for those of you who loved the james perse cowl neck dress i featured a while back, but weren’t willing to drop the cash necessary to add it to your wardrobe, it’s now 70% off at shopbop.com.

so, you can score the cowl neck or v-neck version for $65 each. or heck, at that price, buy both, and you still saved almost 40% from what you would have paid for one. now that’s a sweet deal!

i don’t have much to say about these other than YES, PLEASE - I’LL HAVE SOME.

We’ve added a layer of fig jam made with Black Mission figs, 10 year old tawny port, honey, orange zest and a little ginger to our Classic brownie for a rich, finger licking treat.

there is just literally no part of that sentence i don’t adore. and that’s only one of their flavors…don’t even get me started on the caramel sea salt.

very, very good things would happen to the wonderful person who sent these yummies my way.

so, a dear friend and super faithful reader recently posed a very good question:

Hi SMC, I’m currently in a bit of a fashion blunder. I’m pregnant, 4 months along and I’m too big for my pre-pregnancy clothing and still a little too small for maternity goods. I’ve essentially got a mini baby bump (looks like a beer gut) and I’m looking for some transitional goods that might be good for wearing after the baby’s born, too. I’m used to wearing fitted clothing, and that’s just not possible, or I haven’t figured out how to do it yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!

now granted, i’ve never had to dress a baby bump (thank goodness), but i’ve been thinking a lot about this, and here are my pointers. first, i think it’s a mistake to dress “for” the bump. in other words, i don’t think you should be dressing either to showcase it or to hide it. after all, despite your description, it’s not actually a beer gut. i’d liken it to your decollette: sometimes you dress to show it, sometimes you don’t, but you’re never really trying to hide the girls, if you know what i mean. it’s not like it’s a secret that they’re there.

second, i think a lot of women veer toward matronly, baggy, boring clothes as soon as they start to see the bump appear. now, i know you can’t exactly run out and drop thousands on a wardrobe that you’re only going to wear for six months, but i do think it’s important that the pieces you do wear actually fit you properly. that means no rooting around in your husband’s closet just because your jeans don’t fit any more.

frankly, if i were in your slightly bloated position right now, i’d be thanking my lucky stars that there’s never been a better time in fashion to be pregnant (except maybe last summer). i suggest stocking your wardrobe with a few pairs of very comfy tights, (not footless, thank you) and heavily relying on dresses and minidresses to flaunt your new figure. i would love to see you pick up this gorgeous shift dress, for example. it will be comfy as can be, but it’s still stylish and could even be office-appropriate, depending on how formal your office is. this ella moss version is also darling, and super discounted down to $50 at shopbop.com. at that price, i’d suggest picking one up in each color. the trick with these dresses is to make sure they’re flowy enough that your belly won’t make the front of the dress dramatically shorter than the back. a little is okay, certainly - it just can’t be a huge difference.

i’m a big believer in basics - if you have a few classic foundation pieces, you’ll give yourself a world of options. so, i’m going to strongly lobby for this four-piece set by belly basics. it will give you a basic black pant, knee-length skirt, wrap dress, and a 3/4 sleeve shirred polo shirt, all in one slick package. for $150, that’s a pretty sweet deal. just remember: this isn’t a funeral, so don’t stick to all black, all the time. mix this set up with lots of color, and use accessories to make it fit your personal style.

also, try to go through your closet and find the things that will still work. most cardigans, blazers, or empire-waist tops, for example, should work just fine for most of your pregnancy. don’t worry about the fact that they won’t button - just wear them open. this darling short-sleeve sweater, for example, certainly isn’t designed for maternity wear, but it would work perfectly for you - the empire waist and split down the center mean you could easily layer this with a contrasting tank and some jeans for a very cute spring look.

i’d also be majorly taking advantage of the fact that those empire waist dresses that are absolutely everywhere right now will emphasize your new mega-cleavage and minimize that bump for a while longer. plus, by buying things that are on-trend and just naturally styled to accommodate your belly, you’ll have a much bigger pile of clothes to go back to post-baby than you will if you jump straight to maternity wear.

i love this grecian style tank dress, which would be a great layering piece. and this kimono dress has an elastic “waist” under the bust, which should be perfect for you right about now. plus, it’s under $20 - how can you not love that?

and, just a few random suggestions: i’m pretty confident this top by zoa ltd. is drapey enough that it can see you through almost the entire pregnancy, and it will be a perfect layer under a blazer or sweater for work, or solo with jeans for the weekend. and i love this belted minidress by bailey 44. it’s the perfect way to show off your new figure when you’re completely sick of wearing loose, flowy clothes (and it also happens to be on sale!).

last but not least, don’t be afraid to invest in a few pieces that will really make your pregnancy wardrobe something to be excited about. not everything has to be practical. attitude is everything, and if you hate what you’re wearing, it’ll show. so, treat yourself to a few fabulous things that you’ll really love.

so, i’ve finally gotten a chance to check out most of the pieces from the loeffler for target collection (after box 9 of 9 of my target delivery arrived at my door last night - sheesh). i admit, i was scared. the GO international lines, which i wanted so badly to adore, were incredibly poorly made (even by target standards) and generally designed with your average 17-year-old consumer in mind. just my two cents.

but i was pleasantly surprised by some of the loeffler pieces in real life. overall, things are well-made, and well-finished, with thoughtful details like a nice gold plate on the bags to identify the brand, a gold lining much like the one used on loeffler’s high-end line, and a hinge frame on the clutches to make them more structured. definitely better than i was expecting.

