BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Recent Purchases: November & December 2019

by Leave a Comment

Latest Purchases

PURCHASED – FOR ME
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Leith sparkle tie-waist, long-sleeve dress (also in plus sizes) – Unfortunately this sold out shortly after its debut, but it’s worth getting your hands on if it pops back in stock. The dress is perfect for cocktails with a shimmery fabric and the blouson sleeves. It’s clingy so I went up a size and wore it with sheer black tights to smooth things out.
  • Kate Spade flair flora ruffle-neck blouse – This blouse doesn’t do much for me online, but I fell for it at Bloomingdale’s in Chicago last week. The fabric drapes beautifully and I adore the print. It has buttons up the front and you can leave the top couple undone for a casual look. Go with your regular size.
  • J.Crew turtleneck sweater in supersoft yarn – I love this sweater so much that I have it in light grey and emerald green, and I bought a second light grey to tuck away in case something happens to the first. Your normal size has a relaxed fit that doesn’t look too boxy on. Plus, they don’t stretch out during the day.
  • LOFT floral cutout mixed media blouse – This blouse has a really pretty print that pairs well with pants or a skirt for work. The fabric drapes nicely, despite its weird combination of a knit jersey in back and a polyester front. Your regular size works for this one, too.
  • Lele Sadoughi leopard-print headband – I adore Lele Sadoughi jewelry and own a few pieces (including these new beauties Dave gave me for Christmas), and I was wondering if her headbands were worth the hype. It’s well made and comfortable, but I’m not sure I’d encourage splurging on more than one for the fun factor of the trend. The turban-style is available at so many retailers now for a lower price that you could go that route for a trendy item. That said, I decided to keep it because I really do like the print on it and it’s a fun piece for my wardrobe.
  • Banana Republic tie-waist mini dress – I was on the fence about this formal dress and this human hair wigs when I ordered it online, but it’s really great in person! The drape is pretty, and the tie-waist gives it a flattering shape. It’s a pull-on style with an elastic waist, making it incredibly comfortable. I went with my regular size in this one, too.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • CB2 ‘Marie’ coupe cocktail glasses – I had these on my holiday wish list for two years and finally decided to buy them for myself. I love them. The quality is much better than you’d expect for the low price point.
  • HAAND ceramics bud vase – I stopped in Room & Board in Chicago last week and hadn’t realized that they also sold artisan home goods. This bud vase has a beautiful organic shape.
  • Hearth & Hand throw blanket (not pictured) – As an online reviewer points out, this blanket isn’t grey like advertised. It’s a beautiful forest green. The throw is soft and generously sized.
  • CB2 potted faux pine tree (not pictured) – This is a chic little table-top Christmas tree. I love how simple it is and it sat atop a side table during the holidays.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • J.Crew swing coat in heather camel – I don’t know what size or color the online reviewers purchased to give it such rave reviews, but this coat was awful on me. I tried the camel one and it’s so oversize that I felt like I was wearing my dad’s hunting gear.
  • Banana Republic puff-sleeve dress – Fit-and-flare dresses are typically flattering on me, so I gave this one a whirl. I loved the sleeves and the flirty length of the dress, but I couldn’t get over the print. It felt too matronly and outdated.
  • Banana Republic metallic dot tie-neck dress – This was really cute and seemed well made. I just couldn’t get the sizing to work and didn’t love it enough to order it again in a larger size.

–
Let’s keep in touch!
Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

What I Bought in February

by Leave a Comment

Sistemas Capilares con lace frontal

I’m happy to report that I’m sticking to my guns when it comes to selecting fewer, better things each month, and I can probably credit Marie Kondo in part for it. I went through a single dresser drawer last month, donating more than half of its contents. It wasn’t a closet clean out by any stretch of the imagination, but it still felt great to shed myself of items that weren’t my style any longer and it served as a poignant reminder to spend money on just the items I truly love. It’s a process, of course. I feel like I’ve wanted to be able to approach my wardrobe like this for years, but it’s only now — at age 35 — that it seems to have clicked.

