Birthday skirt?

My birthday is on Wednesday, and I’ve had my Anthro birthday discount for a while. I promised myself I wouldn’t use it unless I found something I really really liked. Maybe it’s this skirt?

Scalloped Stripes Ponte Skirt by Girls From Savoy, US$98/CAD$118

I don’t necessarily like it with the top and cardigan I’m wearing, but if I go for it, it’ll be the first Anthro skirt I’ve bought in almost two years. That’s a M/L on the left and the XS/S on the right; I would go for the XS/S since it was comfortable, at a more flattering length, and a little less poufy. The cons are that it’s a very stiff, thick fabric, and the way it’s cut has me feeling like it’s floating around me (the back is nowhere near my butt). I’ll have to ponder this for the rest of the month…

While I was in Anthro, I snapped a few pics of their current ice cream display.

Ice cream is a weakness of mine, and now Anthro wants me to eat it with these adorable and colourful bowls and scoops. I have no hope of resisting!

Shopping weekend

A friend and I went shopping this weekend, and while I was mostly reminded how much I hate malls (especially on weekends, it’s pretty much my idea of hell) and shopping in general (I love clothes, but I’m a lazy, lazy shopper), I was also reminded of how frustrating I find the lack of consistency in sizing from store to store. I’m teeny tiny at the Gap (on what planet am I swimming in a S and is XS loose on me?), while at J.Crew I wear anywhere from an XS to M and 4-8 depending on the piece and the fabric, and at Club Monaco I’m a short fat girl.  

I exaggerate a little, but I think Club Monaco’s fit model is tall, skinny, and minimally curvy. I’m drawn to Club Monaco this spring because I love a lot of the pieces and the colour palettes, but not everything fits well. Still, first world problems, right?

The Willa Dress looks fantastic on Saucy Glossie here, but not so much on me:

This is an 8, it’s knee-length instead of mid-thigh like on the model, and it’s way too tight around the shoulders. The black panelling around the shoulders also reminds me of a wetsuit, am I the only one who sees that?

The Sunny Stripe Tee is a bit better:

But it doesn’t look anything on me like it does on the model. Also, as a girl with boobs, I rage against these breast pockets—they don’t serve any purpose (what am I going to put in there, a subway token?) and they don’t work on my chest. I don’t think it’s supposed to be off to the side like that.

(The worst example of a breast pocket is J.Crew’s Peony Tee. What pocket? Exactly what I thought until I tried it on. There is one there, for no apparent reason.)

Sunny Stripe Tee and Cecilia Skirt:

I’m not tall, and I think this skirt is short.

Sunny Tee and Tavie Skirt:

I love the mint, but it washes me out too much. I looove the skirt, despite the length. And I haaate the price tag.

So going into Club Monaco is a bit like self-harm, because I always end up feeling bad about my body because the clothes don’t fit the way they’re supposed to. I just have to remember it’s not me, it’s the clothes. Some things work, not everything does, that’s okay. Also, thanks to the very nice, perhaps slightly over-friendly, perhaps flirty male sales associates who said “a size 8? there’s no way you need a size 8, I’ll get you a size 6” when I was getting a size for the Tavie Skirt. For the record, he was right.

Tracy Reese – Anthropologie Made in Kind

I didn’t gravitate towards any of the first Anthropologie Made In Kind pieces, but I love Tracy Reese’s new dresses (first seen on FabSugar earlier this week).

 
Elvia Dress, $258

 
Lawnscape Dress, $298

 
Lima Bustier Dress, $298

 
Revisited Impressionist Dress, $298

 
Revisited Impressionist Bow Dress, $298

All so gorgeous. More than I’d like to pay for a dress, but looking and wishing is free.

But I think my favourite is this Tracy Reese dress for BHLDN posted on BHLDN’s Facebook page.

Can’t wait to see this one online.

Colour overdose?

Club Monaco Dress | Anthropologie cardigan (Tiny) | Hilary Druxman necklace | Wolford Satin Opaque Tights in Admiral | Tory Burch Reva Flats

It’s no secret how much I like teal. It’s my favourite colour and I gravitate towards it in all forms – clothes, makeup, home decor, etc. Teal dominates my closet. I even have teal underwear. Occasionally I’m drawn to shades of pink and purple, but I keep coming back to my favourite hue. But is there such a thing as too much teal?

  
Twist & Flounce Tank, Manifold Top, Double-Scoop Tee (all from Anthropologie)

Too much?

