- Dolman-Sleeved Wrap Cardigan: Forever 21
- Heather-Gray Tee: Liz Lange for Target
- Denim Bermudas: LOFT Maternity
- Blue Necklace: street vendor in Cozumel
- Brown Peep-Toes: Naturalizer via amazon.com
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- Denim Bermudas: Loft Maternity
- Black and White Polka-Dot Tunic: Japanese Weekend via eBay
- Yellow Peep-Toes: Bandolino via ShoeWoo!
- Purple Necklace: Gift from D.’s sweet aunt
We officially hit the “full term” mark earlier this week, meaning baby could come at any time . . . or hold out for another five(!) weeks, giving this stage of pregnancy a distinctive “of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most” sort of feel. As our summer break from school winds down before classes start on Monday, I find myself making many, many “contingency” lists: here are the notes for the talk I’m supposed to give on Saturday if I’m the one giving it, here’s the version if I have to walk someone else through how to give it for me, here’s the version if someone else has to do so and is unable to get in touch with me, etc. But despite the dizzying array of possibilities, it’s been a really nice, quiet few days of long walks, reading (mostly school-related), and relaxing before our world gets shaken up.
So what do you wear while you’re waiting, when the heat is getting to you and the number of things in your closet that still fit is rapidly approaching zero? Apparently, the silliest things you can find: a necklace made of purple corn kernels, mustard-yellow shoes, and a patterned, polka-dotted tunic (complete with infamous empire waist!). Consider it my nod to the adorable little boy in CVS who saw me, pointed at his mother and exclaimed, “look!” Yep, kiddo: pregnant ladies are pretty hilarious looking, aren’t they?
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- White Cashmere Tunic: Stefanel, mommed
- White Tank: Gap Maternity
- “Jorts”: Liz Lange for Target
- Die-Cut Brown Flats: Lifestride via Zappos
- Beaded Fabric Belt: LOFT
- Blue Beaded Necklace: Forever 21
As with so many things about dressing my now-very-pregnant body, if you’d have told me several months ago that I was going to walk out of the house wearing a tunic sweater that I’ve never, EVER been able to figure out how to wear, mid-thigh length denim shorts, a metallic beaded belt and dressy flats…and kind of love it, I’d have laughed at you. Hard. And I’m still laughing (just at myself, as Emily’s and my list of things we swore we’d never wear that we seem to be wearing grows ever longer), but at the same time, I’m appreciating one of the unexpected joys of pregnancy dressing: the sheer, rampant fun of experimenting with proportions on an unfamiliar body.
And necessity can really be the mother of invention: some of the things I’ve discovered a love for while pregnant are things I can easily see maintaining in my post-pregnancy wardrobe (tightly analogous color combinations, for example, and maybe even the occasional maxi dress). Others . . . not so much (I’m looking at you, empire-waisted everything). But even so, I’m amazed by the way some things just seem to work on this strange, somewhat alien form of mine at the moment: when I’ve tried to belt this tunic in other moments, it’s looked absolutely ridiculous (neither long enough nor short enough, neither slouchy enough nor fitted enough), but I loved the way it looked here, stretched over the bump and belted with a skinny fabric belt. To balance out the awkward interaction of belt and high neckline, I’m using the blue necklace to add some visual interest, which works relatively well, and adds a pop of color to the overall picture.
And hey . . . I count multiple elements of this outfit that are made out of woven fabrics, some of which even have (or lend) some shape. That’s progress, right?
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- Peach-Orange Top: Japanese Weekend via eBay
- “Jorts”: Liz Lange for Target
- Striped Flats: Annie via Zappos
- Teal Earrings: Forever 21
I have a confession to make: as I navigate these unstructured days of my quasi-vacation and the strange limbo of late pregnancy, it is all too easy to spend far too much of the day in my gym clothes or in some other slightly-dressier soft, fuzzy equivalent. I was struck by this fact the other day, when I went for an early-morning walk with my sweet friend and neighbor, who gave birth to her third child eight weeks ago. True, she was wearing yoga pants and a tee-shirt, but she managed to strap two toddlers into a stroller and a newborn into a baby carrier and have her hair and makeup done…in the time it had taken me to trundle down the stairs in shorts, a tee-shirt and a hat. In truth, I felt a little embarrassed (and super impressed, A4.!), but I also felt like I was doing a lousy job at something that’s been an important goal of mine: taking care of myself in a way that makes me feel “like me,” despite my changing body and the vagaries of late pregnancy.
