Consume or Consumed

Orla Kiely Haul

2012-05-27T12:23:00.000-04:00

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo stem print tee

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo stem print scarf

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo sailboat tee

I am lucky that my friend Cam shares so many of my tastes and interests. She and I both were anticipating the second release of Orla Kiely for Uniqlo. She also enjoys the benefits of living in New York City, where she has access to Uniqlo stores. She proxy shopped the collection for me, picking up the three above pieces that I wanted very much. I already wore the stem top and plan to wear the sailboat top to a BBQ today. Thankfully I asked her to pick up one size above what I normally take and there will be room for a growing midsection.

Orla Kiely Oval Stem Baby

Relatedly, I also purchased the above Orla Kiely stem print bag (on sale at Piperlime). I had an extra 20% off coupon and decided to make the leap. Although I won't be needing the full function of this particular style until December (hint hint), I am excited to have such a fun print to assist in welcoming what is sure to be the happiest new addition to my life in some time. More on that in the coming weeks!

p.s. There are many new listings on Shop Jesspgh. Check it out!

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Wants

2012-05-24T10:30:00.000-04:00

Cardigans
Flats

The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale is on! And as Carol has written, Nordstrom remains unrivaled when it comes to customer service. I had two great experiences this week alone, in receiving a price match for an item I wanted to buy that was on sale with a competitor and in returning a pair of Chris's shoes that were defective. Whether I visit in person, at my local store north of Pittsburgh or use the handy Live Chat window on the website, I always feel like I'm treated with kindness and care. I think my favorite item now on sale has to be the Finch Charm dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs (which I reviewed here). I also think this 3.1 Phillip Lim cardigan is too cool. But really, I'm loving all of the above! Are you getting anything?

Primary Blooms Dress review

2012-05-23T11:35:00.001-04:00

Primary Blooms Dress

I just love the vibrant colors and sunny print of the Primary Blooms dress. When I was at Anthropologie the other day, I grabbed it in a 10 to try. Although I am not as familiar with Girls From Savoy, I figured that between the 6 and the 10 that were on the wrack, I'd fare better with a bigger size. My instincts were correct. The 6 would have been far too small. The 10 was a bit large toward the shoulder/bustline area. You can see it gapping near my shoulder in the first photo. But fit nicely everywhere else. I wonder if the 8 would be the correct size since the waist and hips felt forgiving overall? I loved the pleating at the skirt and the drape of the fabric. It is fully lined and came to the knee on me. It features a lovely (and thankfully not too deep) V-shape in the back. My bra was not visible despite the V and the way the dress cuts into the shoulders.

Of what I tried that day, this was my mom's favorite. And it was my second favorite. The price point seems typical for a silk dress from Anthropologie and for that reason, I will be waiting to see if it still strikes my fancy come sale time! What do you think?

Dressing Room Outfit

2012-05-19T13:15:00.000-04:00

I've been wearing variations of this favorite ensemble from summer 2011 with some frequency of late. It's just so easy and comfortable. Tights are optional, depending on the weather and whether I'll be hanging out in sunshine or in extreme climate control. I also realized I haven't worn my contacts lately, on the blog or otherwise. But with summer around the bend, I'm sure they'll be a go-to.

Details:
Forever 21 top (current version on sale here and here; similar here)
Anthropologie skirt (similar here; midi length here; midi plus here)
Burberry flats (similar here and here)
Spanx tights
Balenciaga bag in the background

Kate Spade one day sale

2012-05-17T11:21:00.003-04:00

You probably know by now but in case you don't, there's a sale going on over at katespade.com. It began yesterday but was extended through today (despite what it says above, the sale ends May 17th at 11:59pm PT). I am resisting with all my willpower the magazine clutch version of this cute tote (also on sale) and this Stefania dress (much cheaper than the Neiman Marcus price). Shop cautiously because your purchases are final sale!

Additionally, you can score an extra 25% off shoes at Bloomingdales with coupon code SAVE25 (now through May 18th) and an extra 20% off everything at Beauty.com (also through May 18th).

