Adrien: One more for posterity.

Okay, this is the last one with The Bag. The Bag that is Not Mine. I've grown quite attached, though. I'm wearing it with my favorite dress and a pair of shoes I'd kind of forgotten about and now I can't believe I ever stopped wearing them. My only issue with this outfit is how sad that cardigan looks. It's so thin that the shoulder buttons on the dress make me look like I have dinosaur spikes and it's maybe just a little over-droopy. But it kept me warm, which is important. (I do not understand these people I see running around in shirtsleeves when it's below 65 degrees.)  Anyway:

dress: BCBG
cardigan: Gap (similar)
belt: Lauren Ralph Lauren (similar)
shoes: Sam Edelman (similar)
bag: LV Epi Speedy (similar)

Getting Real.

M: Tell the truth, if you saw this walking toward you on any given day:

Would you pee your pants right on the spot?

A: Like a nervous spaniel. Is she a fashion Dementor?

M: I think she is a freaking alien.

A: I like her handbag, from what I can tell but I'm too scared to get a better look.

M: Something about her is making me think of the Diva from The Fifth Element (one of my secret favorite movies, don't judge):

But she still scares the crap out of me.

A: Oh, totally! I do think she's pulling off the "draped in white boneless waif creature" think admirably. She looks fantastic. Scary, but fantastic.

I just hope she doesn't take a header in those shoes.

M: I am pretty sure she can fly, so no big.

A: Oh, that's probably true. Though thinking about her tripping reminded me of the time when I was in college and the local vampirey-goth couple was gliding down the sidewalk all ethereal and the female half tripped and totally took a header and we all laughed and laughed. Mean, I know, but it was really funny at the time.

A: Actually, it's still funny. To me.

M: I just laughed. I am mean! And THAT reminds me of the time I saw our local tough as nails, PBR-drinking, tattoo'd, tortured artist rockstar at J.Crew, loading up on some Tissue Tees.

A: NICE.

M: It is probably wrong how satisfying I found that.

A: Nothing says gritty loner like J Crew, that is for sure.

M: I'm going to throw down and write some soulful shit about these here Cafe Chinos.

A: You just made me snort-laugh.

M:

Woke up this morning
put on my Saturday sweater
you may have left me
But I've never looked better.

A: I just wiped away a little tear. With the corner of my Lady Lace Popover.

M: I don't know how we ended up here, but I'm glad we did.

Adrien: Loaner.

Full disclosure: The bag? Not mine. My friend Nina was nice enough to lend it to me to try on for size. I've been wanting a "speedy" type bag for a long time and she finally convinced me that maybe what I need is an actual Speedy, not something similar that doesn't quite shape up. Hence, I am starting to sell off some things so I can save towards a vintage LV epi Speedy. (Maybe.)

It's not for everyone, the handheld satchel, and I wasn't 100% sure it was for me, but dang, it's growing on me:

bag: LV Epi Speedy (similar)
breton top: Boden (similar)
skirt: Sematiks (similar)
boots: Camper (similar)
trench: Banana Republic (similar)

Marianne: Saggy Pants Blues.

I think it is almost time to say goodbye to my favorite pair of jeans (or at least banish them to the early maternity/postpartum fat pants bin).

I told myself that maybe the band at the bottom of this shirt would help hold them up. I was wrong. So wrong.
In fact, even as I am standing totally still in these photos, I swear you can see them inching down.
Farewell, excellent jeans. I will miss you.

jeans: Rock & Republic

shirt: Ella Moss

jacket: Marc Jacobs

necklace: Diana Warner

shoes: Frye Lisa T-Strap

Do you have an item of clothing that you keep trying to wear, even though it doesn't fit? Fess up.

Adrien: Oops.

So, I've been re-evaluating and purging with a goal in mind. Normally when I have one big thing I want to buy I'm able to be really focused. I returned most of the purchases I was hesitant about (sorry, Frye shoes) and wasn't too upset when the Ann Taylor trench sold out before I could re-buy it even cheaper. Eyes on the prize, yo.

But, when I was killing time in Old Navy last week (normally a store that doesn't tempt me) I stumbled across this:

It's internet-only and I'd had my eye on it for a long, long time. But it was never...quite cheap enough to tempt me. However, because this one was an internet return (in my size!), it was marked an additional 50% off the sale price. Yeah. It came home with me and I promptly wore it the entire next day. I haven't had a leather jacket in well over ten years! It's surprisingly nice too - soft washed leather,cool wide collar, fits just right.

Keep in mind: this is absolutely the wrong outfit to wear it with, but I wanted to show you guys anyway:

 

And my outfit, just for kicks:

 

dress: Target (similar)
necklace: Charming Charlie (super expensive similar version here)
shoes: Chie Mihara (Miz Mooz version here)
bag: Marc Jacobs Blake (similar)
jacket: Old Navy (similar cotton version here)

Marianne: Weekend Playdate.

Nothing too exciting here. Headed out to a chilly weekend playdate with Lulu. I don't know how the weather is where you live, but for the past couple of weeks here, it's been chilly. I'm glad this weekend warmed up.

Normally I'd restrict corduroy pants to fall/winter, but these are so thin and stretchy and comfortable that I keep on wearing them anyway.
I bought two of these open jersey cardigans from Forever 21 when I was heading back to work after having a baby, and I still love them a lot.

tank: Forever 21 (similar pattern here)

jersey cardigan: Forever 21 (similar cut here)

pants: LOFT Modern Slim Corduroys (only $10 right now!)

socks: Falke

clogs: Miz Mooz Rain

bag: Marc Jacobs Stella (similar color here)

scarf: vintage

Adrien: This Damn Dress.

I struggle every time I wear this dress because it should be SO EASY and it's just not. At all. But I love the color and I love that it's a perfect backdrop for something patterned. Last time I wore my peacock print scarf with it and this time I went with animal print, because that's how I do.

(what is with the face here? I have no idea.)

Leopardy goodness!

dress: Banana Republic (similar)

tights: Spanx patterned Tight-End tights

scarf: Ann Taylor Wild Leopard Luxe Scarf

shoes: Sam Edelman (similar-ish)

bag: Coach (similar)