So, I’m trying to give myself a little more structure these days, both in terms of my routine and my sartorial choices. It’s not exactly the newest trick in the book, but I’m hoping that trying to get myself to wear one thing that isn’t made of matte jersey will help both my self-image and my productivity during these final days before school starts. Today, I’m giving it a go while trying something else new: these shorts, which are a length I couldn’t really have imagined myself wearing under normal circumstances. I’m not sure I’m 100% sold on them. All the same, I’m appreciating the chance to continue experimenting with new proportions on this unfamiliar body, and challenging myself to appreciate aspects of my body that, like my legs, I’ve struggled to find ways to love.
Also a new experiment? These striped flats, finally found at the conclusion of a very, very long search for a pair of festive, printed flats. While I can (and do!) still wear heels, pregnant or not, I love the way an unexpected flat can add new dimensions to an outfit, and can be both chic and comfortable at the same time. I’m hoping these earthy jewel tones will turn out to be perfect for fall, as well, and will have me nimbly chasing after our little girl once she arrives!
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- Long Magenta Cardigan: Talbots
- Black Wintershorts: UO
- Black Tank: Banana Republic
- Grey Tights: HUE
- Brown Oxfords: Seychelles, via Piperlime
Hey, Day #2! That wasn’t so bad, was it? Seriously, though, while it’s only Day #2 of this remix, I’m already rediscovering one of the things I loved best about my first go-round: the way working within a limited closet and a structured “goal” can give you the confidence to try things you otherwise wouldn’t have tried. While I nabbed these wintershorts off the sale rack at UO a few weeks before the other emily brought hers home, I can’t say I’ve been as brave as she has about making this look work. Every time I have, though, I’ve been thrilled with the results: with the way they seem to make instant peace with my legs in a way that nothing else does, with their unexpected comfort, with the way they add a little bit of (dare I say it!) sex appeal to my day, with the way accessories (here, tights and heels) make a shape and proportion I’d never, EVER otherwise wear both possible and flattering. So, go you, shorts! You may make me feel like I’m an inappropriate anime character, but it usually only lasts for a few minutes.
I’ve upped both the warmth and modesty level of this outfit by adding this slightly longer magenta cardigan, which was one of my last pre-30 for 30 purchases. I’d been on the hunt for a brightly colored cardigan as yet another way to remix some of my darker winter duds, and I loved the way it added a (loud!) pop to the soothing mixed neutrals here. It obscures my waist less in person than it does in these photos, but I was less concerned about eeking out every available ounce of hourglassiness out of this outfit than usual, given the extra foot of visible leg! It’s an unusual shape, but it’s a little more grown up than the way I’ve usually worn these shorts (with a fitted top tucked in). While I still wouldn’t wear it to class, I feel a little more like regular old adult me.
Have you been expanding your style horizons lately? Is there a new proportion you’ve been hoping to try or have tried out lately that you’ve been surprised by? How do you feel about the shorts with tights trend?
- Plaid Oxford: Forever 21, new!
- Black Tank: Banana Republic
- Black Wintershorts: Urban Outfitters, new!
- Maroon Tights: HUE, new!
- Brown Oxfords, Seychelles “Mercury,” new!
Oh my, what have we here… You’re thinking, do I know this woman? This woman doesn’t wear things like this: she would never wear pleated anything, and she certainly wouldn’t pair pleated shorts with this vaguely lumberjack-ish oxford. To that I say: you’re right. This outfit is way more like something Kendi or E. or Dotty would wear than something out of my typical lookbook, but here I am, trying it out anyway. After seeing so many of my fellow stylebloggers rock the wintershorts with tights look, I’d been dying to give it a try. What do you think? This first effort combines a number of items from my winter wish-list: these Seychelles “Mercury” oxfords (so comfy!), these maroon tights from HUE, and this oxford shirt, one of the fruits of my slightly impulsive post-exam trip to Forever 21 yesterday. I think I look a little bit more like I belong in a Japanese cartoon than in my regular life, but on this day of running errands, visiting friends and assembling Christmas gifts, I’ll take it. The shorts are way, way, way shorter than anything I’d wear in the summer with bare legs, but I’m liking the look with tights so far. It hasn’t made me want to run out and trade in all my pencil skirts for micro-minis, but it’s making me reconsider the flattering possibilities of a shorter hemline.
What’s a new trend you’ve experimented with this winter? What are your “rules” for trying out new styles and stepping outside your comfort zone? Do you boldly wear these newer, more experimental items out, or do you try them in a quiet moment first?
Hi! I'm S. Welcome to Narrowly Tailored, a blog about life and style from a law student and new mom. In short: work and life gets dressed; balance mostly gets amused.Follow Along
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