Anthropologies Exercises Cute

Since January, I've been a regular participant at Pure Barre and I'm loving it! While I'd lost a bunch of weight over the last year, the PB classes have noticeably toned me up and helped improve my overall strength, especially in my core area.

And because I was going fairly regularly, I needed to get some new workout gear.  At PB they like you to be somewhat covered up but I also wanted to be cool and comfortable too, especially as it can get a bit warm but I was transitioning in from the cold of outside.

I don't like paying a lot for workout gear so I did a great stock up on cropped compression pants, sports bras and tees at Old Navy.  They really do have great activewear.

But recently I found out that Anthropologie expanded into activewear as well and I love the Pure + Good line.  Their jackets are especially cute, and as I needed an additional option, I nabbed this cute ruffled version

I also got these compression pants with the sweet ruffle, in grey and black.  Some of the reviews have said they were sheer but I find them to be rather thick and not great with breathability.  If you want to keep warm, these would be good options.  They hit me just below mid-calf and are very cute in person.

I got the grey pants on sale but the other two pieces were full price.  If you are buying the higher end yoga/workout gear, I'd say the prices are in line with these.  And they are fun and unique.  I like having a few unique pieces but for general day to day gear I'm sticking to my Old Navy pieces.  Of course, if these hold up tons better than the Old Navy tops, I'll let you know.

Liquified Bouquets

Are prints my "new thing"?

I have to admit, I'm loving all of the printed designs - from butterfly heels to picturesque floral scene dresses and skirts, lush prints are what I am embracing this Spring.

I was entranced with this amazing jacket from Cynthia Rowley when it showed last fall.  It's called the "Liquified Bouquet" and it's dreamy....

When it came up on her store yesterday, I knew it was the type of investment piece that is so unique and special, you'll wear it forever.  A classic shape with a beautiful "twist". 

I could wear this with a sweeping skirt or printed pants (I have a pair of gold pants in mind) or even jeans.  No matter how you pair it, it's going to be amazing.

I can't wait!

Ensemble du Jour

So even though I have a crummy camera, don't think I'm photogenic at all and am too embarrassed to ask someone to take better pics of me, I'm doing a real live here I am in the outfit post. Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer.

Anyway.

On Wednesday, I was getting ready for work and I opened up my armoire. I had on green and thought "maybe I should wear my cute boater." But then I didn't. Why? Because I thought people would think I was a bit silly for wearing my hat.

WTF???

Well, that meant I had to wear one of my new vintage hat finds from the weekend. I have big plans for the hot pink fascinator, so that will have to wait until NYC (TWO WEEKS!!!) but I could wear the other one. A really neat pilbox-y brown hat with a big feather poof!

The outfit was the almost retro-looking plaid jacket and skirt from Target. I paired that with a Proenza Schouler for Target brown camisole. Here it is sans hat:



And with hat:



This hat is a bit silly but I love love love it!

It's it great condition and just fun.

I do need to fix the ribbon that goes around the peak but other than that it is perfect.

For shoes I wore this great pair of Enzo Angiolini peep-toes. They are suede and a sort of lace material.

Just a lovely girly shoe that fits great, is comfortable and, with the peep-toe and bow, adds to the retro vibe.

A perfect example of what I love - classic shape with a unique twist.

Oh, I also took today, Friday off, and got my hair cut. I cut a lot off the length and look! Bangs!

I think this weekend is going to be Seasonal Swap weekend. I'm sure that means I will be totally sick of half of what I own and realize I have nothing to wear with the other half. It is dangerous to do this right before going to NYC. I will have to ensure I don't blow all my money while I'm up there.

Ensemble du Jour

Each day is a new change in the weather around here. I feel like my wardrobe is schizophrenic.

On Earth day, I wore a khaki pencil skirt with a white cami but then had to add a corduroy blazer over it.



4-22-09 by Princess Poochie on Polyvore.com

But, it's Spring darn it! I want to wear some sandals! These Nine West heels are a bit chunky and a bit safari-ish, so I felt they weren't too light an airy, so it was okay.



Are you having as much trouble as I am bridging this crazy weather transition. My heart says "Spring!" by the wind says, "Hey! It's still Winter!"

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I was so excited. I had the day off and I was finally going to get some errands done, including getting my car's oil change. I was going to go to the dealer to drop off the car then walk across the street and have a breakfast at Panera while I waited.

I was thinking I wanted to be all comfy and snuggly and warm. But since I wasn't going to work, I could wear my really bright yellow tights and no one would bug me. My top is this dark green shawl collar sweater jacket from Athropologie. I love the giant golden yellow velvet pin that came with the sweater. My denim skirt to ground it and a pashmina in the same dark olive green for additional warmth.


10-30-08 by Princess Poochie

The Focal Point

Well, yeah... it's the tights. I mean these are BRIGHT! But I love them. And I did get a nice compliment from a lovely older lady at the restaurant. I wore my black flats from Target to further ground the crazy color.



Sadly for me I ended up being at the frigging Panera through lunch because the dealer said I needed my back brakes done too.

Great.

I thought I was doing a quick inexpensive oil change and it ends up being this huge cost. Now I'm broke!