I want, I want, I want

I've suddenly been inflicted with the desire for a bright red shoe. I think it was because I somehow found these online:

Tory Burch Eddie in Scarlet Red Patent

Seriously, I don't know how I got to this page. I wasn't looking for a red shoe, the thought of a bright red shoe hadn't crossed my mind, and then I see this and suddenly I want, I want, I WANT with a capital W.

I'm loving the combination of teal/aqua/turquoise and red these days, like this, so maybe that's why. I have a ton of teal/aqua/turquoise in my closet and no red (and hardly any coloured shoes—the tragedy!), so a red shoe would fit in really nicely. It would also work well with this Anthro top:

Braxton Top

I tried on the brown version and hated it, but the blue polka-dot version surprisingly worked, despite the flowy shape. I tend to prefer shapes that are more fitted, but every once in a while I like to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone.

I want a lot of things, but I struggle a lot with wanting things. I see something, I want it, and usually I want it NOW. Patience is not one of my virtues, and I think I've said it before but I would definitely fail the Marshmallow Test. Delayed gratification? What the heck is that? I usually get what I want, but not in the ugly sense (no lying, cheating, stealing, or backstabbing), it’s just that I usually buy myself whatever I want.  The struggled comes with the fact I don’t need most of the things I buy, and I always think, I have so much, it's not right that I want so much more. I have these goals of living simply and not being consumed by so many material things.and obviously that hasn't worked out so far.

I’m a work in progress. And I’m human, so I have to remember not to beat myself up so much.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. It’s cold and dreary here and my allergies are still terrible (I really, really, really want the inside of my head to stop itching), but I’ve been enjoying my time inside reading and catching up on TV on my PVR. I had about 5 episodes of Ringer to watch, and even though it was a bit hit and miss, I’m sad that it probably won’t return in the fall. Sarah Michelle Gellar was pretty awesome, and I really want her hair and her makeup.

The wants, they never end…

All I want for Christmas is to be reimbursed.

So this pretty much sums up what Christmas is like for me and my siblings now:

via

My sister and I sent our brother and sister-in-law a Kitchenaid stand mixer, but we told them about it advance because I need the UPC code for a mail-in rebate (that sounds awful when I write it, but they understand, and they also appreciated receiving it early because my sister-in-law has 3 dozen Christmas cookies to make for a Christmas exchange). My sister told me to remind her to write me a cheque, but I said, “Enh, just keep your half and that’s my Christmas present to you.” It’s pretty much like that for my friends too; one friend told me her sister-in-law wanted a hat from Club Monaco, and she could just reimburse her for it.

It’s not like that with my 3-1/2-year-old nephew though. It’s full-on Christmas and we make sure it’s pretty damn awesome for him.

When people ask me what I want for Christmas, I have a hard time thinking of anything because I generally buy myself what I want during the year, and I don’t like to ask people for things. But if I were this year, this is what I’d want.

Anthropologie Fringed Lace Top, by TT

It’s simple black, but the lace and the back detail make it special.

Anthro Curvy Chrysanthemum Vase

It’s one of my favourite colour combos.

J Brand 811 Mid-rise Skinny Leg in Riviera Blue

They’re pants and I don’t usually wear pants, but they’re teal and therefore awesome. Also much cheaper in the U.S.; I tried them on at Aritizia where they were CAD$215 plus 13% tax.

J Brand 811 Mid-Rise Skinny Leg in Navy 

Yes, these are the ones Kate Middleton wore on her Canadian tour, so I’m jumping on a bandwagon here. But they’re really awesome jeans.

Fossil Sheila Dress

This dress caught my eye from Kendi’s lookbook. It looks like a really cute piece to dress up or down, and it’s teal. There is a pattern here. I also really, really want this model’s hair. I might take her hair instead of the dress. Maybe.

Rebecca Minkoff striped pouch set

If only they weren’t out of stock everywhere. I blame Lisa for this want, but of course in the nicest way.

in love with a dress…but it’s not for me

Despite making attempts to be a more intelligent shopper, I still make emotional decisions about clothes.  I try to make purchases of clothes that will fit my LBC (lifestyle, budget, and climate – thanks 365 fashion rehab!), but every once in a while I fall in love with something and throw LBC criteria out the window.  Then remorse sets in and my shopping bulimia resurfaces, i.e. I take it back to the store.  That’s what return policies are for.

This was the case with Anthropologie’s Overwhelmed Aster Dress (by Moulinette Soeurs).

