Here’s another blast from the past, from 2007.
eyelet silk dress, shorter days hoodie
cape of sapphires coat
crepe shift
meadowsweet dress, plenty by tracy reese (looove this dress)
warp & weft dress, marled sweater jacket
chainstitch dress
ice-capped v-neck
blackwing kimono, streamer skirt
teddy bear hat
winter fairy ornaments
Esmerelda Elephant, Leeto Lion, Marshall Monkey
all-wrapped-up cardigan, elephant march dress
Still remixing. And not shopping. But is it wrong that I want to stop doing the former and start doing the latter?
Outfit 2 of 30 (lousy photo in the bathroom at work): 
Outfit #3 of 30: 
Outfit #4 of 30 (a better photo this time!): 
So far I’ve worn one cardigan twice and one pair of shoes 3 times. I need to branch out, but damnit if a black cardigan and a pair of black heels doesn’t work with almost everything!
I loved both these dresses from the November catalogue, so when I saw both at the Yorkville Anthro, I had to try both on.
(But just to clarify, I’m not shopping. I’m just trying on.)
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Stilled Night Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, US$128, size M. I loove the colour of this dress, but I don’t love the style. I don’t find high-neck dresses very flattering on me because I end up feeling like I have one big uni-boob. I would also want to try a size S, there was only XS or M available and the M is just a little too big.
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Spinning Lace Dress by Tracy Reese, CAD$348, size 4. This dress is getting so much love, I had to try it on. And I was actually wondering if it would work as a wedding dress (not that I’ve set a date, but I don’t want a traditional wedding or wedding dress). Unfortunately, it’s not quite right for me. I’d want it a little more ivory/white as a wedding dress, but as a holiday party dress it’s a little too “bridal.” But it’s still a gorgeous dress. The lace is so soft and I love the shape. However, I should have gone with my usual size 6; I lost a little weight recently and I got a little ambitious, but the 4 is squeezing the life out of my chest.
Anyway, I really like both but neither are perfect, so it's a pass. Shopping hiatus still intact!
I’m smiling in this mirror photo, despite being at work, where smiles are not encouraged.
This was number one in my 30 for 30 challenge. I’m not convinced by the combination, and I’m afraid the skirt is too long for me.
And it’s been 8 days on my no-shop challenge, and though I was tempted today by a Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hillier and a pair of Repetto ballet flats, I have not caved.
Now I’m watching Gossip Girl and wondering a) why I’m still watching it, and b) why everyone loves Serena. Blake Lively needs to learn how to enunciate, and Leighton Meester is so much prettier.
I had already decided that November was going to be a no-shop month, but then Kendi’s 30 for 30 challenge came along and I signed myself up.
In a nutshell, the challenge is to pick 30 items from your closet, including shoes but excluding coats and accessories (tights, jewellery, etc.), and wear them in 30 or more outfits in 30 or more days. No shopping for these 30 days.
My 30 items:
6 Anthro tops
4 non-Anthro tops (J. Crew, Jamees Perse, Club Monaco, Jacob)
4 cardigans (Bailey 44, Mexx, Banana Republic, J. Crew)
6 skirts, 3 Anthro, 3 non-Anthro (Club Monaco x2 and Jacob)
2 pairs of jeans, 2 dresses
3 pairs of heels, 1 pair of boots, 2 pairs of flats
I’m following Kendie in not including coats or accessories, but I’m also not including the Hunter rubber boots I wear in the rain, or the running shoes or lululemon gear that I wear to work out at the gym lie around the house in.
30 items is actually a lot more than I thought. Still, I found myself agonizing over which items to choose, trying to think ahead to what will give me the most versatility over 30 days. That meant a lot of black and grey (16 out of 30 items).
It’ll probably be difficult, but at least it’s not as difficult as 6 items for 30 days. That I could not do.
I think this will be a good challenge for me because I’m terrible at remixing clothes. I buy pieces in outfits and I rarely deviate: top A goes with skirt A and shoe A and never shall shoe B or skirt B enter into the equation. I have to think about more combinations now. So I hesitated about the Oak Apple Dress and the Aniseed Skirt, but I put them in because I just really want to wear them this month, even if I only wear them once.
Here are the results from a few Anthro visits over the past few weeks.