Puzzled Pieces Dress Review (just in time for Anthro Tag Sale!)

2012-05-15T12:42:00.003-04:00

As Roxy described in depth, today marks the start of the seasonal Tag Sale at Anthropologie. Although I considered waking up and heading to my local store bright and early, I realized I have too much work to do this week and will be lucky if I check out my store's offerings prior to a gym trip. Truth be told, when I went to bed after browsing the sale section of the website, I wasn't that inspired but what remained. But for those of you with lengthy wishlists, I hope you had/have great success in your sale shopping, whether it is in store or online!

Puzzled Pieces Dress

The main piece that tempts me at the moment is the Puzzled Pieces Dress, which I just saw for the first time this week. It is silky and light with vintage-inspired details. The dress is unlined which for me necessitates a slip. But the color and shape are very lovely. I tried on a size 8 and it fit very nicely. It hit me right at the knee. It features side pockets and a forgivingly gathered waistline. I am otherwise unfamiliar with the brand, called Vanessa Virginia but I liked this dress very much. Steeply priced at full retail, I was excited to see this make it to sale today. It's still a little rich for my budget but it is 100% silk so at least the price point comes with natural fibers.

What are you buying from the Tag Sale?

All about my mothers

2012-05-11T20:04:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about my mother and the other maternal figures in my life (especially my mother-in-law, my step-mother-in-law, and my aunts), as we approach this weekend's Mother's Day. There are so many positive ways in which familial and/or mentoring women have made an imprint on me. I think of the many moments in my life when I have needed support, encouragement, and words of wisdom from these women. And it has been given from them, unconditionally, without reservation, and without condescension. With empathy, understanding, and love... what a wonderful gift!

It heartens me to think about my mothers' relationships with their sisters and with their children. As a feminist scholar I also find myself thinking about family histories and the various women who shaped the mothers I know and love. I've been thinking a lot about my grandmothers, for example.

Although this holiday has become imbued with commercialism and notions about emotional expression via consumerism, it still strikes me as an opportunity for reflection and gratitude. And so, at the start of this weekend I already feel overcome with reverence for women as influencers, mentors, and maternal presences. Happy Mother's Day weekend to you and yours!

Keep or sell: Kate Spade Natalia ootd

2012-05-08T15:09:00.001-04:00

I bought this dress last summer while I was on vacation in Delaware and although I think it is lovely, I've only worn it twice. And in its most recent wearing, shown above, I wasn't crazy about how it looked on me. What do you think?

Should this one move to ebay and clear space for more KS shirtdresses (which I think are more flattering on my figure)?

Outfit details:
Kate Spade Natalia dress (similar KS here; similar dot print here and here)
Nordstrom cardi
Tory Burch Revas
Kors watch; Redraven Studios necklace (c/o); vintage bracelet

Shopbop Giveaway Winner!

2012-05-07T19:50:00.000-04:00

Announcing the winner of the Shopbop Consume or Consumed giveaway:

Comment number 41 was drawn randomly from 278 eligible entries:

Comment 41 is Ladeefrickindah (very funny name, btw!):

Please email me at jesspgh@gmail.com so I can put you into contact with Shopbop to claim your prize! Thank you to everyone who entered and to Shopbop for providing the $100 gift certificate to our winner! Stay tuned if you want another chance to win something as I will be back with another giveaway shortly!

Last Class Outfit

2012-05-02T11:45:00.000-04:00

I wore this to campus during my last week of classes. The dress was a gift from Chris for my birthday 5 years ago. But somehow I don't think I've ever worn it on the blog. It is pretty tent-like so the challenge of styling it has always about reigning in the shape (so you can see that I have one). It came with a belt but it was cold enough to necessitate layers.