the bags are maybe the best use of pleather i’ve seen in a while. the woven clutch is small, but it would be really practical either as a clutch, or even as a ‘bag within a bag’ for you ladies with the unmanageably huge handbags (just please, lose the wrist strap). and the weaving, plus a subtle colored-on texture on the pleather, makes the bag look a lot pricier than it actually is. based on my experience with the clutch, i’d definitely give the woven satchel a closer look, though i do have some concerns about the shape being too short & squat to be useful.

the other piece i really like from the collection, which is inexplicable to me, as i hated the pictures of it, is the chain handle clutch. i love it in both the rose gold and the brown, actually (the brown is actually sort of a cross between chocolate and rich burgundy - it’s a fabulous color), and since i think it’s a little ridiculous to own the same bag in 2 different colors, i’m having a hard time with this one. the brown would work really well as a day bag, when you’re going for that more ladylike look. and it bears a striking similarity to the mitzy clutch from loeffler’s fall 2007 line. but the rose gold packs such a fashion punch, and feels very edgy/carrie bradshaw - it’s a tough call.

the shoes, i have to admit, are disappointing, especially given my undying love for just about all of loeffler’s collections. the rosettes on the ballet flats really only work on the gold and rose gold versions - on the black and brown, there’s a noticeable ‘pom pom’ effect that isn’t good (ditto for the clutches with the great big rosettes). but the rose gold version actually turned out quite cute, so i’ll be keeping those. the peep toe flats would have been fabulous as a heel or a wedge - anything but a flat, basically. and, a word on sizing - i think most of you will find these a little snug. hard to say whether they’ll stretch, since they’re plastic, but it’s definitely a concern.

overall, i’m nowhere near as excited about the loeffler for target pieces as i wanted to be. but there are a few gems in there, and i’m much more impressed with the quality and design after seeing them in person than i was by the online pictures. and that girl that you see on the street trying desperately to rock a rose gold chain handle clutch with jeans and a sweater? yeah, that’ll be me. just please, don’t laugh and point.

i’m sorry, but when did juicy couture start making cute stuff? (velour sweatsuit people, do not rise up against me…)

i am so ready for it to be spring, just so i can buy this coat and wear it absolutely everywhere. the biggest question is whether to grab it in the “east village” navy-and-white version or the “west village” khaki-and-lime. tough, tough call…

hey all…sorry the posts have been sparse over the last few days. between the holiday festivities and feeling a little under the weather, it’s just been hard to be my normally brilliant self

stay tuned in the new year for all sorts of fabulousness, though - i promise it’ll be worth it!

and in the meantime, have a wonderful new year’s celebration, drink a big glass of bubbly for me, and don’t forget to partake in the last of those post-holiday sales!

xoxo,
SMC

we’ll be talking more about holiday gifts soon, i promise. but today, i’m still obsessing about a clutch - how i’ve managed to get this far and not have one is seriously beyond me. and now, with the holidays upon us, i not only want a clutch, but i want a pretty, sparkly one. you know, something really useful, that i can take anywhere…i mean, nothing says versatile like sequins and metal studs.

some of the many pretties i’m coveting this week:

this super sparkly option is by seven for all mankind…i didn’t even know they made bags. but i completely love the metallic leather and the chain mail look - this is definitely a piece that’s going to turn heads. plus, the style would work with everything from jeans to a cocktail dress, which is a tough line to walk with a clutch.

i don’t know where i’ve been, but i just discovered the bags over at emporio armani’s online shop. really amazing prices on exotics, i have to say. i love this grey lizard version - the shape is so classic, but the skin and the studs give it a great edge. plus, it’s on sale for $450, which is high, but crazy reasonable for an exotic. or, for $350, i also really like this piece in eelskin - i’m loving the delicate chain and the unique closure, which makes this one really perfect for the holidays.

when i found this weyman clutch by kale, it was love at first sight. you can pick it up in a metallic, but i sort of love this oxblood color. the patent is stunning, and perfect for the holidays. and the studs add the perfect edge to an otherwise very girly piece. best of all, it’s on sale right now for $267, which is a crazy steal for a clutch you’ll wear for years to come.

i absolutely adore this orange leather version that i found on etsy (also available in lavender). $140 feels like such a steal for something this gorgeous. clearly, not an evening clutch, and doesn’t really fit with the theme of this post at all, but i think it’s fabulous nonetheless.

sigh…it is so hard to be selfless this time of year…

remember those foldable shoes from newport news? ordered them. got them. they’re gross. totally cheap, and make your feet look ridiculous. do not, under any circumstances, purchase them.

guess cheap thrills aren’t all they’re cracked up to be

i’m one of those people that’s obsessed with pretty paper. i love it. i drool over letterpress, spend hours in paper source, and agonize over which card to get someone for their birthday. i spent more time picking out my wedding invitations than i did picking the dress.

and i’m not alone. so, at least one of the paper freaks on my holiday list is getting this letterpress gift set from linda and harriett. it comes with a notepad, set of 8 cards, and a completely gorgeous calendar - all letterpressed - for $50. but they’re offering 25% off for daily candy readers, making it a cool $38, well within the limit for most friend gifts. to get the code, just head over to daily candy’s site, and sign up for their weekly “deals” emails (which are fabulous, and totally worth signing up for anyway).

my favorite thing about this set is that you get to choose which notecards and notepad you gift. i love the orange piggies and the alligator, but the sunny bloom is a perfect choice if your friend is a little less animal-friendly.

shop fast - that discount is a daily candy deal, which means the site’s sure to be mobbed!

the lovely ladies over at the daily obsession have culled a pretty amazing list of the holiday sales, discounts, and other fabulousness currently going on. definitely worth checking out!