the best nursing tanks - threads for thought

Finally, after 6 months of nursing I've discovered the perfect nursing tank. Actually I discovered it a few months ago, but I've just come to realize that it is in fact the perfect top for breastfeeding. And it's not supposed to be a nursing tank or anything. I tried a bunch of those and don't really LOVE any of them. They're fussy and don't fit exactly right and are crazy expensive for how ugly they are. But the Threads For Thought basic tank, available at Whole Foods for $8 (!!!), is quite excellent.



It's super soft.
It has thick-ish straps so I can wear a nursing bra under it.
It's a wee bit stretchy, so I can just pull the neck down to nurse but the seams don't rip out.
It's CHEAP!
And the organic things is a nice bonus.

I think I have 5 of these and I wear them to bed, to yoga, and around town.

Also, mine are a large and I think that's the perfect size since the extra room allows for nursing. (For comparison, I wear a Gap size small and that's sometimes a little big.)

For $8 you can't really go wrong. And now that I've ripped all the seams out of the straps of my other tank tops, these are pretty much all I wear.

pretty triangley jewelry

I happened upon these pretties from spinthread on etsy the other day. They are quite marvelous. Have they already made the rounds on the blogs? Probably. I'm never first with the etsy finds. But aren't they good?











I bet they would be good baby entertainment if I had one for myself. Tempting.

Saako

Also of sartorial interest last weekend...

Our bridesmaid gifts... Saako necklacey scarfy accessories:



They're from Barcelona and you wear them over a tank top or tshirt for a bit of Spanish style. I've never seen anything like them. Each one is different and full of yummy colors. They also make excellent baby toys.

Check em: SaakoDesign.com

consignment store gems

Kay so since I haven't been shopping for myself in like a YEAR (minus a few purchases here and there), I've taken to shopping for my baby. He always fits into everything perfectly and does not have to lose pregnancy weight like some of us. Which by the way, I'm indecisive about at best. Some days I'm desperate to fit into my old things and others I'm like, "Oh who gives a shit anyway?" Mostly it's somewhere in between. But I did get new jeans and I almost cried I was so happy I found a pair that fit.

I digress. Shopping for baby clothes is much more fun than I anticipated. But it's also kind of silly I've learned, to buy things new. Unless you are in love and cannot go on breathing for another moment if you don't see your baby in that item immediately. Which is where the consignment store comes in. I almost wish I didn't know about them, to be honest. My neighbor Ruth gave me a list of all the good ones in our neighborhood, and now I'm starting to feel like I need to go constantly so I don't miss out on something extra good.

Yesterday I went in for a swim diaper for our trip to Ojai this weekend, and left with an entire bag full of unbearably cute things. See:



2 Petit Bateau striped rompers - I'm becoming a baby brand whore. But their things are so cute.

I don't know anyone who could resist a perfect pair of Osh Kosh overalls, for all of $8.

And some little plaid shorts. Aren't they the cutest? Dashiell will be wearing those all weekend, me thinks.

I did find a brand new swim diaper, btw. And about 7 other things that I didn't photograph. I am in love with baby resale. In love. It's like curated thrift store shopping. Totally worth the tiny premium.

Misa Jewelry

My friend Misa makes the most gorgeous jewelry. I posted about her a long long time ago, but she's come out with 2 new collections since then and they warrant a little sharing on the internets.

I NEEEEED this necklace. It's so perfect.



This one is pretty good too.



And here's a little sample of some of her other pieces.




She's also one of the absolute nicest people I've ever met. You know how there are those kinds of people? They're rare, I find. Most people have some mean-ness in them somewhere. But seriously, not Misa. She is amazing in that way. And in her jewelry making too.

She makes all of her pieces herself so you can feel great about supporting a independent artist when you wear her lovelies. I have a few from her Shima collection and I love them. But I might need to add that root choker very soon.

project runway... love

Just catching up on a few episodes of PR. The burlap challenge was soooo good. I love this show. It's like the only reality TV that actually showcases legitimate, inspiring talent.

faves from burlap land:



images from NY Mag

The way she dyed the edges of the flouncy skirt is so neat. And I'm always up for a perfect mini. Will I ever wear one again? That's the big question I have at the moment.

Sometimes it seems like this is normal and that I will have a huge abdomen forever and people will stare at me and it will just be my life. But hopefully I will get a baby instead.

Leggings report

Last year around this time my friend Becky, who is lives dangerously on the cutting edge of style, debuted these awesome "fancy" leggings with little gold zippers dressing up her ankles.