Outfit Details:
Nanette Lepore dress (similar blousey silk dress here, here, and here)
BP cardigan
Spanx tights
Tory Burch flats
MBMJ bracelet, Betsey Johnson watch, vintage necklace

Craving colorful or printed spring coats

2012-04-30T13:12:00.000-04:00

Although I haven't been buying much lately, I have been on the hunt for a colorful or printed sprint jacket to wear with casual, transitional pieces. My current rotation of spring weight coats are black and khaki. It would be fun to have a statement piece or even something casual to wear that can top an ensemble but brighten it up. My cold weather coats are such favorites that this time of year feels inevitably bittersweet. Putting them away for many months might be less of a bummer with brighter, more fun lightweight toppers. I like the above plus size ladies coats from affordable UK plus retailer, JD Williams. But they do not ship to the US. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for similar US bargains in the coming weeks. Where did you get your favorite spring jacket?

Monogrammed Mother's Day Gift Idea

2012-04-28T14:18:00.001-04:00

I've written before about my love for initial jewelry and monogramming. And I'm excited to alert readers who are stumped for Mother's Day gift ideas or even bridal party gift ideas (as wedding season approaches!) that adorable and very reasonably priced totes can be found from Simply Bags. The proprietors contacted me not long ago asking if I would consider reviewing one of their products. I agreed and was excited especially because the company is headquartered not far from Pittsburgh (in Akron). They sent me a Stylish Beach Tote that they monogrammed with my initials and shipped with incredible speed.

When the bag arrived I was impressed by its size and the softness of the rope straps. To give you an idea of its scale, it is slightly larger than a large Longchamp Pliage tote. I love the nautical theme with its stripes, rope straps, and monogram. I am eager to take the bag with me on picnics and beach outings this summer. Sadly, the weather and my schedule have not yet cooperated.

It seems quite sturdy and is fully lined with cotton, including a useful interior pocket. I do suspect that the support panel in the bottom of the bag is just corrugated cardboard but because the bag description highlights its eco-friendliness, I appreciate its biodegradability. The jute exterior is thicker than I expected. I do think the monogramming could be thicker. But for its reasonable retail price ($27.99 which includes customizing), I find the bag to be a good value. I just wish I had known about Simply Bags prior to planning my own wedding! I'm glad I know about them now for future gift-giving opportunities because I am thrilled with this cute beach bag!

You should know that custom monogrammed bags are final sale and non-returnable so input your information carefully. You can get your first name or your monogram stitched onto just about everything they sell.

Simply Bags is also hosting a beach bag giveaway on their blog. It runs through April 30th so be sure to check it out!

Disclosure: To be clear, Simply Bags sent me a bag to review on my blog. The opinions expressed in this post are still entirely my own.

Tory Burch Friends and Family

2012-04-27T12:47:00.002-04:00

Cardigans
Flats

I love it when you can stack discounts and the sale goes on sale. Today marks the start of Toryburch.com's Friends and Family event. The timing is nice for Mother's Day and for cute summery looks. I'm eying this skirt and this dress. The above is a compilation of my other favorite items from the sale section (save for the bag which is sadly full price). Take an additional 25% off with code: FRIENDS12 now through Monday, April 30th.

If you're feeling lucky, don't forget to enter my Shopbop giveaway!

Shopbop Giveaway! Featuring Joe's Jeans Shorts

2012-04-26T13:26:00.000-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that Shopbop has offered followers of Consume or Consumed the chance to win a $100 gift certificate and the timing couldn't be better.

If you win you can use the gift card to fund summer-friendly pieces like Diane von Furstenberg shorts, Joe's Jeans Shorts, or Harvey Faircloth shorts. Regardless of what you choose, their selection, their fantastic sales, and their free shipping make them one of my favorite online retailers!

Eligibility:
You must be a public follower of Consume or Consumed to be eligible. Please click on the button beneath the "Comrades" section of my sidebar to join.

The giveaway is open to all readers, worldwide!

How to enter:
For one entry, please comment that you are a public follower of Consume or Consumed.

For a second entry, please share your favorite summer wardrobe staple.

For two additional entries you can tweet (include @jesspgh and @shopbop) and/or blog the giveaway. Leave the link(s) in your comment.

Please leave a comment for each entry (four possible entries total). The giveaway with run until Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at 11:59 est. I will announce the winner on Monday, May 7th who will be chosen via random.org draw. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me, claiming their prize before I re-draw.

