BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Recent Purchases: May Edition

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Latest Purchases

I know this is the epitome of first-world problems (and I’m grateful I can even complain about this because I’ve been healthy), but one of the most difficult things about the global pandemic is not being able to travel. In a typical year, we would have already had at least one getaway by now. And while we were able to do long weekends in Chicago and Milwaukee before the world was turned upside down, it’s not nearly the same as our usual spring jaunts that Facebook is so helpfully reminding me of almost daily. (Yes, I know we were in Portugal one year ago … yep, I know Austin was two years ago … please stop.) These May trips are largely because my birthday is at the end of the month (tomorrow, in fact!) and I like to plan a jaunt to celebrate another trip around the sun. This year is just as memorable, of course, but not for the right reasons! Below, you’ll find a roundup of the things I bought during my birthday month.

I did order a couple of dresses (this and this) from Shopbop yesterday that are scheduled to arrive today (one of the perks of living in the same city as its warehouse!). Fingers crossed that I’ll be celebrating my birthday in one of them!

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

  • J.Crew seaside short in chambray – I’m all about easy, pull-on shorts for summer bike rides when I don’t want to wear athletic clothes. These run true to size, but they get a bit stretched out at the end of the day. I just ordered a size smaller to have on hand, too, since I’ve been shedding some of this COVID weight — finally.
  • Halogen x Atlantic-Pacific polka dot utility jacket – This is a great pairing of a classic silhouette and a whimsical twist. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it! It runs true to size.
  • Madewell pull-on shorts in black – For the same reasons as above, I snagged this pair of shorts from Madewell. It’s hard to find shorts to accommodate an ample rear end and thighs, and these fit the bill. These also run true to size.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Schoolhouse Electric ‘Blooming Field’ duvet cover – I can’t even tell you how much I love this! I bought the pillow shams last year after falling head-over-heels for the pattern. Twelve months later, still obsessed with the design, I ordered the matching duvet cover. It’s such a great print that brings in a floral that isn’t too feminine.
  • Target self-watering planters – This isn’t very exciting, which is why I didn’t include them in the photo above. However, if you’re looking for inexpensive, lightweight planters for your patio garden, these are great options!

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

  • J.Crew seaside short in stripe – Unlike the chambray pair, this one fits a bit tighter and just didn’t look as cute. It kind of reminds me of the stripes a stereotypical train conductor wears.
  • En Saison striped tiered babydoll dress – Kudos to the brand for having a lining in a loose dress that isn’t tighter than the dress itself! However, the dress ran large and the ruffled sleeves made me look wide on top.
  • Luv Aj mother-of-pearl circle hoops – These are so pretty, so I was disappointed to see that the pearl design is only on one side of the earring. The back is all gold, which is easily seen when worn. There are better earrings out there for the price point.

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Here’s What I Bought in April

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April seemed to drag on forever while we were all stuck at home, the world firmly in the grasp of the novel coronavirus. I didn’t shop much when the stay-at-home order first went into effect in March. There was so much uncertainty with jobs and, well, life in general, and I’m pretty sure I was suffering from some COVID-induced depression. On the sartorial front, I wasn’t enamored with anything other than athletic clothes. I don’t know if it was the warmer weather, the resignation that we have [at least] another month to go, or the suddenly flush bank account now that we’re not eating out, but I decided that a bit of retail therapy wouldn’t be the worst thing right now. I mean, it’s worth a shot, right?

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

  • Stutterheim ‘Mosebacke’ rain coat in pale pink – I have obsessed over these raincoats for a couple of years now. I knew they had good reviews, but spending $300 seemed steep for something I’d only wear a handful of times each year. I couldn’t resist any longer when I saw the pale pink one included in their seasonal sale. It has the most charming a-line shape and runs true to size. I went with a medium and there’s plenty of room in the arms for a sweater without looking bulky. I’m so happy with it!
  • Madewell lace-inset top in black – While the online reviewer is right about this top being boxier and a bit short, hitting at the top of the hips, it’s such a sweet shirt to half-tuck into jeans. The flutter sleeves and the subtle lace detail are thoughtful touches that make this feel like an elevated take on a t-shirt. I went with a size medium, but I think I could have sized down.
  • Jenny Bird ‘Nova’ large hoops – Jenny Bird is my favorite designer for high quality, statement-making, timeless, affordable costume jewelry. So, when there was a coupon for 50% off an item if one’s choice, you know I had to buy something. These hoops are generously sized and then organic shape make them so much more interesting than standard hoops. They’re not the lightest pair of earrings, but they’re not terribly heavy for all-day wear either.
  • Sarah Flint ‘Grear’ sandals in saddle – Oh. My. God. I love these sandals so much. I wanted to buy them last year and they sold out before I could add them into the rotation. While I was torn between the cognac leather or white, I thought the brown pair looked more expensive. They’re beautiful in person and run true to size.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • I placed a couple of orders, but nothing has arrived yet! Stay tuned for the May recap!

