Style: Quantity vs. Quality

I remember once reading an article in a fashion magazine where the author stated that she now felt she was too mature and successful to shop at The Gap. As a student at the time, shopping at The Gap seemed like a splurge and I couldn't imagine feeling like that sportswear was too common to wear and though my modest budget's grown, I still can't relate to that magazine comment. Today, I count The Gap (alongside shops like Club Monaco, J Crew and French Connection) as my most commonly frequented and favourite shops (thank goodness for online shopping!). I'm also a fan of consignment shops, like Model Citizens (where I recently bought a beautiful Reiss silk blouse, which was very exciting for a Kate Middleton fan like me). 

But, the reality is that really special items (particularly uniquely patterned full a line skirts - my work staple) are hard to find at mainstream retailers. So I'm left browsing Bluefly and Nordstrom for the skirts of my favourite designers - Marc by Marc Jacobs, kate spade new york, Tory Burch, Nanette Lepore and Diane Von Furstenberg - and feeling the pinch (or torture as Greg says) of  deciding whether one really special skirt or dress per season is preferable to a few more affordable pieces. Already owning a sizeable work wardrobe, I'm leaning towards making only one really special purchase.  Early on, building a wardrobe was important (I recall one massive Jacob shopping spree when I finished my graduate degree), but now that I have plenty of suits, sports jackets, dresses and skirts (I'm anti-pants at the office, owning only one pair of wool pants for the depths of winter),  this approach might make more sense. Who are your favourite ready to wear designers? How do you approach building and maintaining a work wardrobe? Above is one of the skirts I'm adoring these days from marc by marc jacobs.

Updating My Basics

I haven't bought myself anything new to wear in quite a while (well, there was that kelly green mini... and navy and hot pink silk top...) and it has occurred to me that my basics will need updating before going back to work this fall. So to focus my sparse shopping efforts between now and then, I've made a list of what I need.

Hooded Trenchcoat

Tall Rain Boots
Leather Gloves

Stripes: For a Casual Saturday Night Date

Perhaps you're meeting your crush for a glass of white wine tonight? If so, you might want to wear something like this. xo

Dress - Net-a-Porter / Boots - Madewell / Cardigan - Uniqlo / Hoops - Dana Rebecca / Bag - Net-a-Porter. Layout via Polyvore.

Stripes: For A Warm Winter Day

For fun, I thought I'd share a dream outfit of mine for an unseasonably warm winter day (hopefully we'll have more such days soon!), complete with a dash of horizontal stripes! xo

Scarf - Debenhams / Jeans - Far Fetch / Turtleneck - Aritzia / Watch - Jules B / Jacket - The Outnet / Boots - Aldo / Satchel, Neiman Marcus. Layout constructed at Polyvore.

Leggings

Thomas lives in striped pants and wool leggings. Seriously. I love to see his little legs wrapped in something warm and cozy. Our little man has plenty of onesies, but seems to be presently outgrowing so many of his (my) favourite pants. To supplement his wardrobe, I love these Polaren O. Pryet leggings. So fun!

Clothing

I'm literally living in dark Citizens of Humanity jeans these days, so if I were a talented artist showcasing a 'what I wore' series on this blog it would be pretty bland. However, Danielle Kroll's paintings of her outfits are so inspiring. They make me want to inject a little more pretty into my wardrobe.

Ties

I love when my husband wears a tie. A wool tie? Even better! Amazing ties via Gentleman Arthur.

Clothing

I'm as big of a fan of Baby Gap as one can be, but when you're looking for something a little more unique, I recommend checking out Thumbeline. I love the gender neutral pieces above.

P.S. The most amazing tights ever!

Emersonmade

With a baby arriving shortly, I've been thinking about ways to streamline my style regimen. Emersonmade has the perfect pieces to help keep it simple - a three-quarter sleeved little black dress that's fitting for every occasion, a button-front shirt for nursing, red trousers to keep a punch of style in a new mom's wardrobe, and a navy blazer with brass buttons that goes with everything.

Dresses

My cousin is getting married on October 22, and I'm already thinking about wearing a non-maternity dress to the festivities. ASOS has so many beautiful options!

