Honestly? I’ve spent a great deal of time over the past nine months wearing comfortable, loose tops, leggings and fur-lined slippers. I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I wore jeans every day at my desk (ha!) or that I didn’t have the occasional closet-related meltdown (I did) or that I was able to wear my pre-maternity jeans until I was 7 months along (I’ve purposely avoided them since month 3).

But, there are a few little things I’ve picked up and I thought someone out there might find them useful!

PLAN AHEAD

When you find out your pregnant and start assessing how well your closet will hold up over the next 40-odd weeks, get out a calendar and figure out what seasons you will be pregnant, most pregnant and mostest pregnant in. If you’re in your final months in the winter, like me, you may want to hold off on buying maternity dresses and instead look for warm leggings and trousers. If you’re due in late summer, you’ll want to find things like cute shorts (they do exist, I promise), dresses and lots of sleeveless tops.

The best way to figure out what you may need is to jot down the typical outfits you wear each season and then figure out what you can make do with and what you MAY need to purchase.

For example, I knew I would be largest in the fall/winter. In the winter, I tend to wear lots of tights and leggings with dresses or tunics or flowy tops. I like to layer sweaters or cardigans over jeans and pair everything with boots and scarves. Lucky for me, I wasn’t a fan of super-tight clothing to begin with and almost everything had a bit of give. But, I knew I’d want more denim options and plenty of long camisoles to go under sweaters that might be a couple inches too short with a pregnant stomach to contend with. I decided not to bother with a maternity coat because I was already tending to get more hot (I’m never, ever cold) and I could add a sweater or a scarf or leave my jacket open if I needed to.

BASICS

Instead of buying a pair of $200 maternity jeans, here is a list of much more useful items that you’ll use almost every day from about 5-6 months onward:

• Leggings - Even if it’s summer, you’ll want to have a stretchy, comfortable pair of leggings waiting for you at home.
• Bras - As someone who was not particularly well-endowed, it was quite a shock to transition to wearing bras every waking minute of my life. Find comfortable, affordable ones and make sure to pick up a few that don’t have underwire if you find you have to sleep with a bra on for extra support. 
• Extra-Long Camisoles - I love picking up 4 or 5 at H&M for about $5 each. I went up about 3 sizes to accomodate for my stomach and they’re still the perfect length and have helped me get more mileage out of my pre-pregnancy shirts that fit everywhere except in length. Get them in basic colors: black, gray, white. And buy multiples! 
• Cotton Brief Underwear - Thongs are awesome, but trust me. You’ll want some like this.
• Plain Tees - Grab a few plain maternity tees (long and short-sleeved) from Target. They’re not so maternity-esque that you won’t be able to use them for layering options post-baby and you’ll be glad to have these basics on hand.

WORKING GIRL

If you have a stricter dress code at your 9-5, think about incorporating the following:

• Maternity Tights - Get several pairs in opaque gray and black.
• Maternity Dresses - Look for styles that you can accessorize differently to get lots of looks out of one piece. A dress like this one from Target is a perfect example. Wear it with wedges in the summer and tights and pumps in the winter. To save money and avoid making lots of dress purchases, go through your closet and move everything with a zipper (back or side) to one side of your closet. Everything else—wrap dresses, over-the-head dresses, knit dresses, etc.—can stay. You’ll be able to wear these for quite a while. Watch the length though!
• Trousers/Pants - Wear your normal pants for as long as you can comfortably and then extend the waistband with the hairband trick or with a belly band. Check H&M and Old Navy for a few pairs of dead-cheap trousers or pants to get you through the rest of the months. 

WARNINGS!

• Even if your shoe size doesn’t ultimately change, you’ll probably experience some swelling or water retention that may change your shoe size or shoe fit temporarily. (Especially if you’re pregnant in the summer!) Don’t try to squeeze your feet into shoes that are too small or you risk creating an even bigger problem. Look at this as an opportunity to buy bigger shoes, or just wear a few larger pairs you already had in your closet. This is one instance where I can safely say that fashion or style is NOT worth the potential pain a pair of shoes can cause.
• Don’t buy maternity clothes too early in your pregnancy (as in, the week after the stick reads YES). Everyone gains weight and distributes it differently throughout the pregnancy, or you may even be one of the ridiculous people who actually lose weight throughout the first trimester and find that your pre-pregnancy jeans might be a little loose! (Seriously, if that’s you, keep it to yourself!) Wear the clothes you have until you are uncomfortable or have fit issues.
• With that being said, don’t be a hero and hold out on buying maternity clothes because you feel there is a stigma attached to wearing them. Comfort is the only thing you should care about, and there is no award for squeezing into your pre-pregnancy clothes longer than your friend or some other blogger you read. 

