Preggo Purchases: Work Clothes

I have a lot of non-maternity clothes that still fit, but the choices in my closet are getting more and more limited. After some horrible experiences trying to find plus size maternity options in the stores at JC Penney, Sears, and Motherhood Maternity (all of which I had heard had great plus size options and all claimed to have them available in stores), I came home with one pair of cheap feeling, and, in retrospect, too-short black slacks from Motherhood Maternity. They were the only piece of maternity clothing in all the stores that even fit me. It was utterly depressing. 

So I decided to shop online. I do a lot of online shopping for plus size clothes in general, so it's not a big deal. But since I don't really know how to shop for my pregnant shape, I had wanted to go with some in-store options so I could try things on. Maternity clothing is sold according to your pre-pregnancy size. But I don't actually know what size I would be since I've lost so much weight. I can only guess. I had been a very solid and consistent size 20 before I got pregnant, but I might be all the way down to a 16 now? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I ordered some options from the maternity sections at JC Penney and Old Navy. I'm hoping I guessed my sizes correctly. We'll see. Even with shopping online, I found almost no work appropriate bottoms. I ended up with one pair of grey slacks. They came in a couple of colors, but this was the only one in my size. And there are no work skirts to be found anywhere. As someone who prefers skirts to slacks, that was really annoying.

What I Purchased For Work:

    

• Duo™ Maternity Tie Waist Top, pink multi  (JC Penney - $20)
• Duo™ Maternity Split Neck Top, multi  (JC Penney - $20)
• Maternity Cowl-Neck Tops, multi-floral (Old Navy - $18 on sale) 
• Duo™ Maternity Top, Ruffle Sleeve Chiffon, shocking blue  (JC Penney - $6 on sale)  
• Duo™ Maternity Shirt Smocked Front, white  (JC Penney - $20)
• Maternity Ruched V-Neck Sleeveless Tops, serpenteal (Old Navy - $27) 
• Duo™ Maternity Wide Leg Career Pant, heather grey  (JC Penney - $30)

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Cross-posted on T Plus a Baby

Preggo Purchases: Flats

I've completely given up on heels. I had been slowly wearing them fewer and fewer days in the office each week. And I've decided I will not be wearing them at all anymore. I own quite a few flats, but most of them are starting to look worn and aren't the best for my office anymore. So I knew I wanted to get some new flats, but I also knew I didn't really want to run all around town trying to find flats that are comfortable and cute. So I looked at what I already had in my closet and noticed these bright red, patent flats.

I love these flats. They are completely comfortable and since they're so simple, they go with everything.

So I headed over to Target.com to see what other colors they had. And then I bought 5 pairs. Yep. I bought  5 pairs of the exact same shoe: taupe patent, gold snakeskin, purple patent, black patent, and black snakeskin. And I am so happy with the decision! I think my feet are set for the rest of my pregnancy - at least for work!

     

Do you every buy multiples of the same item?

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This post has been cross-posted to T Plus a Baby.

Unwrapping the Online Shopping Spree - Simply Be

It's been so long since I did one of these - all my shopping has been at Goodwill lately. I hope you enjoy this video of my recent shopping with Simply Be. The items are linked on the original shopping post.



PS - I'm still trying to decide if I want to take that blue dress to a tailor b/c I love it so much and I know it will be perfect for work.

Online Shopping Spree - Simply Be

I've been looking for a new winter coat and I found this amazing one at Simply Be. And, ahem, I may have picked out a bunch other stuff that I loved too. I can't wait until it all arrives!

   

  

• Joe Browns Ultimate Coat
• Simply Voluptuous Dress
  
• Boyfriend Cardigan
• Stud Pull-on Jeggings
• Bespoke Tote Handbag
• Legroom Double Buckle Hi Leg Boots
  

Eloquii by Limited

My friend Sarah S.* is one of those people that reads the newspaper every day, so she's always up on all the latest news. She moved away after law school, so we would write letters to each other every couple of days, and I always loved it when my letters from her would come with a little some extra in the form of a clipped article. We once again live in the same city, so no more letters get exchanged, but recently I got an email with a link to an online article. And that is how I first leaned that the Limited was releasing a plus size line called Eloquii.

Now that the line has finally been released, I'm excited to check it out and pick out some of my favorite items. I am really happy to see how work-friendly everything is. Here are my favorite looks: 

  

  

   

Have you checked out the new line from Eloquii yet?

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* Sarah should always be referred to in writing as The Stunningly Beautiful Miss Sarah S. And even though this is a blog post and not a letter to her, I can't seem to break the habit. :)

Just Browsing: Halloween Costumes

Halloween is my favorite holiday. Costumes and candy, what's not to love?!?! I really like to make my own costumes. I usually go through my own closet to see what could be used to create a costume, or I go to Goodwill and dig up old prom dresses that can be transformed. One of my favorite costumes that I created years ago is my Dorothy costume. I made it from a vintage apron that a friend gave me, a white dress from Goodwill, and a pair of bridesmaid shoes that I covered in glitter. I've worn it so many times.

But not everyone likes to or has time to make their own costume. I've certainly been in that situation more than once over the years. So I've gone in search of a store-bought costume. Unfortunately, it has been hard to find plus-size costumes. But now there are more options for plus size costumes - some are demur and some are sexy, depending on your inclination. I've picked out some of my favorites, including a Dorothy costume, of course!

   

• Dorothy Costume (Target)
• Bumblebee Costume (Torrid)
• Gypsy Costume (Torrid)

    

• Pin-up Costume (Lane Bryant)
• Poodle Skirt (Target)
• Pirate Costume (Target)

Online Shopping Spree: SWAK

All that browsing for leopard items over the weekend and I found what I think one that will be the prefect piece to add to my wardrobe. I found it at Sealed With a Kiss Designs. I didn't mention this one in my post b/c it's not strictly a leopard print. It's more of a if-a-leopard-and-a-zebra-had-a-baby print. I really like it. It embraces the leopard trend, looks thin enough to also wear tucked in, and despite it's sheerness, looks like it would remain work-appropriate.

Animal Print Tunic (currently on sale for $40)

I'm envisioning it at work with a simple black pencil skirt and heels. And I'm also thinking that if it's long enough I might be able to wear it with leggings and flat black boots for a casual weekend look. But I'm not positive if it will be long enough on my for that.

How would you wear this tunic top?

Just Browsing: Traditional Leopard

Traditionally, leopard print is either has a camel colored base or is grey based. Both are very versatile.  I have a pale grey and pink leopard print blouse that I wear pretty frequently, but I've been on the lookout for a bolder piece to add to my wardrobe. I wanted to share with you some of the pieces that piqued my interest while browsing a bunch of different stores - some are plus size options and some of them are straight sized. I haven't bought anything yet, but I've trying to decide between a couple of my favorites.

    

• Animal Print Shrug  (City Chic)
• Lurex Animal Print Top (City Chic)
• Leopard print ruched-shoulder sweater (Talbots)

• Animal Print Pullover Blouse (Lane Bryant)
• Animal Print Pussybow Blouse (ASOS)

     

• Sexy Animal Skirt (City Chic)
• Animal Print Pencil Skirt (Jessica London)
• Leopard Velveteen Pencil Skirt (Talbots)

  

• So Cute Dress (City Chic)
• Animal Print Dress (Jessica London)
• Fitted Leopard Dress (Forever 21)

      

• Mesh Animal Print Flower (Lane Bryant)
• Audrina Crinkle Leopard Scarf (Affordable Scarves)
• Blair Leopard Print Handbag (Handbag Heaven)

• Leopard Print Babydoll (Lane Bryant)

Do you have any leopard items in your wardrobe?