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

  • Madewell georgette peplum top – I was really torn on whether or not to keep this. I love the colors and the pattern. (I’ll never grow tired of a dark floral.) However, I just didn’t feel head-over-heels for it. It looked best styled as it is on the site with a pair of shorts. The peplum looked too bulky with jeans or pants. It runs true to size.
  • Treasure & Bond tie-shoulder midi dress in leopard – I ordered the medium in this and it feels too large. A smaller size might have fit a bit better. It’s lightweight and there are pockets. Wait for a sale, though. It’s not worth $70.
  • Garnet Hill linen shorts – These are great quality, but both of the pairs I tried were too small. (That COVID 15, amirite?) I might reorder these because they seem like they’ll be just as versatile as a similar Old Navy pair I bought last year, but a lot nicer and less likely to get baggy in the rear after one wear.

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Latest Purchases for Home & Wardrobe: March 2020

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I’ve been trying to focus my attention on this space to give myself a creative outlet from the monotony of self isolation, but I’m not quite there yet as I get used to the new normal of working from home. When my work day ends, all I want to do is step away from a computer, go for a walk, and then plant myself in front of a different screen to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. (Don’t judge me. It’s surprisingly addictive and a nice escape from doomsday news clips.) That said, I bought a few things last month! So, why not get back into the blogging routine with a roundup of my latest acquisitions that may or may not see the light of day outside of a virtual meeting this season! 😉

Disclaimer: I never include things like pajamas and athletic clothes in these roundups, but trust that I bought a new pair of “pandemic pants,” slippers, and a hoodie to go with. I’m embarrassed to share how often I’ve already worn that getup.

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

  • Kate Spade ‘party bubbles’ blouse – Kate Spade’s sale items are an extra 50% off right now, so it’s a good time to scoop this up if you like it as much as I do! I tend to be between a small and medium in Kate Spade items and went with the medium in this one, although it was close.
  • Kate Spade ‘pacific petals’ hair tie – This hair tie is even better in person. I didn’t realize that you can remove the scarf and use just the scrunchie portion, which I won’t actually do, but I love that you can use the scarf separately.
  • LOFT floral vine tiered dress – Loft’s tiered swing dresses win me over every time. I went with a small. It looks like it’s already sold out, but you can see the other tiered styles here. I’m considering this black dress next!
  • Quay Australia ‘after hours’ sunglasses – These are really fun oversized shades if you’re looking for a new pair this season.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Target lumbar pillow – I’m disappointed that this is already sold out online because it’s one of the best throw pillows I’ve come across at the retailer in awhile. The quality is great and the texture makes it look more expensive than it is. It’s a great accent pillow for bedding.

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Latest Purchases for Home & Wardrobe: February 2020

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Sometimes I don’t realize how well my recent purchases coordinate until I put them in this monthly collage! I couldn’t have predicted I’d be on such a neutral kick, but it really gives off an airy, spring vibe that I couldn’t be more ready for!