To protect your privacy, I do not require email addresses for this giveaway so if your contact info isn't immediately available via a commenter profile, please remember to check back to see if you were drawn.

Zinnias, Blazers, and Student Milestones

2012-04-25T13:41:00.001-04:00

This semester I guided the research projects of senior capstone students in my major. Their semesters culminated with research presentations that were open to the entire campus community. Other faculty, students, and administrators often attend these presentations, so the stakes were high. I was so impressed with each student I guided. They were able to rise to the occasion of this high-pressure milestone in their degree matriculations.

The research requirement for our seniors distinguishes the campus (which is modeled to be a small liberal arts college) from its main branch. We pride ourselves on smaller class sizes and individualized instruction. The capstone represents a unique opportunity for students to delve into a semester-length project akin to what they might pursue in graduate study. It was my first time assuming the role of capstone instructor and the students I worked with were a great bunch.

On our last presentation date, we had a little pizza party and the students surprised me with a cake that included a thank you message (who doesn't love seeing their name in icing?!), as well as a card that contained a gift. I was so moved and humbled by their generosity and thoughtfulness! I nearly began to cry. But the surprise was enough to ensure I was able to keep it together, despite my overwhelming propensity for being a sap. I will really miss this graduating bunch, who I got to know so well over the course of our time together. I see in each of them such amazing potential and I am certain they will enjoy their very bright futures. The experience was a great reminder of why I chose this profession in the first place.

Because I knew they were going to be dressed up for their presentations, I figured I should up my own professional game. For me the easiest version of that means a blazer with a dress. I wore this ensemble for one of the sessions.

Outfit specs:
Leifsdottir dress (called Curled Zinnia from Anthro) (similar here; spring appropriate here and here)
Limited blazer (from Gabes)
Spanx tights
Tory Burch flats (20% off with code FRIENDS)
Vintage initial necklace

Tiered Stripes Top

2012-04-23T18:44:00.000-04:00

I was excited to find a Bailey 44 tiered piece at the Mission Valley Nordstrom Rack while I was in San Diego. I grabbed it and immediately worked it into my wardrobe rotation. I wore it for a day of informal meetings and campus business.

It was cold that day so I had a few layers that worked with the outfit for interoffice/interbuilding travels.

The entire outfit is pretty dark and fall-like but I prefer fall colors anyway so I'll risk seasonal inappropriateness.

Details:
Bailey 44 tiered stripe/pieced column top (summery tank versions here and here)
J. Crew matchstick cords (on sale for $19.99 before coupon codes!)
Romeo and Juliet cardi
Stuart Weitzman flats (similar here and here)
Marc by Marc Jacobs bag
Kors watch (15% off watches on saks with coupon code "friends"; 20% off clothes!)

San Diego Dreaming: Part 2

2012-04-21T20:04:00.001-04:00

Besides the conference, the other two big components of my trip to southern California involved day excursions to La Jolla and Coronado. The above photos were taken in La Jolla. On my birthday, we rented a car and drove north to visit the beaches and check out the seals who bask and effectively squat the "Children's Pool."

You can see many of them (along with more photos and travel overview) below the cut:

Before we headed north for the day, we stopped by a taco truck called Mariscos Alex. We had the most amazing fish tacos I've ever eaten! And we ate them on the trunk of our rental car.

In Torrey Pines, we walked the beach and admired the dangerous cliffs.

While in La Jolla, I was pretty overwhelmed by the beauty and perhaps more so, the wealth that emanated from the area via ubiquitous luxury cars, large and beautiful homes, upscale boutiques, and carb-minimal restaurant menus.

We had a delicious impromptu dinner in the bar at Whisk and Ladle (another fabulous suggestion from reader, Megan!). Everything we ate was so flavorful! Although I did notice that nothing we ordered included a typical restaurant portion of simple carbs. This was not by choice so much as by circumstance. There were pastas on the menu but I must assume that their very attractive and fit clientèle avoids carbs otherwise. I had the stuffed chicken and I think Chris had steak. We also ordered a bunch of the cheap small plates only available in the bar.

