Currently adding to my shopping bag...

The perfect pair of boyfriend jeans (yes, I've fully jumped on that bandwagon).

My summer dream dress which popped up on a flash sale for 50% off (nursing-friendly to boot!).

Ballet flats that make me feel Audrey Hepburn-ish and gamine (pretty tough when you're 6 feet tall but I'll keep dreaming...).


What are you shopping for these days?

Cozy Fall Dressing (and a great score from ON)

It's no secret that for my maternity wardrobe, I've stuck primarily with non-maternity clothing. I definitely purchased some maternity skinny jeans, leggings and shorts plus a few maxi dresses I love...but I've felt most comfortable primarily in stretchy and elastic waist dresses. Plus the summer heat just meant the less restrictive clothing, the better. I did buy some maternity tanks and a few tops but to be honest, they were more fitted and that's just really not me.

So I stuck with what I knew and loved! Many of those dresses I picked up at Gap (online sizing goes up to XXL & 18/20), Old Navy, ASOS, Target or I already owned and wore often. That was my style before baby and it will probably still be my style after baby! (isn't it great when you reach that age that you finally feel comfortable in your personal style and make no apologies for staying away from trends that don't work for you?)

As fall sets in (yikes was the hardwood cold this morning!) and my due date approaches, I've started to think about post-partum dressing and warmer layers. So when I spotted this dress on sale at Old Navy...I couldn't resist!

fleece sweatshirt dress: Old Navy

Why is this dress pure perfection? Let's start with the price...it's currently on sale for $25 and it's time to redeem your Old Navy Super Cash, so if you have a coupon stashed away in your wallet - you could get $10 off your $25 purchase until the 18th.

The fabric? Thick, soft, fleecy sweatshirt material...heavenly! Plus it comes in a light grey and a darker heather grey - both great neutrals to pair with a variety of other colours.

The fit? Super flattering. The drawstring waist eliminates that sweatshirt frumpiness, the curved hem is very cute and the slouchy dolman type sleeves make us all look good. Love that it comes in sizes XS to XXL. I sized up for extra slouchiness!

I'll be wearing this now (with the baby bump!) along with cute flats and layered necklaces. Soon, I'll be swapping in leggings and booties/tall boots plus a big printed scarf to stay warm(after baby!).

Have you started fall shopping yet? What are you most excited to add to your wardrobe this year?

Bump Style Peek: olive maxi + guitar print button-down {17 weeks}

Hello friends! How is your week going? This pregnancy is progressing at warp speed and I'm feeling pretty good (knock on wood!). Jack finished painting and prepping the nursery (a pale creamy grey green - could I be more predictable?) and built a beautiful feature wall using old salvaged barn board we picked up for a project a few years ago. I'm loving the cozy rustic vibe and now I'm working on decorating ideas to keep with that theme. We also ordered all of our Ikea kitchen cabinets and Jack has been a busy bee assembling them all with plans to swap the old for the new in the next month or two. To say our household is a bit chaotic at this point is an understatement! But it's exciting to have the looming due date as a goal point to be ready for. We also went through our pre-natal classes and they were excellent (we took them through The Nest Family Centre - I love classes and workshops and constant learning so I feel more relaxed already knowing what's ahead!

I've officially popped which means I'm looking for comfort and ease every day without sacrificing frumpiness. Jersey maxis continue to be a go-to and this button down top was an experiment from my usual cardigan. I love my cardigans but I needed a casual work alternative. I like the look but I think next time I would do a thin belt on the empire waist...it's just missing a touch of definition I think.

guitar print button-down top - Old Navy (in-store only)

olive maxi dress - Old Navy (similar here)

necklace - Forever 21 (old)

bronze flats - Coach via Winners (old)

Would you believe that next week we find out the gender? Eeeek!! I'm so nervous and excited, I'm really a planner so I want to know the gender so I can do some more prep and also call them by their name and bond pre-delivery. 

