew best.

boat shoes

in the craze of packing, i have somehow misplaced nearly all of my slip-on spring shoes and sandals. i was going to buy a pair of sperry top siders at the tannery, but this lighter hue (only available at jcrew) beckons. any thoughts on sizing (esp. width)?

apc madras for spring 2010

considering my track record with apc madras (i've never kept a piece for longer than a season), i should probably not look at the new collection. but it's 70 degrees today (!!!), and the bright prints make me happy. plus, i really do need a new floppy sunhat.

moving out

we have less than two weeks to get the condo ready for listing. i will be adding a few more things on LoGE in preparation for a move in june (if all goes well). we're going to rent a smaller place, so there won't be room for all of my clothing and shoes--don't get me started on our books. downsizing will be tough, but i think we'll benefit in the long run. leon, of course, loves playing with the boxes.

leon's birthday

last weekend we had leon's birthday party in spite of the gloomy rain. party favors included cards by simplesong and postal press. there were crayons for the littles. i made a sour cream banana cake, which i forgot to photograph. it was so yummy and moist, even without the rum.

two pieces by etoile isabel marant s/s 10

zita striped sweater in black and white. made of the softest cotton in a loose knit, cropped length and keyhole neckline. i've learned one can never have too many striped tops. from stuart and wright.
also available in various colorways at:
satine
creatures of comfort
metier

urias silk top in a star print. i bought this a month ago at alan bilzerian. i considered returning it, but they have a 5 day store credit only policy that i didn't know about until it was too late. every time i put this top on, i can't bring myself to wear it. i have visions of ketchup or worse ruining it. living with a toddler is a major hazard to my wardrobe. will probably end up selling it on LoGE since i envision the next 5-8 years of my life either pregnant, nursing, or chasing after toddlers.

rachel comey sidewinder mocs

i can't decide if i want these or not. knowing my history with rachel comey shoes, they probably wouldn't be the most comfortable pair for me. but i just can't stop myself from looking!

at frances may, $295

what i wore in the 90s.

chelsea's posts about 90's fashion, including lace-up boots, made me nostalgic for my old dr. martens. while home, i went through my old clothes. the docs were nowhere to be found, but i did try on a few things from elementary and high school.

st. joseph's school uniform skirt, c.1993-94 (a K-8 school). i usually wore this with knee-high white socks and a white polo shirt. navy hoody in the winter. we hemmed the skirts as short as possible, of course.

i shopped at the gap, banana republic, nordstrom, and goodwill for most of the 90s. this skirt is from banana republic. it was too small even back then. i'm shocked i was able to button it. c.1994

an utterly nondescript olive shift dress from benneton. even classic clothing is often 'dated' by slight changes, but this dress has held up pretty well. c. 1996

my favorite dress. the silk is just as soft and luxurious now as it was 13 years ago. it reminded me of mid 90's prada and was a catalyst for my obsession with 50s dresses. from banana republic, c. 1997

one of my mom's many dresses from the 70s, which i wore throughout high school. many were custom-made in korea and have such fantastic prints.

back

we're back and pleasantly surprised by how spring-like it is here in cambridge. still jet-lagged and exhausted. the number of posts on my reader makes me want to stick my head in the sand.

coveting rachel comey shoes and jackets

looking forward to the day when i no longer need to carry diapers, sippy cups, etc., and instead use a small bag like this tannis hegan creation.

by the way, the tannery in harvard square has black repetto zizis on sale for $120. the largest size is 39, alas for me.

wishing i could be at the sale this weekend.

leon is one

 

my imp is one today.

we're going to celebrate with a cupcake today, and then a last-minute trip on thursday to see the grandparents in california and have a proper dol.

gap chambray drop-waist dress

 

gap dress 

peter beaton striped shirt 

jcrew striped cardigan

humanoid pullover

no. 6 boots in fudge

saltwater sandals (i really want another pair in yellow, or maybe navy).

the dress is surprisingly nice, especially since i bought it on sale for $35. i went with the medium because the small was tight around the hips when i had both hands in the pockets. but really, i would say the dress fits true to size. 

it isn't much on its own, especially with the sleeves unrolled. it's definitely a good dress for layering, and my favorite look is with the humanoid pullover sweater. i was worried the no. 6 boots would look clunky without tights or jeans, but i think with a lighter color pair of socks, it'll be ok. and i cannot wait to wear sandals. after a soggy snowstorm on tuesday, the temperature has been in the low 40s. so nice!

lark has a similar dress by malene birger. i was thinking about a belt, too, and oxfords if i ever end up finding a pair.

apiece apart kimono dress

 

i've been pretty intrigued by apiece apart since i saw their fall collection on unruly things. the spring 2010 lookbook left me ambivalent. apparently this had more to do with the styling and the tall model because i love this olive kimono wrap dress on frances may's model ($390, includes belt). the back pleats are gorgeous, and it seems like green in all its shades is going to be everywhere this spring. 

i'll try to take photos of the gap chambray dress tomorrow.

holding down the fort

leon and matthew both have a nasty stomach bug, so i've been left to keep the house tidy and everyone well hydrated. will post two new things tomorrow, a gap chambray shirt dress that i'm on the fence about, and an isabel marant etoile silk sleeveless top that is pure spring.

in the meantime, here's a post i did for pretty mommy's series, everyday obsessions.