Outfits Not Just Clothes

I'll be back to my full time job next week and I definitely have mixed emotions. While I'm ready to "return to the world" so to speak, I've really enjoyed my time at home with my baby. In preparation I've picked up a few items to easy the transition. First off, some back-to-work clothes! Anthropologie Yep, that's a umbrella/raindrop print on this blouse, how perfect for spring! I can't decide if i want to bust this out next week, or wait until April showers are in full effect...   Who What Wear from Target I was really excited to hear about Who What Wear's collaboration with Target, and the first collection offered solid basics and easy work-wear pieces. Loving the bright blue of this top, which will be a great bit of color under blazers at the office.  Uniqlo I have the same cut of pants in plaid, seen here and here , and I am in dire need of a standard black pant (as my pre-pregnancy pairs don't yet fit, and my mat

 That's some fun hair, amiright?! This wrap is great on a windy day, bringing the drams! pants-J.Crew(similar here ), dress- Old Navy , wrap-ModCloth(similar here ), necklace-Antrhopologie(similar here ), loafers-Zara(similar here ) The dress-over-pants trend has been brewing for awhile now, but I've not been a huge fan. Here I'm giving it a go with a fuller T-shirt dress, and casual pants. This is not an outfitting technique that works with most dresses. To avoid looking silly it's best to keep the silhouette simple, think shifts, or mini-dresses over cropped, or straight-leg pants. Anything with too many bells and whistles will be hard to pull off. Of course, if you're on the tall side you could get away with longer lengths. Meanwhile, this striped cardi was all kinds of fun on a windy day!

My maternity leave is shortly coming to an end... :( And while I'm excited to be "returning to the world" I'm also dreading being away from my baby... So I'm consoling myself with organizing her clothes and prepping her outfits for the first week.  Day One : Pure & precious with a ducks-and-turtles one-piece with matching hoodie. Is it a mistake to dress a 3-month old baby in all white for her first day of nursery care with a bunch of other slobbery, snotty babies? Probably, but I want her to make a good first impression.  Second Day : Separates! This is one of her more "frou frou" looks with the hearts and purple. I really love her little pants with their apres ski-ready pattern, and it's hard to see but that onesie is striped, so we have print-mixing!  Day Three : Another one piece, this time with a bit more of a "grown-up" print.  Scandinavian-esque Birds to mix things up.  Day Four & Five : I'm

coat-H&M(similar here ), scarf-J.Crew(similar here ), sweater dress- Jessica Howard via Le Tote , boots- Sorel , jeans-Martin & Osa(similar here ) Every time I leave the house here this past week I've been sporting this striped sweater dress, jeans, and boots. You may recall my mention of said boots, in this post . They have been really doing the work here during this past snow storm, and they pair perfectly with my go-to jeans. Wearing this striped dress as a tunic has proven to be quite a versatile! From running errands, to going to dinner, to visiting friends, it's more put together then jeans and a sweat shirt, just as comfortable, and the front pockets are great for carrying around bobby pins, pacifiers, and chap stick--all "Mommy On The Go" essentials. The checkered scarf adds another pattern to the look, which I've been doing a lot of, as seen here , here , and here . Speaking of print-mixing

cape- Octavia via Le Tote , blouse-Anthropologie(similar here ), pants- Uniqlo , sneakers-Old Navy(similar here ), necklace-Gifted watch- Wenger I rocked a cape a few months ago here , with the same blouse as in this outfit. Now, post-baby I'm still digging some cape drams and loving how this drapey blouse just seems made to pair with capery! At first I was going to throw on a blazer with this look, but realized that was a pretty staid outfitting technique and I needed to switch things up. So, it was a Le Tote cape to the rescue as a statement piece and to add just a bit of drama to this standard blouse and trouser combo.

sweater coat- Sanctuary via Le Tote , pants- Philosophy via Le Tote , tee-Urban Outfitters(similar here ), loafers- Isaac Mizrahi , necklace/bracelet- Jewel Mint , leggings- Old Navy Two weeks ago I was all classy ladylike in black and white here . And this past weekend I went for a casual look. I don't need to tell you how versatile black and white can be, I mean like duh, you can wear it so many ways. You may recall this tee from this post , and this sweater coat from this post . And even though we had another warm and lovely spurt, I did layer some black leggings under these slouchey pants for a bit of extra warmth, it wasn't THAT nice out.