stretchy pants

Hello! and happy Sunday!

I put together this look almost a month ago (*wide eye emoji*) so just imagine it now with a larger belly. However, it was perfect for wearing to work (leggings with a stretchy/flowy top), so I'm planning to repeat it soon.

That being said, I'm working on sharing my capsule wardrobe with you, but even in the few weeks since I took pictures of my items, I've discarded a few items (too small for now) and added a few more (birthday gifts from my parents), so there will be some edits. Hope you don't mind that I'll be utilizing an ever-evolving capsule wardrobe - it's a bit tough to put finite limits on getting dressed when your belly is growing everyday and your body is changing to support it...look for that post this week! I'm excited to dip my toes into a capsule wardrobe with you!

short sleeve tunic? top?: Kohl's (maternity)

striped long sleeve top: Kohl's (non-maternity)

black leggings: Old Navy (maternity)

black flats: BCBG via TJ Maxx

double duty

Windy & sunny days in Colorado do terrible things to my hair, and they make me squint in my blog pictures. Oofta.

Moving on...I found this dress at my local Clothes Mentor, and I'm really glad I happened upon it. I'd been admiring it and its navy blue cousin on PinkBlush's website for a few weeks. I snagged it and retreated to the dressing room as soon as I found it.It's a nice, springy maxi dress that I'm thinking would look okay postpartum, as well.

How's that for finding something I'd been eyeing, finding it on sale, and making it pull double duty? That's what we call smart shopping around here, folks.

maxi dress: consignment (PinkBlush)

metallic wedges: thrifted

headband: Lilly for Target

texturize

All of these neutral items are part of my "Maternity Capsule Wardrobe" (more on that soon!). My regular olive skinnies (RIP) were donated to Goodwill after heavy use over the past two and a half years. So I was thrilled to find these maternity olive skinnies at the thrift store - I think I even did a little jig in the dressing room when they fit. I won't sing the praises of olive-colored skinnies, but if you need some idea of how versatile they really are, check out these posts from the past. That's just the tip of the iceberg, trust me.

This oatmeal-colored sweater from my Mama has provided a nice backdrop for some different color combinations, while also extending the wearability of my wardrobe. It's a keeper, until it doesn't meet my pants anymore, then it will get boxed up with the rest of my pre & post-bebe wardrobe. But, for now, it's a nice & neutral color that plays well with others and provides any look with an interesting texture (and we know how I luuuuurve texture).

oatmeal sweater: Coldwater Creek from my Mama

scarf: gift from a friend

olive skinnies: thrifted

nude flats: Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom Rack

fickle spring

I could only salvage a few decent pictures of this outfit due to the wind. A "perk" (curse?) of living in Colorado, I guess. The latest perk is that after a few weeks of sunshine and warmer weather, it snowed this past week (I knew we weren't done with snow yet) and I even had a snow day!

Springtime in the Rockies is a tricky thing, and the earlier you embrace it, the better. Just because you were able to patio drink (not me) in March doesn't mean that spring is here - it means that it will still snow in March, April, and most likely May. Just take it as it is, roll with it, and don't get too bummed about having to continue to wear your sweaters and coats and boots. But also appreciate being able to wear a lightweight sweater and no socks when it's not freezing, like yours truly ;)

white sweater: Coldwater Creek from my Mama

jeans: PinkBlush Maternity

scarf: Target

cobalt flats: Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx

repeating the good stuff

I picked up this dress at Target a few weeks ago. One thing that I have found challenging when shopping for maternity clothes is that a lot of them are very cute, nice looking items, but when I go to try them on, they’re incredibly THIN. Meaning I’ll have to wear at least a tanktop underneath, if not something more substantial. And some items show every nook & cranny of my changing body, or every wrinkle & crinkle of my undergarments (not ok).

Since this little bebe is due to arrive in June, I know I won’t be interested in wearing more layers than absolutely necessary, so I’ve only been purchasing items that are of a thicker material. This dress fits the bill - no need for a slip, tank top, of shapewear underneath it. I like it so much, I’m tempted to order it in every color that’s available (who knows how many that could be?!), but I also keep reminding myself that pregnancy is not forever (although it can feel like it at times), and that to keep this dress interesting, I just need to switch up how I style it.