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Kate Spade bubble dot blouse – The one-star review for this blouse cracks me up since it has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the piece. Unlike that person, I absolutely love the vibrant color and pattern of this ’70s-inspired piece. I’m all about Nicola Glass’ debut collection for Kate Spade and fell in love with this blouse (and this sweater vest) immediately. It is polyester, so I’d almost suggest waiting for a sale if that bothers you, but the fabric feels substantial, it has a nice drape, and it’s well made. It runs a bit large. I ordered both the small and medium to try on. There wasn’t a huge difference between the two, but the small looked more tailored and I preferred that look.
  • J.Crew ‘Tippi’ sweater in black – I had a $25 promotional gift card from J.Crew that expired at the beginning of February. I thought about buying something more playful, like this leopard skirt, but I figured I’d be happier buying a duplicate of my favorite sweater. The black Tippi sweater is one of my workwear staples and I love it with jeans on the weekends. Now I won’t have to wait as long to wear it again when one is in the dry clean pile!
  • Tularosa ‘Ryland” dress in aegean (also comes in pink, plum, and a print) – My lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to too many cocktail events, so I love picking a new dress when I have something fancier on the calendar. I tried two other dresses (listed below), but nothing came close to how I felt when I put this one on. I love the ’70s-inpsired cut, the slinky velvet fabric, and that exceptionally low neckline. (Plus, Dave said I could repurpose it for Halloween and go as a sexy Merlin. Haha.)

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • Reformation ‘Radford’ mini dress – I loved how this looked when I had a pair of tight on to keep everything in place, but wouldn’t have felt confident without a control top. Plus, the fabric felt a little cheap.
  • Speechless lace fit and flare halter dress – I almost kept this for the aforementioned cocktail event, and while I liked it, I didn’t love it. The halter neckline and fit-and-flare style was flattering, but the back zipper just wouldn’t lay flat against my back unless I stood perfectly still. I was fidgeting with it too much during my try-on session at home that I feel like I would have been doing the same in public.

–
Let’s keep in touch!  Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Wardrobe Update: December 2017

by 1 Comment

Jenny Bird Ziggy Drop Earrings

I never intend to spend quite so much on myself in December, especially since it’s such an expensive month to begin with, but I can’t resist adding a few new things to my collection to round out the year. My favorite purchase of the month is one I’ve had my eye on for awhile: this Paravel backpack. I had originally been crushing on the capsule bag, but the size wasn’t practical for actually traveling with it. Finally splurging on a pricier item and being so incredibly thrilled with it is a good reminder to step back and carefully plan future purchases. I’ll talk about this more in my upcoming New Year’s goals post, but I’m working to be more mindful of purchases in the new year — and I’m actually kicking things off by not buying anything at all in January. I don’t want to call it a “shopping ban” and attach any negativity to it. It’s more of a reset button to allow myself time to sift through my collection and figure out what I actually need.

Below, you’ll see what I snagged this month before my self-imposed challenge. I also received a few sartorial pieces from Dave this Christmas: feathery earrings, these Jenny Bird stunners, and a black sweater.

Wardrobe Update December 2017 :: Bedknobs & Baubles

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Madewell ‘Woodside’ pullover sweater in heather rust – This sweater is ridiculously cozy. I’ve barely wanted to take it off since I received it. Admittedly, the boxy shape isn’t the most flattering, but I don’t care. It’s warm and perfect for weekend lounging. Go down a size.
  • Madewell long-sleeve poppy dress in peacock feathers – The shape of this dress is exactly what I need more of in my wardrobe with its flattering v-neckline, cinched waist, and swingy skirt. It runs true to size.
  • Kate Spade linear drop earrings in gold (smaller version) –  I bought these at the Kate Spade boutique in Chicago earlier this month and have worn them almost every day since. They’re large, but surprisingly versatile.
  • Paravel 3-in-1 motorist backpack in black – I still can’t believe I bought this! I had been eyeing it up for months because it looks perfect for travel. I can’t tell you how annoyed I get by shoving my camera into a cross-body purse for our adventures. It doesn’t always fit well and the shoulder strain starts to bother me after a few days of lugging it around. This is going to be so perfect for our trip to London in the spring. There’s more than enough room for the camera, wallet, and any other treasures we collect during the day. I love that it transforms into a shoulder bag, which will be great for visiting museums that don’t allow backpacks. I’ll do a full review in a dedicated post soon.

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

  • Madewell ruffle-tier cami dress – It fit everywhere but the very top of the bust. It would be way too large if I went up a size. It’s really cute, though!
  • Madewell ruffle-edge skirt in peacock feathers – I end up hating every elastic-waist skirt I try because it bunches oddly. I think it’s time to stop buying them.
  • Cece crepe flounce skirt – I’m on the lookout for a new black skirt, but I hated that this one didn’t flare out right at the waistband. The pleats are stitched down for the first couple of inches making it fit snugly across my midsection. Pass.

DAYDREAMING ABOUT
The items I just might add to my wardrobe next month.

–
Let’s keep in touch!  Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest / Bloglovin’