I was pretty taken with them. But when I stopped by the boutique next door to her house to pick up my own, sadly they didn't have my size in the right color and I never followed up with much heart. But I've rued the day I gave up on them ever since. Like when I take what was previously a cute mini dress out of my closet and find that it has become a shirt (tunic at best), I've been saddened over and over again that I missed out on those zippered darlings.

Actually, it turns out I didn't. I just haven't been scouring Shopbop on a daily basis for the last 6 months, which means I'm totally out of the loop when it comes to fall fashion. (Side note: this has been immensely satisfying. It feels so good not to NEED to shop. Even if it's because nothing fits me).



I bought mine at Tucci in San Diego. I was pawing through the sale racks looking for large sizes of cute things that at 70% off I could justify as a pregnancy necessity, all but ignoring the lovely regular people clothes. And then I saw them. THE ZIPPER LEGGINGS! A whole stack of XS with one lonely size M at the bottom, clearly waiting just for me and my ever larger belly. HALLELUJAH!

Shopbop is carrying two different pairs (probably more considering they have like 300 pairs of black leggings on their site)... by LNA and David Lerner.

If you are even remotely on board with the leggings thing, pregnant or not, you'd best be purchasing a pair of these. If you do happen to be pregnant, they sit low and have a nice wide waist band that's been perfectly comfortable so far.

And now the second part of this post. As I was lost in the world of designer leggings this morning, I discovered something curious. Something I NEVER in 1 million years would have considered up until pregnancy. Denim leggings?



Could they actually fit and look cute with a long shirt/tunic/mini dress? They have an elastic waistband which gives me hope. I never thought I'd be so excited about elastic. But I'm scared to order them. Has anyone tried these on? So intrigued.

These are by Seven and Joes, but there are tons more options online.

Happy weekend. Please don't spend 2 hours lost on the internet looking at fancy leggings like I just did.

No, jcrew. Just no.

I've been with you for quite some time now and with each catalog I get in the mail (which is approx. one per week), I congratulate you for styling your apparel in a lovely and tempting way.

But this last one, there's really no way to soften the blow here. It was not good. And I'm referring to the cover, in particular.

Chambray button down shirts OVER the white turtle neck wasn't a good idea even at the peak of popularity sometime during the late 80s/early 90s. I'm sorry, but no amount of interesting lipstick, pretty models or strands of pearls are going to make this look work. And the sweater is just making it more absurd.

However to prove that I am generally pleased with your catalog, I give you these fine examples that I really like...



GAAAAH. The tights. I love the textured tights and mis-matched shoes. Especially that photo on the left. If I could buy cute shorts right now and/or could conceive of planning my outfits for fall, I'd definitely be heading this direction.



And such cute, simple wedding styling. I love the skinny belt on the bride. And I think I just like the colors on the right. But that's fair, right?

Alas I am not currently shopping for new clothes. Which is actually great for the saving of monies, but bad for fall fashion morale.

shoes. you torture me.

These have been quietly haunting me since they appeared on shopbop at the beginning of the year. And they are still there. Except now they are 50% off. And I, like, srsly need them. And they have my size. Still.



ummmmmm. Shopbop please make them 70% off. I could buy them, but I don't need them at all (even though I just said I did). I work at the beach and I only wear flipflops and we haven't been going out as much as of late so if I bought them, they'd just be added to my stacks of pretty shoes that live in their boxes that I wear every once in a while but mostly just like having because I love shoes.

See how I practice restraint? Perhaps one of you will go buy them and they'll no longer be available in my size. Then I can stop thinking about them and move on.

Or they will go to 70% off and I won't have enough willpower left to resist.

more preparation

But not for the party. This is really important preparation and it involves a new purchase of the skirted sort.



See we're going to Nantucket for 4th of July weekend. Which is very very exciting for someone from the other coast. I've never been and it seems like if you were to go, 4th of July weekend would be like the jackpot for absorbing the Nantucket vibe. Or not, but I'm going to get excited about it anyway.

I'm fairly certain that no one would expect me to go on this little trip without a new swimsuit at the very least. And it would need to be a special swimsuit. One that feels old-timey? Not a neon string bikini, (which I've noticed is making a comeback). I found the one I want. Actually, it's more like a desperate need.



SKIRT!!!!! I tried it on a few weekends ago but I've been resisting the purchase. However, I keep visiting it online which I think tells me that I really do want it and probably in fact deserve it for practicing such good delay of gratification tactics.

It is also nice for those of us who may be feeling slightly less svelte than 7 months ago at the peak of our fitness... which would be our wedding. We are now old and married and need something to cover our thighs. Anyone with me?

Buri Suit from Anthro

Nantucket pic from flickr.

dear crewcuts...

Yes, your shit is beyond cute. But in case you haven't noticed, I don't have any babies. Stop rubbing it in.