When I tried it on in person, I was truly smitten.

(Please excuse the red face and dishevelled hair, I’d just walked from my place to the Yorkville Anthro, about an hour’s walk, and it was cold and windy that day.)

This is such a gorgeous and well-made dress.  I love the silhouette (even though it’s strapless), the full skirt (crinoline underneath to keep it poufy), the sash, the black-and-white floral print, and the flower appliqués on the neckline. 

(with J.Crew Jenna’s Cardigan and Michael Kors heels)

So why won’t I keep it? 

Well, I have nowhere to wear it.  It’s a little too fancy for my life, and I have no upcoming events (weddings, etc.) to wear it to, and even if I did have an event of that calibre, I already have a go-to dress.  So one strike for lifestyle.

It’s also CAD$228 (US$188).  I’m not surprised at the price, and given the construction and design, I’m actually ok with it.  But still, it’s too much for a dress I won’t wear very often.  So strike two for budget.

Also, it’s strapless (not the most flattering style for me) and just a little too long, even with heels, and the poufy crinoline (see it on Kim here) would drive me nuts.

So I can’t justify this dress.  I love it and wish it had a place in my life, but practical must win out (effing practicality!).  Also, I really  I hope some lucky lady snaps it up and gives it a good home.

waiting for spring…

So spring is taking its sweet-ass time getting to Toronto (it was snowing yesterday and I was wearing gloves!  Snow! and gloves! on April 18!), but Anthro is in full spring mode.  I love love love their most recent outfit set. I’d love some of these pieces, but I’ll have to wait two months to wear them.

Counter Stop: En Plein Air Dress, Braided Adenandra Necklace, Odessa Ring

Window Watching: Overwhelmed Aster Dress, Skinny Weave Belt, Muranga Necklace

Alfresco Hours: Blooming Bulbs Dress, Pretty Prattle Necklace, Seafire Ring

 
Coffee Break: Des Artistes Lobster Tee, Impressionable Blazer, Gladiolus Skirt, Rock Candy Bracelet, Pigeon Pea Necklace, High Gloss Belt

Midday Treat: Sunless Rose Top, Lengthening Rays Skirt, Omnifarious Bracelet, Slim Shine Belt, Whipped Topping Heels

Sidewalk Stroll: Summer Souffle Dress, Speeding Dots Scarf, Beaded Quintet Earrings

I’m falling for the Summer Souffle Dress, the Overwhelmed Aster Dress, and possibly even the En Plein Air Dress.  Just need the weather to go with it.

Complementary colours

This week I had an argument (good-natured, not escalating to Rabbit or Duck level) with one of my best friends about complementary colours.  First was whether it was complementary or complimentary.  I won that one thanks to the internet.  Next we argued about the actual colour combinations.  My friend argued that blue/orange and purple/yellow are horrible combinations.  I countered with “what, you know better than the colour wheel?” and argued that both were great combinations, and she is just afraid of bright colours.

Although I didn’t see her today, I present exhibit A:

Anthropologie Claudine Tee (Ric Rac) | Gap cardigan | Ayala Bar necklace | American Apparel leggings | Miz Mooz Stella boots

I don’t really like the blue and orange with black; I’m thinking a softer neutral on the bottom would have been better, if comfort in the form of American Apparel leggings hadn’t won out.  But back to blue and orange.  I love the combination, and my friend is wrong.  I might concede that it is personal taste, however.  What say you?

I ❤ Anthropologie

It’s not exactly a secret that I heart Anthropologie.  But since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d wax a poetic about them and explain my love for them.  

It may not be the typical love story; it’s not about how I love everything and and how much I want from them right now.  Okay, there are a few things I want:

The Gathering Tank by Deletta (because I’m a sucker for Deletta’s jersey tops)

 
Cultural Heritage Skirt by Yoanna Baraschi (because I’m a sucker for pencil skirts, even though Americana is not my cultural heritage)

But I digress.  What I really want to say is that I love Anthro because it’s helped me curb my shopping habits.  That sounds like it doesn’t make any sense, and true, I’ve spent a ton of money at Anthro over the past year.  But before Anthro, I shopped more, and I shopped badly.  I kept looking into my closet and thinking nothing I had was special, so I kept shopping and shopping and shopping trying to find those “special” pieces.  With Anthro, everything I’ve bought is special, and now that I’ve built a closet of amazing things from there, I can stop shopping.  Well, not really.  When I shop, it’ll probably be Anthro, and it’ll be pieces I really love.