The wedding I have been talking about is tomorrow in Cleveland and my final dress choice is a little less than desired.  It’s basically a black moo-moo with some frilly sleeves.  I am hoping that I can pull off the cute yellow espadrilles in my closet, but if my little piggies start to swell that will be a no-go.  ha!  I am so pathetic!!  But we made a quick run to Target last night to get the little dude some new clothes for the reception and I saw the Zac Posen for Target line.  Oh wow–is it stellar!  The pieces appear to be well-made and ready to wear.  I stood there just touching everything while my husband asked why I was torturing myself .  I just kept mouthing that I won’t be fat forever!  ha!!

I don’t think this image is doing it justice, but this was my favorite.

My husband and I were watching old episodes of the Dave Chappelle this week and the show had a segment called “keepin it real”.   I would like to follow his lead and do a similar gut check on some new spring fashion items.  Now I really do love the excitement and fan fare that goes along with Fashion Week and high design shows, but I feel that many of those creations are designed for attention and not practicality.  Here in Chicago, I work, run errands and have the occasional night on the town.  I like to dress up for dinner parties and work events, but mostly I am just a girl trying to avoid looking too comfortable out of my house (i.e. no sweatsuits at Target, please) but generally trying to have my attire meet the demands/needs of my daily life.

So when fancy pants designers meet the likes of Target I usually run to see what kind of everyday creations they unveil.  For the most part I love them.  Proenza Schouler for Target….Amazing!  Erin Fetherston for Target….Enchanting!  Jean Paul Gaultier for Target….Confusing.  The colors and prints are really beautiful, but I don’t know if I can totally get behind the cuts and fabrics.  I really liked this red dress on the left with the side swept fabric, but then I saw the other variation on the website I wanted to throw up.  It felt a little 1980′s M.C. Hammer to me.  I mean, let’s keep it real here folks, would you wear a chunk of fabric between your legs like that?  Just think of the maneuvers you would need to take to use a public bathroom.  Eeck!  I am sad to say that I think this equals a missed opportunity for functional, affordable fashion.

February, thus far, has been a pretty craptastic month.  My husband got his hours cut at work, our car broke down (which resulted in us renting the stinkiest rental known to man!) and my hormones are making me cry at anything.  I have had 3 food related meltdowns in the past week–I cried on Saturday night because I didn’t know what to eat and when I say cried, I mean like hysterical swollen face cry. (it’s pretty funny in hindsight, but my poor husband just looked scared!)

The future is looking brighter already; I have a long weekend ahead of me, one of my bestie’s and her husband and are going to be in town and we are one day closer to spring!  Can you feel it?

I decided to just post a cute outfit that Iwould like to be wearing today.  (I have wanted the shoes for months, but because my lovely friend and co-worker Renee already owns them–I refuse to be a copy-cat.)

It’s Monday morning, again!?! I left the couch all of 3 times over the weekend and missed my friend Kristen’s NYE party because I am literally a bump on a log.  I feel so bad for ever lacking sympathy for a pregnant person in the past, as these symptoms are legit!  But, my plan for January (if this fetus will agree) is to start brushing my hair again and actually applying make-up before leaving the house to, if anything, fake it ’til I make it.

I currently do not look preggo at all–just look like I ate too much Christmas Supper (which is funny because the only two Christmas things I could stomach were mac n’cheese and marshmallow salad!)  This is especially difficult when you are walking through the grocery store and violently gagging at all the smells. ha!  My husband honestly had to yell at me like a coach last week to “run to the dairy aisle” to get away from the rotting meat smell.  barf!  So to make myself feel pretty, I thought I might need a little “in between” cuteness.  This dress is a little potato sack-ish, but it is frilly and lovely and will hide my widening silhouette.

p.s. I have had a few requests for me to highlight preggo fashion during the next 6 months.  Is this okay with you all?  I will still cover regular clothes (while secretly cursing all of you who can wear them!) but keeping it relevant to my deformed body could prove hilarious for all involved.  Let me know as I really don’t want to become a bore!

p.p.s. I really wish ModCloth was a real store so I could take about 50 of their dresses into a dressing room and play dress up like I was 5.