While in La Jolla, I felt pangs of class-consciousness the way I often do whenever I enter socio-economic enclaves that strike me as overtly privileged. I am sure plenty of people who live there are not rich and there must be plenty of college kids who attend the University of California San Diego in the area. But I was definitely feeling like a plebe. Not to spark class war, as I am already very much aware of my own (albeit somewhat relative) privileges, but (and to quote Wayne's World) "it costs a lot to live this free."

Strolling along the oceanside park and walking the beaches in Torrey Pines was a wonderful experience. I wondered what it must be like to live in such an idyllic, sunny, and naturally stunning place. I said to Chris that if we were ever fortunate enough to live there, I'd be both more blond and more tan than my Pittsburgh self.

On the evening after I shopped the Fashion Valley Mall with the lovely Carol of In Pursuit of Pretty Things (sadly, no photos captured our time together), Chris and I took a ferry boat to Coronado.

We walked from the ferry station to the Hotel Del Coronado where Some Like it Hot was filmed. It was stunning with expansive grounds, beautiful event spaces, and elaborate woodwork. I felt like a gatecrasher roaming the property so I didn't take any photos of the interior but I did enjoy the beach, where we watched the sunset.

We also enjoyed the surrounding businesses. We went to Swaddee Thai Restaurant to have another great meal. Then we had gelato next door. I had such a nice time on this trip and will remember it fondly.

I did underpack and found myself vacation shopping. I bought some Sperry Topsiders, the above pictured Bailey 44 striped top (similar to the column dresses from Anthro), the above pictured maxi skirt, and a pair of sandals, all from Nordstrom Rack. I wish we had a Nordstrom Rack in Pittsburgh!

Thank you for reading. I admit I mostly write these for my own archival purposes so I appreciate the forum for such indulgence.

Slightly askew OOTD

2012-04-18T17:29:00.001-04:00

I wore this ensemble to campus not long ago. It was test-run on a recent First Friday as blogged here. I started the day with it belted but the belt proved to be fussier than I could tolerate.

I tested out a new spot on campus by using my tiny portable tripod. This thing is very bendy (it is the generic Gorillapod) and cute but I am still getting the hang of how to use it so that photos are level. Regarding the location, the second photo in the grass taught me a lesson. The creek that runs through campus leads to very damp surrounding ground. I will not be stepping off the sidewalk in heeled booties again.

Outfit info:
Chloé Landscape Dress worn as cardigan/coat (see other landscape pieces here, here, and here)
DVF Shawnessy (similar here, here, and here)
Spanx tights (20% off with coupon code INTHEFAMILY20)
Rosegold Liz booties (similar )
Kate Spade tote (similar news-themed tote here; similar KS here)
Kors watch and Target bracelets

Newest Anthro wishlist additions

2012-04-16T13:57:00.003-04:00

With my recent disinterest in all things Anthro, it was no surprise that I wasn't among the birthday discount lottery winners. But before I knew I wouldn't be getting a discount, I stopped by my local store to scope new arrivals and plan. I didn't find much but I did become smitten with two vibrantly printed pieces.

The Flared Caraz dress is by Weston Wear. Its busy print and feminine shape are right up my alley, though I found the colors to look less saturated in person than the website's product shot. I tried on a large and thought the length and fit were good. It is also available in petite but I didn't personally think it was so long that I'd need petite. It came to my knee and seemed appropriately modest in length. The fabric was stretchy, somewhat sheer, and fully lined. I worry that it might show snags over time with wear. The fabric isn't the fanciest (nylon with poly lining) and the patterns don't align (pet peeve!) but with a decent sale I might make this mine.

The other thing I loved was the photo realist print of the Sideways Seascape tee. This is by Deletta and I grabbed a large. The large was a good loose fit. I could have probably taken a medium but I liked the ease of a relaxed silhouette with a tee like this. It was a stretchy, silky modal fabric that could be dressed up or down. The print made me think of an exotic beach getaway. And it seems like a cool summery piece that I hope will make it to sale. I can't personally justify $88 on a t-shirt. But I like this enough to cross my fingers and be patient.