That’s about all I have for now! Do you have any questions for me?

25 Ways To Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes is by far the coolest fashion how-to video I’ve seen. I want to go grab some scarves and try to follow along!

bees-knees asked you:

Since you have an eclectic collection of brands and get your clothes, bags, accessories and shoes from a lot of different stores and websites, do you notice a difference in quality from stores like Target vs say a higher end store? I don’t have an argument either way. For example I have coats from JCrew that have lasted seasons with heavy wear but jeans from Old Navy cost less than ones from JCrew yet seem to have more longevity.

Here are the stores I shop most often:

• Target
• H&M
• Forever21 
• Nordstrom
• Marshall’s/T.J.Maxx/ROSS
• Old Navy
• Thrift stores/consignment stores

I expect that this list is pretty obvious by now to the casual reader of my blog, and I’m sure that a lot of you shop at the same places too.

I get questions a lot that are similar to this one regarding quality (i.e., things fall apart, why spend less if things don’t hold up over time, etc.), and I actually tend to think that the quality of clothing from popular retail stores is fairly similar across the board.

This may be an unpopular opinion, but echoing what you said above, I can absolutely say that some of the “higher end” retail items I’ve bought over the years from J.Crew, Gap, Express and Banana Republic, etc., have fallen apart after several washes or become very worn with few wears, while I have dresses from H&M that I’ve worn heavily for 5+ years that look the same as the day I bought them.

I think that sometimes when I get other anonymous questions in my ask box about this topic that people expect me to get riled up defending my choice of purchases. Instead, here’s my opinion on this topic broken down into several different bullets:

• If you don’t take care of your clothing when you wash it and if you don’t store it properly, don’t expect it to hold up well. If you treat a Forever21 blouse the same way you’d treat a $150 blouse, you’d be surprised how much longevity it will have.
• There is no real difference in quality between the majority of “like” mass market retailers. If the price points are similar, you can expect the quality to be about the same. Therefore, H&M, Forever21, Topshop, Zara, Target, Old Navy, etc., will have similar quality items. This goes for shoes too: Bakers, Nine West and Aldo have similar quality products. J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Express, Bebe, etc., have similar quality products. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the $300 coat from J.Crew will hold up any better over time than the $150 coat from Gap. They’re “like” stores with “like” products. The price difference you see on the hanger reflects marketing strategy, not quality. 
• Even if you buy “designer” or brand-name items from a discount store like Marshall’s, they are often not the same items you would have seen on the shelves in Macy’s or Nordstrom. The majority of goods carried at discount stories are surplus or defective items, meaning the quality of that Michael Kors handbag you picked up at Marshall’s may not necessarily be the same quality of the one you bought for $300 at Nordstrom. 
• Be a smart shopper. If you know you need something of incredibly high quality because you will be wearing it often (a black shift dress for work, for example), splurge for a wool version from a reputable department store or retailer…not H&M. If you want a leopard-print blouse, don’t waste your money buying the top of the line. Pick up one for less than $20 at Forever21 and wear it until it’s no longer trendy, at which point you can store it away guilt-free.
• Know which areas mass market retailers “shine” in. In my experience, Gap and Old Navy have some great denim/pants options, but the quality of tops and sweaters falls short. Conversely, I’ve found H&M dresses to be fantastic buys, but their denim leaves much to be desired. (With the exception of H&M jeggings, which are good quality for the money.) A lot of this has to do with personal preference and variant sizing between stores. My suggestion is to try on several similar items between the most popular mass market stores and see which styles and sizes suit you best.
• Never pay full price, unless it’s: 1) less than $100, 2) a classic that you know you need (a trenchcoat, for example). Don’t pay full price for that sequined sweater you’ve had your eye on, or that trendy pair of shoes. Wait for a sale or find a less expensive version to get you through the period that the item is trendy. Like I said, price point and wardrobe staples are the only reason to disregard this rule. Actually—I’ll add one more. Wardrobe emergencies are another reason to disregard it. If you have an important interview or meeting coming up and you absolutely need a pair of classic black pumps? That’s a situation where paying full price may be necessary and even encouraged.