Thanks.

new old glads

Firstly, has anyone ever ordered anything from PiperLime? The insides of the box are kind of worth it...



I think I'm going to rip the side flaps off and save them for limey postcards.

Second, if you're in the market for sandals for summer, might I recommend my bestest friends: Cynthia Vincent Dinah gladiators. I was in a panic last week thinking that I'd wear my first pair to shreds and be left alone and sandal-less for the rest of the year. And after 2 days of sandal shopping in New York, still empty handed, things were looking bad. Until I found them on PiperLime. Joy of joys, I now have a back up pair.



They also come in black and chartreuse suede... but the brown is so nice. And goes with absolutely everything. Seriously I've probably worn these 300 times since I bought them last spring. If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is. Unless you hate gladiators. Or sandals in general. Or my taste. Which is fine. I'm not known for my estilo, necessarily.

And as you can see, they break in nicely. I'm not really looking forward to the stiffness of my new ones. But I'm comforted by their new home in my closet.

pink denim

i need. going to Madewell this weekend. even though their jeans do not fit me at all i'm going to torture myself by trying them again.

i think i might need some ninu

Or else i'm just being tricked by the beautiful Italian girl who makes these things?

Ninu on Etsy.

chamomile flowers and sparkly vintage tulle

At least I think those might be chamomile flowers. and I think that might be some sort of netting. But chamomile and tulle sound so much better for a title.



Summery wedding attire? But don't wear those exact sandals. I don't like them with their monogram C's. I'm, in general, anti obnoxiously branded apparel and accessories. There are certain exceptions of course, but these sad little C's are not it. And there are many lovely flat sandals that would do perfectly in their stead.

I'm sorry Coach. I like your supple leather and occasionally your handbags, especially when I purchase them at your outlet store in Mammoth, but right now I'm just using you for your photo stylings.

Also, I'm digging that pinky nude polish.

pretty, simple wedding dresses

Kay, i KNOW i'm already done with the bride thing... but i have many important friends who are not. My friend Katya is looking for dresses now so OF COURSE i immediately volunteered to go dress shopping with her. It's like once you are married you are a wedding expert who must spread your magical wedding knowledge dust on all who plan weddings after yours. I hope my friends tell me when they've had enough.

Nicole Miller 09



These dresses have potential, no? I was doing "research" for Katya, I swear. I am such a good friend. Sacrificing precious internet surfing time on wedding dresses...

lust-worthy leather pants

I don't normally post photos from the Sart, because you know, EVERY SINGLE ONE is fantastic. And yes, he makes me hate my closet, want to become a french woman, grow 5 inches, etc etc. But for serious, these pants are insane. I need them. I think they might complete me.



Where would one find such pants? I had an epiphany. CUSTOM-made. duh. I mean of course. You can't possibly find pants this fantastic and made of leather unless they were made especially for you. Must plan trip to Paris in order to purchase such pants from master tailor. Okay, no. But maybe someone in LA makes custom leather garments? I will report back.

photo from the Sartorialist, obv.

my dress at Alix & Kelly (who I also love)

The dress fits. And I love it. Want to see?



The flower for my hair. Alix & Kelly happened to have the perfect one at their studio. Plus they are adding a few feathers for me. They are the best. (And my grandma's ring that I'm wearing for the wedding.)




Kelly pinning the hem of my dress. (Yes, the women who own the line are actually Alix and Kelly and they are so awesome).




And my shoes with the raggedy pinned hem of the dress.


My mom took all the photos, nice job Mom!

Anyone in LA looking for a beautiful, simple, classy gown I can't say enough times that you should make an appointment with these two women! They are so nice, so thoughtful, so creative... and it feels so great to be wearing a dress made by their little company instead of by a corporate wedding giant. Their studio is downtown in the fashion district (next to the Cooper Building so if you time your appointment right you can hit the sample sales afterwards) and it's low key and full of light and just my style.

And they have v. cute bridesmaid dresses. In like every color you can imagine.

alixkelly.com

go, now, quickly!

our rings

Kay, in honor of entering our wedding month today (hooray!), I thought I'd start with the sharing of the details... that we haven't made ourselves.

First come the rings!



Brock's is palladium and mine is rose gold with teeny french cut diamonds. It's looks pretty and vintagey and is totally different than my engagement ring.

Both are from 23rd Street Jewelers in Santa Monica, for curious LA locals.

cutest obama button set yet

Look at these from the village, (awesome font shop and producers of the infamous "for like ever" poster)...



I didn't get it at first, thinking each button would say obama, but no they are a set!

To read more about the project and to purchase, go to their site: vllg.com