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

  • Jenny Bird ‘Thea’ pendant necklace – Jenny Bird is one of my favorite jewelers, but it’s been awhile since I’ve purchased a piece from her. I’ve been looking for a heftier pendant necklace to wear with v-neck tops and I opted to try this necklace. It has a lovely organic shape and a nice weight to it.
  • Soludos classic striped espadrille sandal – When summery espadrilles are on sale for a mere $20, you add-to-cart without a second thought! The black version is also on sale, but in limited sizes. They’re true to size.
  • Vince ‘Preston’ sneakers in linen – I wear my other Vince sneakers all the time, so I couldn’t help myself when I found theses at nearly 50% off. I find that they run true to size. They’re definitely stiff right out of the box, but they’re perfect after you break them in.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Cedar & Moss light fixture – The light fixture pictured above is actually the 12-inch design, which is slightly bigger than the 10-inch one we purchased for our office. There wasn’t a preview image of the smaller one in brass with the opal shade, thus the discrepancy. In any case, this fixture is gorgeous! It’s handmade in Portland and the attention to detail and quality is spot on.
  • Crate & Barrel grey marble bowl – We stopped by Crate & Barrel when we were in Chicago last weekend. I had been looking for a display bowl to gather Instax printed photos (we have this printer which pairs to your smartphone). This one might actually be a bit too large for what I was picturing, but the bowl was too gorgeous to pass up. If you’re interested in it and near a store, it’s worth stopping in to see them in person as the grey marble varies quite a bit from bowl to bowl. All of them were pretty though and the modern shape is versatile.

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

  • Maaji long dress – It’s difficult to tell in the stock image, but there’s a seam mid-thigh on this dress that created an unflattering pooch under the smocked bodice. It would have been so much better on me had the fabric simply flowed away from the top. Other than that, the fabric was nice and seemed like it would hold up well as either a day dress or a swimsuit cover up. I also really liked the halter straps. Runs true to size.
  • J.Crew crew neck merino wool boyfriend sweater – I thought this would be the perfect slouchy, go-to sweater to pair with black pants or skinny jeans. It didn’t fill that void for me. It’s great quality and fits like the photo (I went with a size small), but I quickly realized that boyfriend-style sweaters just aren’t my thing. They’re too boxy and make me look larger than I am.
  • Banana Republic tiered swing dress – There’s a special place in hell for people who design a loose, swingy dress and then add a fitted lining to the inside.
  • Banana Republic marled cable-knit sweater – I love the unique weave of this sweater and the weight was really nice for spring or fall, but it was way too large. I’m not sure if I’ll order it in a smaller size.
  • Birkenstock ‘Siena’ big buckle slide – These are really cute from the side, but they look like old-lady shoes from the top and front. I don’t know if it’s a combination of the style with the faded metallic leather because I’ve seen them on others and they’re adorable. Either way, they went back.

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Latest Purchases for Home & Wardrobe: January 2020

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Latest Purchases

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

  • Kate Spade faux fur jacket in gingerbread (also available here) – If this post was any indication, you know how delighted I am by this purchase. My focus for 2020 is to only purchase and keep items that I’m absolutely head-over-heels for and this coat is the perfect example of that. It’s ultra soft, the color has dimension, and is actually really warm. I have narrow shoulders and a small chest, so I was able to size down to a small. (I tend to be between a small and medium in Kate Spade tops.)
  • Spanx “The Perfect Black Pant” back-seam skinny pants – I had been searching for a pair of comfortable black dress pants to wear to work and came across these. I love that they’re stretchy and hold everything in smoothly. They hit me right at the ankle, which is my ideal length for wearing with flats. I’m typically a 10 in pants and the large fit the best.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

  • Hearth & Hand faux fig stem – I bought this vase last year and the small opening is perfect for displaying a single branch, which is great for when there’s actual greenery outside. In the meantime, I purchased the faux fig stem from Target. It’s one of their more realistic stems that’s convincing enough from across the room and it adds a nice textural element to the dining table where the vase is displayed right now.
  • Target bath mat – I asked my parents for Lands’ End’s Turkish spa towels in pewter for Christmas last year and they delivered. (I highly recommend them if you’re looking for towels! They feel so luxurious and they’re a great price point. You can even order a sample swatch to feel the texture before committing.) I wanted a bath mat to match and came across this one at Target. I love the low pile, which seems like it’ll hold up well. I’ll likely get another one or two because I love it so much.
  • West Elm fluted planter – Even in “extra small,” which was the size I bought, this planter is on the larger size — which is a great value for the money. I love the fluted shape that adds interest to an otherwise basic white planter. It ended up being too large for the pilea I wanted to use, but I’m keeping it for the next plant I bring home.
  • “Windfall” print by Kelly Money – I’m a sucker for a moody seascape or landscape and fell for this print. I bought the small 8-inch square print with the black metal frame. I’m not quite sure where it’ll go just yet, though!

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