What pieces are striking your fancy at Anthropologie? I haven't seen it in person but I am really taken by the mixed lace non-stripe iteration of the Bailey 44 column dress (called Ines Column).

San Diego Dreaming: Part 1

2012-04-14T11:35:00.001-04:00

For the first time ever, I spent my birthday away from the place I call home. But the prospect of going to San Diego for a conference was too exciting to forgo. I loved seeing southern California for the first time and getting to do so with Chris (who was presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association) was icing on the birthday cake.

Although the conference was held in the very cool Gaslamp District, we waited too long in the lead up to the trip to book a decent hotel at a favorable rate.* This was a big conference occurring concurrently with another very big conference held at the convention center so hotel rates were elevated to reflect increased demand.

To save a bit of money we stayed in Little Italy which is a fantastic and vibrant neighborhood, not too far away. The tram made the commute very simple if we didn't feel like walking. And as a resident of Pittsburgh's Little Italy, it quickly felt so homey with its cafes, sidewalk seating, and Italian markets.

Also in the neighborhood was a delicious recommendation I received from reader Megan, who commented so helpfully on this post. She suggested we visit Craft and Commerce which has fantastic cocktails and delicious new American cuisine. We loved it! The decor is very fun and everyone in the restaurant seemed bookish and cool. I ordered fried chicken and Chris ordered mussels. The fried chicken is an entire half chicken so I needed a lot of help in order to even make a dent. Chris obliged as he always does! To start we had devils on horseback (bacon wrapped dates). After gorging ourselves, we almost wished the walk to the hotel was a bit further. But we were very satisfied! I want to ditto Megan's recommendation for anyone visiting San Diego!

We stayed at a place called the Porto Vista Hotel which was a renovated motel made to look boutique-y. The walls were thick enough but the door was aligned poorly so we could hear a lot of outside noise. We slept with the bathroom fan on to drown things out. But it had a nice lobby, fast wifi, and good rates on top of the great location. I wouldn't go out of my way to stay there again but it was clean and just fine for our needs. I will talk about our trips to Coronado, Fashion Valley, and La Jolla in upcoming posts.

*As an aside, I know it is considered questionable form with regard to professional development to stay off site from a conference, (as one of the major objectives is to enable networking opportunities... and if you are on the academic job market mine is legitimately bad advice). But whenever I attend a conference I tend to stay in non-conference hotels. There are almost always cheaper options to be found via discount travel sites that beat conference rates. Conference rates never seem competitive to me. $200+ for a 3 (or even 2.5) star is not appealing from my purview. I've bid on higher stars for less than half that price and been just a ten minute walk away from the action. I also prefer to select hotels that enable slight buffers between me and the conference zone. Otherwise, I worry that the walls have ears. I can't relax if every moment, even the quiet elevator ride from my floor to the lobby feels like a working moment. Frankly, my ability to focus on my presentation preparations while keeping on top of my regular work as a professor just feels easier if I have a bit of comfortable distance. I realize I am in the minority in feeling this way. And depending on your conference personality this might sound totally outlandish. But it is just how I have come to acclimate to this part of my work.

Kate Spade Friends and Family

2012-04-13T10:38:00.002-04:00

Day Dresses
Wallets

FYI, Kate Spade stores, outlets, and katespade.com are having a friends and family sale now through Saturday at 11:59 PST. Above are some of my favorites currently on the website (and mostly in the sale section! I love stacking discounts and am itching to buy this dress). Use code FFSPR12 for 25% off all items. For the Jack Spade fans, the code is JSFF12. You can also shop through ebates to get a 3.5% cashback! Happy shopping!

