Pregnant in Paisley

Now 5 months pregnant, I'm starting to not only show... but the struggle to dress myself is real. I've clung to my pre-maternity clothes for as long as I could... but the reality of waiting till next year to wear my many of my winter dresses is setting in. 

I purchased this paisley print dress when I was pregnant, knowing that it would give me some room for a couple of months. I ended up wearing it to a family function, and surprisingly, it wasn't strangling my stomach. The cardigan I'll get plenty of use out of, but those purple tights - no way. I haven't really seen many stores carry traditional "maternity pantyhose", so I've bought size Large in some cases... 

If I'm being honest - shopping for maternity clothes is kind of a bummer. Tops are fine, but pants, especially jeans - there aren't that many options. I wear a lot of black and grey, which is making me feel limited. I think this is why I'm trying everything I can to be as bright as I can with my outfits before I reach the point where I can give a s^&* about style and am more concerned with my comfort.

Regardless, I have to say it's really crazy to watch all the changes your body goes through when pregnant. These pictures are a couple weeks behind what I currently look like, but still, you can see my twin bump making its way out. I miss my waistline... and not seeing my feet when I look down has finally happened!

Outfit details:

Paisley Print Dress - Forever 21 / Knit Cardigan - Forever 21 / Purple Tights - H&M / Grey Wedge Booties - MIA Shoes / Rebecca Minkoff Bag (won it 2 years ago at a South Moon Under opening) / Gold Necklace - South Moon Under / Alex and Ani Bracelets

Birds of a Feather

I have a tendency to buy clothing without realizing I may or may not have something to match it with in my closet. I make 99% of my shopping choices based off of how unique it is against my wardrobe. It's an exciting way to shop if you ask me, since you end up with a bunch of pieces you love. Like my Jeffrey Campbell shoes - I bought these 7 years ago, and today, they are one of my favorite purchases. At the time, I hated green, but I absolutely loved the cut of the shoe. 

I must say, I really do love how feminine this outfit is. The skirt, from Wizards of the West, is so out of the ordinary for me in terms of a not being a floral print or stripe, but it's got an artsy feel to it as the birds look somewhat abstract. Since it was a cool day, I wanted  had to wear a sweater, and this monogram J pullover that I nabbed from Old Navy draws from the light blue in the print. 

I know my outfits might look of a similar theme on House Of Jeffers, but in my opinion, it's more important to wear what you love than to try and please everyone else. Sure, I'm a fan of trends and love incorporating them into my style, but I feel so much more like myself when I'm wearing clothes that represent more than just what's popular... Clothes and pieces that represent my personality and my love for diversity are much more important to me than following the crowd.

Maybe that makes me an outcast as a fashion blogger. But, I hope that the shift towards embracing the differences among us, versus celebrating bloggers all wearing similar outfits because it's "the thing to do" becomes more acceptable.

Monogram J Sweater - Old Navy / Bird Print Skirt - c/o Wizards Of The West / Rebecca Minkoff Blake Bag - won at a South Moon Under event (sold out, but here's a similar style)  / Jeffrey Campbell Kitten Heels - sold out, but these JC shoes are just as pretty! / Heart Beat Ring - Etsy / Chain Link Bracelet - Charming Charlie

South Moon Under hits Westfield, NJ

Just when I thought I couldn't love downtown Westfield, New Jersey any more - South Moon Under comes and opens a store there! I am no stranger to SMU as last year they opened up a South Moon Under in Montclair - so it was a no-brainer that I be on hand to help them celebrate the Grand Opening of their new location... 15 minutes away from my house. This could be dangerous.

 

The #SMUParty kicked off during Downtown Westfield's Girl's Night Out, and offered music, mingling and of course, a chance to update my Fall wardrobe. Don't think I didn't do a little shopping that night... I nabbed something so utterly hipster. I'm not spilling what it is, but see if you can figure out what it is from the photos.

What I love about South Moon Under is their mixture of designer clothing (Rebecca Minkoff, Marc by Marc Jacobs), jewelry (House Of Harlow), beauty (Stila) and even those adorable phrase artwares from Primitives by Kathy. A little bit of everything no matter what your taste is, the store is packed and waiting for people like me to get all kid in a candy store in it.

You know and love her: Rebecca Minkoff bags at South Moon Under.

 

Hanging with beauty blogger Melissa of SuperGlamNews.com. New Jersey bloggers unite!

The South Moon Under crew made it official by cutting the ribbon for the new store!

Of course, if you know there's something going on mani related, I'm all up in it: On hand (pun intended) to hook up ladies with free manicures for the night was butterLONDON! I went for a shade of orange called Jaffa. 

Congrats to South Moon Under for another awesome night of style and shopping! Be sure to stop by the new SMU store on E. Broad Street in Westfield, New Jersey! 

Cut It Out

I have to admit that I was a little weary of cut-out dresses. Am I too old to wear a dress that exposes part of my mid-section? Perhaps. But, the Aztec print on this Charlotte Russe dress was screaming "Who cares? I'm an Aztec print, darn it! You know you want me... "

Having a part of my body that I normally don't show off being exposed took some getting used to. But, when I wore this dress, it happened to be 89 degrees out - so there was my excuse.

And if I happen to head to an outdoor concern this summer, say, one with Adam Levine and a band called Maroon 5, which I might have tickets for to see in August, I just might wear this dress in the off-chance that Mr. Levine sees me, and my midriff, in the crowd.

Dance it out, ya'll.

Outfit Details:

Cut-Out Aztec Print Dress - c/o Charlotte Russe (similar style) / Mini Blake Bag - Rebecca Minkoff / Ghillie Wedge - c/o Charlotte Russe (similar style) / Vintage Heart Necklace / Dual Tone Spike Bracelet - c/o Ettika, Part of the House Of Jeffers bracelet stack / Henri Bendel Bow Bracelet (similar style) / Gold Knuckle Ring - Urban Outfitters