Goodbye summer, bye-bye dress…

If we’d had a summer of warm, sunny, non-humid weather, I wouldn’t be so quick to say goodbye to it. But after another week of being hot, sticky, and uncomfortable, I’m ready for fall.  The heat wave ends today and I can’t wait!

And as part of letting go of summer, I’m saying no to Antropologie’s Stemmed Sweetbriar Dress and returning it.

I went back and forth on this one, and even still I’m tempted.  It’s a really pretty dress.  I actually bought it at full price because I loved it, and then it sat in my closet with the tags on because I had nowhere to wear it.  Now it’s on sale, so that makes it even more tempting, because I could return it and pick it up at the sale price.

But I have to stick to the fact it doesn’t work for me.  I hate halter tops, I always feel like I’m being choked.  I don’t think halters do anything for my broad shoulders either.  The top is too low for me to throw a sweater on and wear it to work.

Still, it breaks my heart because it’s so pretty.

I feel like I’m wavering slightly…be strong, Rach!  Just think of it as making room for fall goodies.

I got me some horses to ride on

The September Anthropologie catalogue reminded me of Tori Amos’s song “Horses”, from her 1996 album Boys For Pele. 

It also reminded me how Tori’s music was my angry-girl soundtrack in high school and university.  I’m past the angry-girl phase now, but I still love this song.

Horses, tweed, plaid…all that says fall.   Well, tweed and plaid for me.  I’m allergic to horses. :(

I’m not sure how I feel about this.  There seems to be a lot going on.  The “sweeping swag” on the Sweeping Swag Sweater confuses me.

Super cute!  But the Cordial Embrace Dress seems a little plain for the price (US $148).

Great necklace!  Too bad it’s so pricey (US$198).

I love how this looks, but I tried the In The Trees Skirt on and did not like it.

I love dogs, but I cannot wear the Dog Trot Cardigan.

Love this.  I would consider the Tweedy Leaves Dress.

This to me is batsh*t crazy. 

Love the Akela Necklace!  However, loving does not equal buying.

 
I think the Pebbled and Primped Boots are adorable.  If only I thought my gigantic calf (the left one only, the right one is fine) would fit.

I’m actually not a big fan of plaid, but I could consider the Made to Measure Skirt.

…while I ride off into the sunset.

In which she bemoans her curves…

I have a difficult relationship with my body, for many reasons that are too complicated to get into right now.  But for the most part, I’ve learned to accept my body as it is.

That is, until I saw this look on the Leifsdottir website:

I think it’s adorable.  I love the model’s bangs too.  But with my hips in those super-skinny jeans and my boobs in that top?  Laughable.  And affording it?  Even more laughable.

Oh well, at least I can enjoy the picture.

Ugh

Mariska Hargitay is a gorgeous, gorgeous woman.  This Photoshop hack job is an abomination.

(Courtesy of Jezebel.)

giving Banana a chance

Before I drank the Anthropologie Kool-Aid, I did a lot of my shopping at Banana Republic.  I liked their good-quality basics and their work-friendly pieces, but I did get bored after I got all the basics I needed.  Even so, I do have some great Banana items I love, including this summer dress and this jersey top.

Last week I was surfing the Banana Republic website and came across a lookbook of “real women” wearing their clothes.  (Unfortunately no longer on their website, but I captured the looks that I liked.)

Unfortunately for BR, none of these looks made me run out to their store, because none of them are so different and unique from a style point of view.  I feel like I have these pieces…from other places.

But I did feel like I should really give them a chance so I stopped by their Yorkville store yesterday after work.  I liked the ruffle cardigan (in the first photo above) in black, and this dress, but that’s about all that stood out for me.

I tried to have an open mind, but the 10-minute wait for the changing room killed it for me.  Not worth the wait!  Sorry, Banana.  I hightailed it out of there and went to Anthropologie instead. 

Cream Confection.

The past few days have shown me just how f&*!ing fickle I am.  When it comes to shopping, that is. 

But I blame Anthropologie.  Every time I say I’m done with fall shopping, something else catches my eye.  Damn you, Anthro! 

Yesterday it was the Boucle de Souffle Jacket, today it’s Idra’s Cream Confection Jacket.

So frigging cute.  The ruffles, the buttons (purely decorative), the shape…what don’t I love?  I still have to try it on, because I’m concerned about the slightly puffed sleeves (I already have broad shoulders, I don’t need to look like a linebacker) and fitting the boobs into it.

But if it works, the only question is the colour.  Cream is lovely, but it’s like a magnet for stains for me.  I don’t want to be forever dry-cleaning it.

Tan (or neutral, as Anthro calls it)? It can be iffy on my skintone.  If it’s anything like the colour of the Well-Wisher Jacket, it’s a no for me.

 
So, black then?  The details are harder to see in black, at least in the photo, but it may be the one that works best on me.  And the details are enough to take it from just another boring black jacket to something special.

I’m thinking this jacket over the Boucle de Souffle now, but at the same time, I have a trip to Europe (Dublin, London, and Paris) in October to save for, so I shouldn’t be spending any more money on clothes.  Fingers crossed.  Really.

Wear-now wool.

Well, not right now.  It’s still summer, despite my being depressed about the fall-like weather the other day, and despite being a bit on the chilly side today.

But I’m loving the fall outfit set (called wear-now wool) that Anthropologie has put on their website.  These are my favourites:

plaited pearl: Sweet Biscuit Tee by Velvet, Elementary My Dear Belt, Steamer Trunk Skirt by Moth, Tuxedo Accoutrement Necklace by Benedicte.  I love how this is styled, but I think I may be too short and dumpy curvy to pull it off.

spun gold: Lady’s Choice Cardigan by Tokyo Map, Oak Apple Dress by Moulinette Soeurs, Organic Blooms Necklace.  I looove the Oak Apple Dress, but I’m not sure about the cardigan for me.

purled onyx: Boucle de Souffle Jacket by Elevenses, Maryam Tank by Little Blue Bird, AG Twill Stevie, Chameli & Mallika Necklace. 

This one is my favourite look.  Just when I’m thinking I’m done my fall/winter shopping and I don’t need anything else, I see this. 

I have to try it on though, and I haven’t seen it in store yet.  I would buy it full price, if it worked on me.  I’m concerned about the puffed shoulders and the fact that jackets just don’t fit me very well.  I’ll start stalking the stores for this one.

And then I’m done shopping.  For reals this time.

I also love the necklace…

…but it’s US$188!!  Maybe on sale.

Another trip to Anthro…

…and nothing was bought. 

 
I love the polka-dot mushrooms and the print of the Bountiful Bubbles Apron.  At first, I thought it was a dress and was a little disappointed when I saw it wasn’t.  Cute apron though!

Night Petals Tank by Deletta, US$58. Close, but no cigar.  It fit well and I was tempted for a few seconds, but I don’t love the print or the length of the sleeves.

Buoyant Bunches Cardi by Three Dots, US$78. I normally love soft cardigans like this, but this one is shapeless and not worth the pricetag.  Nope.

Wardrobe Staple Cardigan by Moth, US$98. Am I about to have a spa treatment?  Pass.

Rational Ruffles Tee by Deletta, US$58.  Cute in theory, but just a bit meh to me. 

To A Tee Blazer by Cartonnier, US$98. When I put this jacket on, I really liked it.  I thought it was a good possibility for a jacket, and I hate jackets.  But now that I look at the photo, I’m thinking it’s just ok.  So I’ll continue to look for my holy grail jacket, but this one isn’t it.

So I walked out empty-handed.  I’ve bought a few pieces for fall, so maybe I’m done.  (Fingers crossed.)