Rocking the Bump

Meet Mary, my (uber stylish) dear friend and soon-to-be mother of three. Mary and I met years ago in a "league." Yes, you read that correctly…but it wasn't a league that required bowling skills or football knowledge....it was Fashion Fantasy League. Our draft party consisted of dirty martinis, five other sassy friends and plenty of smack talk. Eyes met, style sparks flew and the rest is history. We recently spent a couple days in NYC attending Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and she looked stunning while rocking her baby bump! I asked Mary to dish her secrets. If you have any additional questions, please post a comment and she will continue to enlighten us… C: What are the basics when it comes to looking stylish while pregnant?

M: They are the same as when you are not pregnant; work with your body type. At some point this means embracing the bump, as this becomes quite the focal point of your body. I love this part of pregnancy, I mean, when else in your post-college life are you drawing focus to your abdominal region?! You could just about put a snug shirt with arrows on it pointing to your belly, and people would say, "Look at the cute preggo!"

C: What are your favorite stores to shop for maternity clothes?

M: Hot Mama and Pea in the Pod is where I've had luck finding a few preggo specific items, namely denim. Mostly, I wear a lot of "regular" clothes that happen to fit my new body. Bluebird and Anthropologie are a couple of places where I've found some favorite pieces. Oh, and I do keep my eye on H&M maternity although it's very hit or miss.

C: Is there anything that just isn’t flattering to wear while pregnant?

M: Of course! Any time you make your proportions look like Mama Cass/The Snapple Lady/ or that lady from the Drew Carey show, you don't look good. A bulky top with wide pants and flats will make you look like a monster.

C: Any tips for dressing up for a night on the town?

M: Sassy top + skinny jeans + high heeled shoes or boots = hot mamacita. It's ok to still look sexy when you are preggo-extraordinaire. I'm not saying you should look like a two-bit hooker, but don't feel the need to be covered from head to toe in "modest modern" Duggar style garb.

C: Do you have any favorite secret maternity products or tips?

M: When I was pregnant with my first child I managed to score a few samples of Creme de la Mer which I used judiciously on my belly and didn't get a single stretch mark. With my second pregnancy, I used regular moisturizer and recieved a stretch mark one week before the baby arrived. For my third pregnancy I am using Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil, which seems awesome, although I won't know if it actually did the trick until I deliver in February. So, La Mer worked for sure, so if you would like to splurge, I totally recommend it.

Furry Fall Looks

While I love keeping up to speed on each seasons trends, I am truly a classic girl at heart. This fall we have plenty of lovely and timeless trends to embrace: clean lines, camel coats, structured handbags, chunky knits...and fur. Love it or hate it, faux fur and real fur were ALL over the fall 2010 runway. A friend and I were pouring through our favorite September fashion magazines on our flight home from NYC yesterday and we noticed that many featured Chanel’s double spread ad with lots-of-fur-meets-Native American-inspired looks. While I have always loved Chanel...this season I am hoping that they are going through a phase (much like my baggy jeans and flannel-wearing phase in junior high school). I wasn’t one of the lucky few that was able to attend the Chanel fall 2010 collection runway show, but I am guessing that the models dressed in head-to-toe fur were quite entertaining to watch stroll down the cat walk (especially  for all of the Star Wars fans).

Yes, fashion is an art and the runway is meant for inspiration and interpretation, but this is a look that brought plenty of conversation and giggles during our flight. Do I think a fur vest would be a great addition to your fall wardrobe? Sure. Do I think tall fur boots are necessary? Nope. They are just going to look like a shaggy dog after a muddy spring walk.

And should you splurge on a fur handbag? Nada….unless you want strangers asking to “pet your purse.”

Would love to hear your thoughts on this hairy trend! Do you love it...or hate it?

Prep in Your Step

Boat shoes are putting some major prep in my step this summer! I absolutely love the classic look and the oh-so-comfy wear. They have officially replaced the UGG and moccasin in my closet. And to all of you that own crocs…this is your new best friend! It wouldn’t do the shoe justice if I didn’t mention the practicality. Over 7 decades ago, in 1935 Paul Sperry invented a shoe for the man who loved the thrill of sailing on the open water and named them Sperry Top-Siders. The white rubber sole is meant for stability and to help avoid scratching or marking the deck of a boat. Thank goodness a few designers realized that women would embrace this look!

They're a timeless classic for a reason -- as practical for active wear as they are stylish for dress-down Fridays or weekend trips. They’re preppy, and like a polo shirt — anyone can wear them!

One important thing to note – Always sport them barefoot. Never (ever) pair them with socks.

Here are a few of my favorites:

A Monet Spring

Florals are not exactly the most progressive spring trend, but each season I welcome them back like an old, dear friend. Floral prints have an enduring ladylike softness about them. Even if afternoon teatime may not be a part of your daily routine, that doesn't mean that you can't sport a garden-inspired wardrobe at the office or while running errands. The idea of mixing varying florals in contrasting colors adds a modern approach to a classic staple - I like to call it fresh femininity. How should you wear them? When purchasing a dress, look for modern floral prints which have a watercolor effect - much like that of a Monet canvas (see Vivienne Tam Spring 2010 runway image above).  The soft modern florals are more flattering – stay away from large and/or harsh florals.

For a more casual look, choose a beautiful floral pencil shirt and pair it with a rugged military-inspired canvas jacket and a simple white tank (see J.Crew example below).

Trend Tip: Try mixing floral with other patterns! For example, a structured pinstripe short would pair well with an ethereal floral top.

All Things 'Blue'

What is it about this color that makes my heart race? Ever since I was a little girl, I loved collecting anything turquoise. And growing up in a small town did not exactly instill an early interest in anything that came in a Tiffany box...so this fascination stemmed from my mother’s jewelry box, Easter eggs and the amped up robin’s egg blue paint my Grandmother spread throughout her house.

The color has always reminded me of a Caribbean vacation – it is incredibly fresh. If I close my eyes I can almost smell it – part clean linen, part ocean with a splash of gardenia.

Although Tiffany Blue is the colloquial name for this color and is a protected color trademark by Tiffany & Co. (p.s. the pantone PMS color is 1837 but is not printed in swatch books)...you can find your own lovely aqua variation in various accessories, clothing and home décor. And just like the iconic little box, Tiffany blue brings excitement and sophistication to an outfit or a room.

Sailor-Made

We are in for a very striped spring (as seen on the runway) and I am finding nautical inspiration to be fresh and simple. The oldie-but-goodie striped sailor-style shirt has suddenly become an au currant must-have for spring. I love it. I love it so much that I own five of them all with different sleeve lengths and necklines. Sailor gluttony? Maybe...but they are just so darn comfortable, versatile and can be found affordably! The “Breton” shirt originated in Brittany – a French province that occupies the peninsula between the English Channel and Bay of Biscay – which explain its nautical  affiliation. Coco Chanel and her love for menswear brought this fashion trend to women in the 1960’s and we can’t thank her enough! And I don’t know about you, but I have an obsession with European women and their sense of style. How do they ALWAYS looks chic? When I was on the French Riviera in fall 2008, I witnessed effortlessly chic European women wearing Breton shirts as they strolled along the beaches in Antibes as well as searching for treasures at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen (flea market north of Paris). They were everywhere—nautical-striped shirts tossed over slouchy pants or skirts. Although this shirt is the perfect low-key option, remember it can also be dressed up with a skirt and a seasonally appropriate heel for a sassy summer ensemble.

The Breton shirt is the perfect tres chic afternoon look, no matter whether you're sailing or merely captaining a lawn chair!

Here is one way to incorporate the look into your own wardrobe...