Home stretch

2012-04-12T11:10:00.002-04:00

At this point I'm plodding sluggishly through the rest of the term and looking forward to conquering my ever-growing piles of grading. They just keep getting bigger and of course I am now battling a nagging cough and cold to boot. I am usually so resistant to illness but the changing climates and time zones and multiple airplanes left my immune system in less than stellar shape. My cold also means I have been avoiding contacts lately. I am in the home stretch and I have only three teaching days left for the term (counting today... which is my long day so until it is over it counts).

I wore this vintage dress to campus and dressed in a rush. I haven't worn this billowy frock in years and almost forgot it existed but I was looking through my old contributions to the Wardrobe Remix flickr group (from back in 2007 or so) and spotted it among the fray. I was worried that maybe I donated it along with many other vintage items I edited years ago. The dress was found hanging in the back of my closet, being neglected. It is very sheer and short waisted so I tend to wear it layered for coverage.

Anyone else in the home stretch for the term? I know my institution ends things a bit earlier than most because we have a truncated holiday break between fall and spring.

Outfit info:
Vintage dress
Marc by Marc Jacobs cashmere cardigan (current season version here)
Spanx tights
Chloé lock flats (similar here)
Redraven Studios necklace

Nothing can change the shape of things...

2012-04-10T11:00:00.000-04:00

I wore this dress to campus on my long day. By the end of the long day I feel so spent and can barely put together coherent sentences. Although it made sense to schedule myself in a condensed manner when I was planning for spring I look forward to having my Thursdays back in a few weeks.

Although it is again cold enough for tights, there were a few days prior to my trip to San Diego when I went bare legged. I sort of wish I had worn nude pantyhose now that I look at these shots. Speaking of, I still need to give away some Hanes sheers to readers. I did not forget. I am just behind. Because of how busy things are as the semester wraps up, I plan to bundle them into a bigger five year blogiversary giveaway (for the end of April). I thought I'd only been blogging for four years but then I checked my archives and in fact it has been five. Wow!

Outfit notes:
Kate Spade Violetta Dress (similar stripey KS shirtdress here; budget similar with stripes here)
Anthropologie belt (similar here) and Two Paths trench coat (similar here and here)
Marc by Marc Jacobs pumps (similar here and here)
Kate Spade make up bag clutch (current season version here)
Target bracelet, Betsey Johnson watch, and Redraven studios necklace (which is tucked behind my collar in these shots, sadly)

Marc by Marc Jacobs reviews

2012-04-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

One of the things I will miss most about Saks in Pittsburgh is the opportunity to try on current season items from my favorite brands. I usually do so with the intent to keep a running tally of what I want come sale time. That way, even if something sells out locally, I can track it down elsewhere with little risk. Despite the North Hills Nordstrom, this is something I will now have to do when I visit other cities.* I was in San Diego last week and visited a Bloomingdales that had lots of cute things. While there, I spotted some tropical and bird themed prints from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

This bird-printed dress, named the Finch Charm has a little flounce to the skirt that is supported with seaming and fabric. It also features a stretch waist with ruffle. I loved the sleeve length and found the skirt to be fine for me but a bit short for taller folks. It is sized in letters, not numbers and I am wearing a medium which is typical for this style of dress from this brand. In general, MBMJ runs a little large (similar to many Anthropologie lines). The dress is silk and has a removable slip. It comes in navy as shown above and a peach color. This one is the first MBMJ number to make my "must find on sale" list in over a year!

The Havana Printed Silk Satin dress (on sale here) is vibrant and tropically themed. Essentially, it is a simple sack dress toned down through the help of a stretchy belt. The hem has a slight bubble to it which I found to look ok but feel a little weird. It is sized in letters also and I am wearing a medium. It comes in another color: this deeper mix of purples and blues which is on sale more widely than the one shown above. The fabric has a bit of a shine to it. While I liked the dress, I will be letting this one go even on sale.

The Light Hearted heart print dress comes in navy/teal or navy/red. I only saw a navy/teal. This is another dress that is sized in letters with a forgiving, stretchy waist. I am wearing a small which ran a little short-waisted and short on my curvy figure. I needed a medium but they didn't have any. I didn't care for how the sleeveless tank top cut into my shoulders so I wouldn't wear this without layers. I do like the dress though and found the shape to be very cute.