Cross The Lines Cardi by Ella Moss, US$88, size S. I love how this cardigan feels, but the stripes are too much. Jailbird is not the look I”m going for at all. Pass.
Echoing Folds Cowlneck by Bordeaux, US$48, size S; Either-Ore Necklace by Nakamol, US$58. Yes, the top is a little flimsy and see-through and probably too expensive for what it is, but I really like it as a layering piece, especially in this colour. The necklace is pretty cool too. (I ended up getting both, but last month—I didn’t break my November no-shopping pact.)
Beaded Eglantine Cardigan by Tabitha, US$128, size S. It’s lovely, but this is not grey as the website claims. This is a greyish beige oatmeal that washes me out. I didn’t like the orange colourway either, so unfortunately pass.
French Bustle Jacket by Mise En Scene by Ruffian, US$188 (CAD$228), size 4. I was totally tempted by this jacket at the time. Ruffles! But I don’t need it. I put it back and haven’t been tempted since.
I can’t find this cardigan on the website. And because I suck, I can’t remember what brand it is. I guess it’s good it’s a pass then.
Switching Sides Sweater by Moth, US$118.00, size S. Comes in 4 different colours. Cozy and warm, but I actually found it short, and although I have a long torso, I’m not tall. Pass.
Scenes of Arles Skirt by Moulinette Soeurs, US$98, size 8. This is a weird skirt. The darker colours on the top and the lighter colours on the bottom basically cut you in half. It’s also an extremely straight skirt (as to be expected from Moulinette Soeurs), so it’s not forgiving for anyone with hips. Too long for me too (past the knees). Pass.
Avant-Tweed Skirt by Tabitha, US$118, size 6. Weird shape, stiff, and itchy. Pass.
Entrusted Mini, Mise en Scene by Ruffian, US$148, size 6. Cute if it weren’t for the stomach pooch I’m getting. Pass.
Lucillae Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, US$188, size 8. Everyone and their dog has had trouble with this dress. The website description calls it “slim” and “trim”. It’s just plain old tight on the bottom half, and since I sized up, the top was too loose. Too bad since it’s totally cute, but I don’t love it enough to be willing to tailor it to fit, even on sale.
It’s no secret that I love Anthro catalogues for the beautiful product shots and styling. It doesn’t always translate into wanting to buy; I often love the product shot/styling and have no desire to actually buy the item. One thing is for sure: the Anthro team really knows what they’re doing.
Thanks to the past catalogue links posted by Natalie at Anthropologie Addict, I’ve been browsing old catalogues (some I received, some I didn’t). I’m most impressed with how the clothes stand up to time/fashion trends/etc—nothing looks dated.
At first I thought browsing back catalogues was “safe shopping” for me, but then I remembered there's always eBay and Roxy’s Trade Market. Regardless, it’s still fun to go back and look at these old catalogues!
big sky sweater, vintner’s landscape dress
sweet wilderness top
passing time scoopneck, scythed lawns skirt (that side-ruffle is certainly familiar)
silent constellation top (which I originally read as silent consternation top)
bared branches dress
tawny garden dress
evening’s promise dress
various Christmas ornaments
I love jewellery. I have an extensive collection of costume and semi-precious jewellery, and I even make jewellery on occasion. I like my pieces to be unique (no Tiffany for me—you would never catch me dead in a Tiffany heart) and interesting, and I like some Anthropologie pieces for that reason (the Oolite necklace, for instance).
But some really make me scratch my head.
Striking Resemblance Necklace, US$298 
Striking resemblance to what???
It’s gonna give me nightmares.
Visible Friend Necklace, US$298 
It’s not any better in pink.
It’s like she’s wearing a skeleton with tasselled feet.
Do The Strand Necklace, US$458 
I love books, but I don’t want to wear a cluster of them around my neck. And that’s one huuuuge price tag.
Timeless Truths Necklace and Timeless Truths Necklace Purple, each US$228
These I really don’t get. To me, they’re just a collection of fabric scraps knotted together with a few leftover beads. Am I missing something?
But this ring I spied last week made me really want-y.
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This is really, really gorgeous. If I didn’t already have a ring I adore, I would take this as my engagement ring. Sadly, it’s no longer available on the website. I’m glad I saved the picture so I can prove I didn’t dream it.