Like I’ve mentioned a few times, this is my personal shopping philosophy and what works for me may not work for you. You may like buying clothing less often than I do, but really, really splurging when you do it. Or, maybe you’re loyal to one or two certain stores or brands and don’t like supplementing from different retailers. Whatever the case may be, my advice to you is to take care of your clothing (no matter how much it cost!) and treat everything as an important, valuable addition to your closet. If you don’t feel that way about it, donate it or swap it or whatever you prefer to do.

I hope this helps! The point is to have fun while shopping and, at the end of the day, know that it’s just clothes. Don’t take it too seriously! Any questions?

We’re in that awkward, transitional time of year when it’s too warm to wear full-on tights, but boots can look strange on bare legs. Here’s a solution you may not have thought of: wearing knee-length socks with boots. It adds an extra element of interest to your outfit and spices up an older pair of boots.

Be forewarned that this look may not be appropriate for a workplace with a more formal dress code, but if have a more casual job, ease into the look: try a conservative dress in a neutral color with a black sock and black boots. The socks will fade into the boot and be less noticeable.

Here are some other combinations to try. I’ve used Aldo’s “Deare” boots ($100) in both examples. 

1. Cosy Cashmere Angora Socks, $23
2. ASOS Socks, $8.73
3. Missoni Socks, $66
4. ASOS Contrast Socks, $8.73

1. Hunter Stripe Socks, $30
2. Topshop Socks, $15
3. American Eagle Striped Socks, $12.50
4. Hansel from Basel Socks, $32

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m at the point now where I can’t really reach my toes. (It’s getting harder to see them too.) It’s a strange feeling, because I don’t feel big or cumbersome except when I’m trying to sleep or when I have to reach down to get something off the floor. Sometimes when I pass my reflection in front of a store I surprise myself. So this is what 6 months pregnant feels like! Huh.

1. Target Raincoat
2. H&M Mama Blouse
3. H&M Jeggings
4. Deena & Ozzy Wedges

Also: Michael Kors Watch & Vestique Necklace

Holy Batman wrinkles! That’s what I get for wearing a completely impractical raincoat. But, I love the color too much to not wear it. Also, did I get my money’s worth with H&M jeggings or what? This is the fourth or fifth pair I own and I don’t think I paid over $15 or $20 for any of them.

I got a question the other day when I did my hair similar to this about how I did it. Easy!

1. Shower at night. Brush out your hair before getting into the shower, then shampoo and condition as usual. 
2. Instead of brushing or combing out the wet hair, simply twist into a high bun and secure with a band. I like to part my hair before putting it into the bun so there’s a defined part the next day. 
3. When you wake up, remove the hair band and let your hair air dry while you do other things (eat breakfast, do your makeup, walk the dog). It should be damp by morning, but not sopping wet. Don’t take a hair dryer to it! Do not! 
4. If you find you have a few frizzies, apply a bit of product. A bit.
5. Heat up a large curling iron. I like a 1.25 inch curling iron as I find a 1.5 inch iron a bit too large for the type of curls I typically do.
6. Choose small sections at random (about 1/2 inch sections) and curl outwards. (Don’t know how to do this? See The Beauty Department’s Everyday Waves tutorial.) 
7. The trick is to do the more defined curls at random so that you still get the natural volume and curl interspersed from leaving your hair in the bun overnight.
8. Apply a bit of light hold hairspray and voila! Done.

Working From Home

With all this rain lately (and the fact that I’m not feeling so good either), I find myself a bit down. But, luckily I’ve had lots of work to keep me busy and that definitely helps. I’m much more functional when I’ve got something to do. I don’t vacation well and I admit to checking my email on my phone while we’re out. I wouldn’t say I’m a workaholic, but I’m grateful for my job and for the sanity that staying busy brings!

I’ve gotten the occasional question over the past year about how to work from home without losing your mind and I have to tell you—sometimes it’s really, really hard. We only have one car now (why have two when I don’t need to go anywhere?), but knowing that I’m “stuck” sometimes can definitely give me cabin fever. Although the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to working from home, I still find myself resorting to a few tricks and tips to keep focused and sane. (Like having a magazine close at hand like in the above picture, ahem.)