Overall, I liked these dresses but found the pricing to be a bit high. Previously, and in my experience Marc by Marc Jacobs dresses that were sized in letters used to be released for lower retail starting points than their numerically sized counterparts. I guessed that the higher prices of number sized garments were due to the amount of additional pattern-making and tailoring required to yield more precise fits. While I was fine with the fits and quality of the above, and I'm glad the dresses are made from natural fibers, I think their prices should start lower. They're all produced in the developing world and all sized with less precise letters. While each dress is very cute, even the sale prices are pretty steep. What do you think? Do you expect a difference in price between letter and numerical sizing?

*Though the service is expectedly stellar at my local Nordstrom, the selection of brands leaves a lot to be desired. I am sure it is because of the SWPA market differing from that of SoCal but when I visited the Fashion Valley Nordstrom, I was shocked by the array of brands that are never carried here.

Another year older...

2012-04-05T11:30:00.000-04:00

Today, I am 32. And as I settle further into that phase of life during which people find it increasingly polite to avoid any direct age-related inquiries, I feel more comfortable than ever in my own aging skin. When I was old enough to understand it, my parents told me about how my father struggled with turning 30. To him it marked an end of carefree youthfulness. But I should clarify that my parents have always struck me as profoundly youthful. Age for them now seems to be more about attitude and affect.

On some level, the very thought of being upset by my age feels silly. I'll take 32 year old me over 22 year old me any day of the week. This time ten years ago, my self-esteem was abysmal. My long-term relationship was swiftly deteriorating. I was about to graduate from college and my future was frighteningly uncertain. Although I was lucky to have great friends, few responsibilities, and lots of free time to do fun things, in retrospect I am glad to be through it. Don't get me wrong. I don't feel any regrets over my 20s but I am just happy they're over.

I think about my life now and feel pretty great. I'm a product of the learning and the experiences I endured as an insecure 22 year old. And sometimes I wish I could go back in time and provide comfort that reassures someone so uncertain. For this reason I do try to hug my little sister often. She is ten years younger than me and although she has a lot going for her and is about to graduate college with a cumulative gpa that exceeds my best single undergraduate semesters, I also realize that even the most exciting of transitions are still hard and sometimes fraught.

I wore the above ensemble to deliver a keynote address to the new inductees of our freshman honor society. And I wanted to hug them too because they just successfully weathered such a major transition, from high school to college. Transitions can be difficult but at least they make us more resilient and better capable of weathering any change to come.

I am glad 22 year old me decided to take some time entering the workforce before pursuing an advanced degree. I'm grateful that I eventually began graduate study and met a special someone doing something similar. And I am happy to report that both my early-20s ex boyfriend and I found more stable, more fulfilling, and more mature relationships with our new partners. From my vantage, all of the above is evidence of how good it is to be older... to get older.

Of course it has taken me a bit longer than I expected it would to feel this way. I really identify with the internal monologue scene from Singles during which Bridget Fonda's character reflects on how teenage her viewed the ages of 23 and 25. I thought as a teen that my life trajectory would closely mimic my parents, who married at 23, had kids by 26, and were settled into careers right after college. But at least within my social circle, an ever-lengthening American post-adolescence has changed the landscape of what it means to be in your thirties. For me, it no longer carries the same connotations it once did when my father was struggling with the existential questions brought forth from being new to this same age bracket. Still, it's funny and unsurprising how birthdays (both the welcomed and the un-welcomed) provoke reflection and stock-taking.

I have a lot to be grateful for and there are a lot of exciting things I'm anticipating in the coming year. So amid the process of taking stock, I welcome the next phase of my life with open arms.

Outfit info:
Kate Spade Calista dress (bought this time last year) (similar KS; similar other)
BP cardigan
Burberry Brit trench (this season's version here) from (Larrimor's)
Spanx tights
Marc by Marc Jacobs pumps (similar here and here)
Vintage initial necklace (gift from my secret santa), Target bracelet, Betsy Johnson watch