Matching

I love wearing matching outfits (coats in particular) with Greg. It makes me feel all couple-y. So... naturally I love these photos from Honestly WTF.

Maternity Clothes

For all the other expectant mothers out there, I thought it appropriate to share the benefits of the hours of web-trawling I have done to find fashionable and affordable maternity clothes.

I admit it - before this babe came along shopping was a breeze. Stores generally carried my straight off the rack size, limited alterations were required (aside from my routine $8 jean hemming at our neighbourhood tailor) and finding clothing that fit my style and budget was fairly easy. Welcome pregnancy and all of a sudden shopping, not to mention simply getting dressed in the morning, has become a challenge. However, I have found a few tried and true sources for maternity clothes that I like, can afford and fit well.

My sources:

• ASOS - This British site is fantastic. If you shop nowhere else during your pregnancy, I recommend that you shop here. Shipping is quick and free, and prices are available in Canadian dollars. You can also watch each style on the runway, which is very helpful when anticipating how the fabric will flow and fit. I've bought three dresses from here thus far, and am debating which ones from their line will be my next purchases. French Connection even sells a maternity line through ASOS. Right now, I'm loving the Breton Stripe Jersey Dress, Swallow Print Tunic and Layered Sleeve Shift Dress.
• American Apparel - I literally live in black leggings and long sweaters when I'm not at the office. American Apparel has a great variety of slim fit maternity clothes, and the most adorable onesies for baby.
• Joe Fresh - Though Joe technically doesn't have a maternity line, I personally find their cuts and sizing to be very maternity friendly (particularly in the second trimester). Joe's plethora of long striped t-shirts has been a great score. And further, what could be better than scoring a new top for $10 while simultaneously picking up your weekly groceries?

Image of Kitted Waist Seam Dress, one of my ASOS picks and the dress I'm sporting this Easter Sunday, via ASOS.

Snowsuit

On a morning that greeted us with spring snow (ugh!), fittingly the sweetest little grey snowsuit arrived. My heart melts just looking at it. It is amazing to think that next winter a little body will be swaddled in that poofy down. Naturally, buying this book is next on my to-do list.

Closet

My closet is one of my favourite features in our new home. I finally have space for my striped purses and cowboy boots and sequined dresses and green Mary Janes and bakelite necklaces. It's perfect. Jeana Sohn's Closet Visits are pretty pleasing as well.

Icon VIII

Audrey Hepburn in stripes and a bun via Hannah Rahel.

Rainbow

Why NOT get one in every colour? I think one of these photos, blown up, would be beautiful in a dressing room. Via Style Bubble.

Knots

Belt knots are one of my style loves. I've never owned a belt long enough to pull it off, but those knots always look so effortlessly chic. Image via Copenhagen Street Style.

Need

This is the perfect dress for the warm, wet evenings we're expecting this weekend. It screams out to be enjoyed on the sort of casual sushi date night Greg and I enjoyed ce soir. Via Need Supply Co.

Tie

This morning, over cereal and juice, Greg and I caught a few moments of Wind at my Back. While watching gentlemen on the screen picnic in three piece suits, I declared to Greg that in today's world men and women ought to be more formal in their daily dressing as behaviour dramatically improves as attire improves. He reluctantly shrugged (perhaps wondering what my statement might imply about my expectations for his attire for our picnic this weekend). These napkins might prove to be just the perfect solution for your jeans and t-shirt guy.

Wedding Dress

Though I ultimately loved the dress I selected for our wedding, making that choice was certainly an education in what looks good and what certainly doesn't.

Lesson #1: V necks are not flattering despite always assuming I'd wear one.

Lesson #2: Taffeta is heavy and overwhelms.

Lesson #3: Champagne gold dresses can be surprisingly flattering on a pale woman with pink undertones.

Lesson #4: Far too many designers are adding the "hurricane" to the skirts of ball gowns.

Prior to making the ultimate purchase though, I did seriously consider...

this v-neck dress (ultimately I came to the same conclusion about the neckline as mentioned above)...

and this restrained mermaid (which was thisclose to being THE dress).