Wonderful.

So that was my Halloween "trick", I guess.

Happy frickin' Halloween.


(Just kidding, folks!)

Ensemble du Jour

The Outfit

I've been trying to be good about planning out my outfits the night before for the next day. I have a tendency to just throw something on because I'm always rushing in the morning. I'd end up wearing the same thing all the time and not wear any of my fun cool stuff.

I wanted to wear this new JCrew jacket, which I just love. It's green metallic bouclé and I like that it has a classic shape but some interesting details to it... and it was on sale! Whoo! Of course this jacket would be great with jeans (and I'm sure I'll wear it with jeans soon) but I had a client meeting so, while I could wear jeans, I didn't really want to.

So that meant a skirt. I have this dressy denim pencil skirt that is less casual but still has some texture to the dark navy fabric. Once I decided on the skirt, I was debating shoes. Oh yeah, and the fact that it was darn cold out. So I needed some tights. I had been thinking I would wear these Claudio Merazzi heels, but thought with so much green I'd be getting into leprechaun territory. And what tights would I wear?



10-28-08 by Princess Poochie

The Focal Point

I ended up deciding on navy tights and my Lela Rose navy and tan polka-dot heels. The navy tights, heel fabric and skirt give a streamlined look and the blue is equal in tone to the green of the jacket. I had a tan camisole on under the jacket which tied back to the dots in the shoes. I also wore a brooch with pearl on it. They mirrored the polka-dots. I also liked the contrast in the two patterns, especially since the jacket's is more textural and tonal.



I really like these navy tights from Target. I bought them to wear with a grey outfit (yet to be worn) but I'm happy with them here too.



I need to put an insole or heel gripper in these. They're a bit slippery, especially with having the tights on.

Back to School

School Supplies by Mon Solo

I'm not sure what it is about school supplies and the back to school time period that I like so much. I was in Target tonight and they were just starting to put out all of the school supplies and I had to take a run down the aisles. I know it's kind of dorky but I just love all the paper, folders, pens and notebooks. I have way way way too many notebooks.

But I also love the prep school/school uniform look. I'm pretty fond of plaid. I think nine years in a parochial school will do that to you. Now I when I see plaid skirts or school boy jackets I just can't resist.

I just got two blazers that I found on sale for 50% off. I wasn't familiar with the BB Dakota line but they're awfully cute. When I did a search to get some images, I saw my cute blazer was in WWD.



It was the Beetlejuice-iness of the stripes that made me jump on it. B&W graphic stripes. Yes please!









There were not a lot of images on the site I bought it from so when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised by all of the detail on the jacket. It's a little long in the sleeves but that is pretty typical for me. It's also a bit loose in the torso but I think I can always get it taken in, or even corset up the back with some ribbon.

I also got this jacket for 50% off and it's also by BB Dakota. This one is navy with white edges.




Here's my favorite surprise detail - both jackets have these giant safety pins at the cuff rather than buttons. Gah! Adorable!









I got both jackets for less than $100 bucks. Quite the bargain! I'm sooo pleased.

My New Obsession

If you haven't seen the movie Nanny McPhee, you should go out and watch it right now. Yes, it's very similar to Mary Poppins (the helpful nanny with magical powers and the ability to bring the family back together and all) but the main reason to watch it is because of the sets and wardrobe.

Everything is all crazy colors and patters and none of it should match or go together but it does. In a so wild its great kind of way.



I love color and inspite of my self-imposed wardrobe color pallette, I would secretly love to dress as vibrantly as they do. I wish my house was that intense as well.



Even the muted tones still have whimsical contrast and I love the textures in this grey outfit of Colin Firth.



I totally aspire to his wardrobe throughout. In his wedding outfit for example - he's wearing the palest tan color but his tie looks like it's a very very pale watery blue-lavender. Gorgeous!



Every character and room in the film is filled with the most inspired color and pattern combinations. You have to watch it a few times to absorb them all.

But my favorite by far is this grassy green velvet jacket that he wears a few times during the movie. This is my new obsession. I MUST have a velvet jacket in this color (minus the tails).



Must. Have. Jacket.

Is there any hope?

Photo Source: firth.com

A quick lesson in good vs bad

Okay, just in case you weren't sure, good patchwork is...

...warm snuggly quilts made by your grandmother, great aunt, mother or the Amish. Perfect for cold winter morning hiding beneath and/or snuggle. Also good for picnics and hot chocolate.



... madras jackets, clam bakes, G&T, mint juleps in silver julep cups, Cap Cod, lobster rolls, sailing, khaki men's shorts and suede or saddle shoe Bucs.



Bad patchwork is...

... any button-down shirt paired with "mom jeans". I don't care if it hides spills. You look like a badly upholstered sofa.




... this purse. Not because its $52,500 but because it's plain ugly and egotistical.



... Marc Jacob trying to make us believe that trolling through scrap piles and making a shoe out of it. Uh-uh, no.



Patchwork in 99.9% of fashion is not "whimsical" or "versatile" or fun. You look like pile of used hankies or a remnant pile at best.

It's best just to avoid this look altogether.