And, worst case scenario (not really,though), I could just wear it the same way more than once – the truth is, no one else notices if we repeat our clothes, it’s just us - it's all in our minds. Other people are too busy with their own closets, lives, work, families, etc. to concern themselves with the fact that I might have worn this dress twice (thrice?) in the same week...

black dress: Target - Liz Lange Maternity

pink scarf: gift

pink flats: Coldwater Creek

open-ended

The Mr. got me this lightweight silver/gray sweater for Valentine’s Day and it’s been a big hit – I’ve received lots of compliments every time I’ve worn it; it’s very comfortable, and easy to wash & take care of. And with such a neutral color, the styling possibilities are very open-ended: today, cobalt. Next time, maybe blush. After that, maybe black. After than, maybe some neon. WHO KNOWS?!

gray sweater: Kohl's (maternity)

leggings: Old Navy (maternity)

cobalt flats : Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx

statement necklace: local consignment

a little bit of fit

This top is a recent addition to my maternity wardrobe – I’ve also got it in black & gray. I like the feel of these tops, but mostly I was looking at what I could comfortably wear as a tunic now, and as a shirt later, when my bump prevents any other top from meeting my pants. They’re nice and flowy, but I’m learning they need to be paired with some structure so I don’t look and feel like a blob. Something structured or more fitted somewhere in my outfit, is helping me to feel a lot more put together and human lately. While leggings and loose tops are great, something to define my legs or bump go a long way.

I added the vest so I wouldn’t be wearing leggings as pants, but instead as pants under a tunic-type layer. This scarf is a gift from my sister-in-law many Christmases ago and I’m always impressed that it manages to go with almost everything, especially since the gray can lean purple and the dots can lean highlighter yellow in the wrong light.

Happy Spring!!

cobalt v neck: Kohl's (maternity)

fringe vest: Aéropostale, 

black leggings: Old Navy (maternity)

scarf: gift (Old Navy)

cobalt flats: Calvin Klein via TJ Maxx

not a bruise

the moody teenager

Although this outfit is comprised of the colors that make up a bruise (black, purple, and mint counts as blue, right?), I did not intend to actually dress AS a bruise. So, sorry to disappoint if you thought that's where this was headed.

I can't say enough how much I love this black chambray, and these black pants, and, oh, those python print flats. What will I ever do when they've had their last wear and must retire? T'will be a sad day, indeed.

Anyways, I like this outfit. I like all the black, all the purple, all the stripes, the good hair day (few and far between, lately - chronic oversleeping syndrome, ya know), and the handsome (although moody & easily annoyed) bully pictured above.

I know this seems a bit dark for June and almost-but-not-quite-summer, but, the high today was only in the 60s-ish, and it was rainy and gloomy, so totally appropriate.

Me says yes.

purple striped v-neck: Target

black chambray: Old Navy

black skinnies: Target

python print flats: WalMart

linking up:

Fizz & Frosting // Fashionably Employed // Cha Cha // Rhea et Cetera

Style Nudge // Garay Treasures // The Pleated Poppy // Because Shanna Said So

Pumps & Pushups // The Mummy Chronicles // Sydney Fashion Hunter // Shopping My Closet

I do Declaire // Sincerely Jennie // Middle of Somewhere // Cappuccino and Fashion

Cassidy Lou

saturday

Layers. Chambray. Plaid. Booties. Gold, and a side braid. 

Oofta. Saturday, you're here at least.

plaid button up: c/o Aéropostale

chambray dress: Kohl's 

gold belt: thrifted (Target)

ankle booties: Kohl's

teal & sky blue

Teal on teal, plus dark hair and dark skinnies. That's apparently how I roll. Or at least how I rolled on this particular day.

I've had this cardigan since high school...but the color never gets old! It's such a nice sky blue meets teal that makes my eyes POP, so, even though, it is almost the age of a 5th grader, on my sweater shelf it remains. And, wow, has the way I style it changed ten times over - Lara, Mom, can we all agree that this is very different than how I used to wear it way-back-when? (we're talking a tank top underneath, flared jeans, STRAIGHT hair, and those clog-type slide-on shoes everyone was wearing between 2005 and 2007 (mine were taupe). I might have even had a string (or five) of shell necklaces...

Back to THIS outfit: what I like about the combination of this plaid button-up and cardigan is twofold:

1) it mixes old and new(er) items in my closet; and

2) the monochromatic vibe is still there, without being TOO overwhelming,

know'i'msayin'?

plaid button up: c/o Aéropostale

cardigan: Eddie Bauer

dark skinnies: c/o Aéropostale

pink flats: Coldwater Creek

linking up:

Cappuccino & Fashion // Shopping My Closet

Lizzie in Lace & I Do DeClaire

The Red Closet Diary // Sydney Fashion Hunter