Here are a few of my best tidbits of advice if you work from home:

• A quick walk can solve a lot of problems. The fresh air helps clear my mind and can even spark new ideas. Milo is never opposed to an extra walk or two, and if I start to get cabin fever crazy, taking him on a walk around the block is a big help.
• If you can’t get outside, opening a window helps too. Air circulation is always good, and there’s nothing better than a couple open windows on a fall day. 
• Don’t let yourself get distracted by housework/chores that need to be done. If you have to, designate a certain time of day to do them instead.
• People may assume you have less work to do because you aren’t in an office or because you’re more flexible. If that’s not the case, don’t be afraid to correct them. 
• On the other hand, know when it’s time to step away from the computer or phone. It can be tempting to work at all times because your work is always at home with you. Sometimes I have to close my laptop and stick it in a drawer.
• Keep to a regular schedule. I struggle with this sometimes, and I got thrown off track during the first trimester of my pregnancy because I had such a difficult time with exhaustion. My best days are always days in which I can get to the gym, have breakfast, take a shower and be dressed and at my desk before 8 or 8:30 am. 
• Wear something that isn’t pajamas. If I want to go comfy, I usually try to wear leggings or yoga pants or a maxi dress, but I never, ever get out of bed in my pajamas and start working while wearing the same thing. 
• Keeping yourself organized will be more important than ever. List-making will be your friend. Whether you do this in a dedicated notebook or using an application on your computer. I use Notational Velocity and can’t say enough good things about it. I use it for work, home, blog post ideas—everything you can think of goes in this the app. 
• Don’t skimp on office supplies. Sometimes you can get reimbursed for supplies if you work from home, but if you don’t, try and avoid the temptation to go bare bones. A crappy printer, pens that don’t work, etc., are all things that are really going to make you irritable at some point or another. 
• Keep healthy snacks on hand. With the kitchen close by, it’s easy to go snack-crazy. I try to keep some Babybel cheese, nuts, apples or other fruit on hand. If I want something more substantial, toast or cereal is always good too.
• While we’re on the topic of food: take time for lunch (if you can!). Try not to eat at your desk. Whether you meet someone for lunch to get out of the house for a bit, or eat at the dining room table with a book or while you watch the news, taking a lunch break will help keep you on track for the rest of your day.
• One of the best things about working from home is that you have complete and utter flexibility in how your work space looks (and smells). Take advantage of this and use candles, nice lighting, flowers or other things that make you happy. 
• Don’t forget that if you have control over your schedule, you can also choose when you want to work. Try getting up very early and completing your work earlier in the day. Or, start later, end later. See what works for you. 
• If the silence is making you crazy, using the radio or TV for background noise really helps. I have trouble staying focused with music or talk radio on, but I like the monotony of cable news TV. It adds just enough noise, but doesn’t distract me. 

That’s basically all I’ve got! Working from home is incredibly rewarding, but I’ve found that these tricks really make a big difference.

Do you have any tips on how to make the most of working from home?

The Glitter Guide did a post today about how to do ombre nails and I decided to do my own version (purple on purple!):

Here are the shades I used:

• Butter London Nail Lacquer in Scoundrel, $14
• Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Rockstar Pink, $3

Have you tried out ombre nails? What are some other color combinations I should try?

/ Q

I'm wondering if it's worth it to invest (and I use the term "invest" loosely) in a new pair of skinny jeans for this fall, or if it would be a total waste of money because it's a trend that's on its way out. I'm totally torn between trouser jeans and skinny jeans (when I'm pretty sure that bootcut jeans are the only ones that actually look good on me). Also -- Old Navy skinny jeans -- yay or nay?

/ A

Skinny jeans are gonna be around for a long time. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’ve become a classic denim silhouette that runs second only to straight leg and bootcut varieties.

Trouser jeans or wide-leg jeans (and especially flared leg jeans) are a far more “trendy” item right now than a pair of skinny jeans. If you’re already a fan of skinny jeans, I’d say to absolutely stick with that look. If you’d prefer a bit more movement, go for straight or bootcut. Why stick with skinnies over trouser jeans? Trendiness aside, skinny jeans are the far more practical, versatile choice. You can dress them up or down, wear them with boots, flats, heels or sneakers, and can form the base to any number of “looks”: vintage, classic, sporty, etc. Trouser or wide-leg jeans limit the mileage (in terms of numbers of outfits) you can get out of them.