I hate to admit this, but when it comes to online shops…I am usually the last to know.  I mean it is a little embarrassing considering that I work online all day and I have a blog focused on style, but I haven’t found one of those cush jobs yet where you get paid a ton of money to do no work. Until that happens I will continue to actually work during the day and offer you “slightly delayed” finds at night.

This week’s Mad Men Monday is featuring one of those “how did I just find you” kind of stores called Shabby Apple.  The shop is amazing, they have clothes for all ages and sizes, they have super cute photography and they work with a charity–”Shabby Apple donates 5% of its net dress sales to support work in India.”  How many shops can you feel good about purchasing more than you budgeted for?

With no further ado, I give you the Madison Avenue and the Upper East Side dresses.  These two were just screaming to be included in a Mad Men post (and with how slow I am lately…they probably already have been. ha!)  I love, love, love houndstooth and half sleeves and the offset buttons. The pretty blue (this is my favorite shade) with the flattering waist and perfect length.  These dresses just prove that you don’t need to show off all of your goods to look stunning and gorgeous!

Sidebar: Would either of these be a good 1st anniversary dinner dress? I have one month to prepare.

Oh Hello again, Monday–It has been too long.

So next month is chocked full of big milestones for me; it is my 30th birthday and my 1st wedding anniversary and both fall on the same week as Thanksgiving!  (My favorite holiday.  I think because it always meant presents for me and not everyone else. ha!)  With all these big events coming up…the question is whatever will I wear to commemorate such events?  I mean the death of my 20’s does not happen everyday and celebrating the passing of one year of marriage (Matt and I are lucky to come out alive.)  It is time to get our party faces on!

In order to get inspiration I obviously decided to look into my Mad Men vault.  I mean fancy dinners and big celebrations call for a little retro decadence, right?  I really want something unique so my usual go-to’s of Forever, Target and the Maxx just won’t do.  I want something where a girdle is required and I need a team to strap me in.  I remembered some lovely patterns on @ampersandwich’s Etsy store.  Ahh, perfect!  Now if you have read my bio, you know this level of sewing, especially with a vintage pattern (they are not meant for doh doh’s like me), would not be an easy task, but hmmm…an occasion such as this could warrant sourcing fabric and taking it to a seamstress, no?  I think so.

I can’t decide if I want a little Betty style, all frilly and poufy and pretty or a little Joan (remember I will have a girdle on) all tight and sexy?  I think my favorite, Peggy, will need to stay home—even though she is upping her game now.  Below are a couple of initial picks.  I am thinking bright royal blue fabric and red lips. Thoughts?

Ahhh…beautiful Monday, here again.  I must admit that I am pretty excited for tights, sweaters and boots.  Fall is my favorite time of year and to tie my two favorite things together I am giving you some fall “Mad Men” style ideas.  As promised, I looked for some Betty-ish dresses.  Now these may be a little more season 1-2, but I think they are her nonetheless.

The shoes are the most amazing rich chocolate brown with a petite, kitten heel.  I presume these could be worn to walk to work, kept on all day and then they could carry you right into a little wine bar.  They would be adorable and appropriate at all avenues of a working gals’ day! (Sidebar: I actually was going to purchase these, but my insole is too high?  Have you ever heard of such a thing? My small block, flintstone feet stick again!?!)

Now, I could not decide between these two dresses so I chose to include them both.  The floral patterned fabrics, form fitted waists, sleeve lengths and amazing condition of both of these  numbers completed drew me in. The belted gal feels a little more work or Sunday entertaining, while the 3/4 sleeve could be dressed up for dinner or  a casual fall wedding.

I found all of these on the Etsy site for DearGolden Vintage.

Click the images to find the sale or follow her on twitter @deargolden.

I thought I should show a little patriotism, through style, on this fine day.  I love the 4th of July and have fond memories of this holiday from my childhood, so here’s to Red, White and Blue!

Click the images for the direct Etsy links!