As far as Old Navy skinny jeans are concerned—I give it a cautious yay! I haven’t bought skinny jeans from them for a while, but the ones I did have, I really loved. I have a few pairs of skinny trousers/skinny cargo pants from Old Navy that I get a lot of mileage out of every fall/winter/spring.

If you’re wondering, here are my recommendations on what denim to own so you’re never at a loss when looking for the perfect jeans in your closet:

• Skinny Jeans: Light Wash, Medium/Dark Wash, Black
• [Optional] Skinny Jeans: Gray, Dark Wash, Distressed
• Straight Leg Jeans & Pants: Medium/Dark Wash Jeans, Black Pants, Khaki Pants
• [Optional] Straight Leg Pants: Bright-Colored Pants
• Bootcut Jeans: Medium/Dark Wash
• [Optional] Bootcut Jeans: Distressed
• Trouser Jeans: Medium/Dark Wash
• Wide-Leg Jeans: Light Wash
• Cropped/Cuffed Denim: Light/Medium Wash

I LOVE camping. I have fond memories of my family camping our way across North America. There’s so much to like about camping: the hiking/biking trails, the food, the quiet, the non-electronicness of it all.

For a weekend trip, you don’t need that much. There’s always the optional extras (the s’more maker, for example) that make things easier, but some camping checklists are way too involved for a mere weekend away. Unless you’re up in the woods, my suggestion is to find a nearby national park that allows camping. They’ll often have bathroom facilities and nearby “general stores” that allow you to buy things like ice, matches, bottled water, etc. It’s camping lite, but that doesn’t make it any less fun!

As far as what to pack in your duffel or backpack? Leave the rompers and maxi dresses behind and take easy basics: tees, tanks, sweatpants, shorts, a bathing suit and something more athletic, if you plan to bike or hike. Don’t forget decent shoes if you’ll be doing hiking beyond two miles!

I made a Polyvore Mini Editor below that contains some of my suggested items to pack, along with some fun extras (see: s’more maker) just because. Feel free to create a camping trip set of your own using the Mini Editor and post it to your blog!

Get your own Mini Editor from Polyvore

Alishan wrote me a few minutes ago and asked me what color shoes to wear with a khaki dress and my immediate response was, “Hot pink or orange!” It may sound crazy, and hot pink and orange-colored shoes aren’t exactly easy to find, but I promise…this is a combination that works really well. (Especially right now, when contrasting colors and neon shades are trendy.)

So, let’s take the dress first. I’ll be using a MICHAEL Michael Kors dress on sale for $100 in this post, but almost any khaki dress (or khaki-colored dress) will do.

I’m going to work my way from the most dressy look to the most casual, starting with this one: Dinner with Friends. (It could also be Business Casual Workplace or Date with Significant Other, but I digress.)

There’s a lot of colors going on here, but the main thing I want you to pay attention to is how good those shoes look next to the khaki dress. They look REALLY good. I love these shoes! Add a contrasting accessory (the purse), one accessory that ties things together (the bangles) and another classic accessory to anchor the look (the watch), and voila!

1. Forever21 Bangles, $5.80
2. Zara Leather Clutch Bag, $70
3. La Mer Oversized Watch, $85
4. Topshop Suede Court Shoes, $92

Weekend shopping, while on vacation, at the beach—this is just a great, chic summer outfit that’s also incredibly wearable. I love the contrast of the orange shoes with the cobalt blue ring.

1. Jessica Simpson Hat, $15
2. American Eagle Outfitters Tote, $20
3. Dorothy Perkins Wrap Ring, £7.50
4. Topshop Gladiator Sandals, $50

And, finally—the most casual of the bunch, but not by any means the least stylish. Pink Keds and multicolored bracelets brighten things up, while a practical crossbody bag allows you to hold a bag of popcorn in one hand and a fried Snickers bar in the other. (Just a suggestion.)

1. Hot Topic Rainbow Bracelets, $3.99
2. Forever21 Shoulder Strap Bag, $21
3. American Apparel Neon Nail Polish, $6
4. Keds Champion Shoes, $45