(BTW - I'm actually 18.5 weeks but my blog posts are a little behind hence the timing difference. If you follow me on Instagram, you can get more current bump style updates :)

Hope you're all having an amazing week!!

ps: Google Reader is shutting down soon, so if you'd like to continue to get Lather.Write.Repeat. updates directly in your reader - follow me on Bloglovin'!

 

Lather in The Globe and Mail

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're all having a good week? No bump style peeks for me this week...it was a bit of a rough one. I was lucky enough to sail through my first trimester and the second seems to be getting it's payback. It's been a fun week of round ligament pain, dizzy spells, headaches and generally feeling weak and blah. Luckily I'm feeling better today and hope to have a relaxing weekend with friends and family.

I did want to share this article that came out last weekend in The Globe and Mail Style section. I was interviewed on the topic of plus-size clothing availability in Canada and needless to say - I had much to talk about. There were a few minor discrepancies - like the fact that I'm only 5'11" and not 6'2". Also the other bloggers mentioned were not named by me, but I'm glad to see the community out there.

It's a topic that requires a lot more discussion and thought and I feel that there are so many different angles to the story and everyone's opinion differs. It's not even the fact that there aren't plus size clothing available - it's more that they tend to be more frumpy, less quality and cut very oversized in areas that need not be (armholes anyone??). Sometimes I get embarrassed to talk about it - because I'd like for people not to focus on my body/size on a tag but on my personal style. I don't think it's wrong to want to wear what the other 90% of stores are selling but know that you won't be able to fit into the largest size they have...

But the more discussion we have, the more doors it may open. Because don't we all deserve to wear cute clothes and feel good about ourselves - no matter what our size?

What are your thoughts friends? I know there are many of you out there who struggle, whether you are petite, plus-sized, athletically-built, small with a large bust, etc. Just know that you are ALL beautiful.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Bump Style Peek: bright tunic + black leggings {week 13}

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you're having a good one. Things are good over here as I move into my second trimester. 

But can we talk about pregnancy dressing for a minute? Let's just say this is opening up a whole new style challenge for me. Everything is getting a bit bigger due to pregnancy bloating (yay!) and baby growth in general. My pants still fit but I can't handle the waistband pressure all day at work so I've made the leap to some comfier bottoms. 

After a day trip down to Grand Forks last weekend, I have a few new items to tide me over for a while. This Target tunic is not maternity but I bought it one size bigger and it's a gem: a nice comfy elastic waist and plenty of room for a growing tummy. The leggings are from Target as well and well....let's just say they were SUPPOSED to be full length but they've ended up more like crops. Oh well, hazard of being tall! I have a feeling this is going to be a bit of a uniform going forward....

turquoise printed tunic: Target

maternity leggings: Target

white cardigan: Gap (old)

suede loafers: J.Crew (last season)

leather braided belt: American Eagle Outfitters

Truth is, this is a lot of the types of clothing I usually wear - since I'm an apple body shape. I've been doing a deep dive into my closet this weekend to figure out what will work going forward and what needs to be packed away in hopes of fitting again one day!

Do you mamas out there have any advice or recommendations for me when it comes to pregnancy dressing? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks!

Shop My Closet! Sizes 14-20

Happy Sunday! I hope you're all having a nice weekend? Mine has been pretty quiet so I decided to finally get to the pile of clothing I had put aside for resale. It's always quite the job to sort, photograph, measure and list the items...but it feels good to get to it. Here's a selection of some of the items I put up for sale on Ebay today (only new or mint condition items), ranging in sizes from 14-20 and from some of my fave curvy retailers like ASOS Curve, Dorothy Perkins, Forever 21+, Anthropologie, Gap, Red Velvet, H&M and Kenneth Cole NY! If you're interested, you can check out my items for sale here.

Anthropologie Sweatercoat Size XL

ASOS Curve Birdcage Print Dress Size 20UK/16US

Forever 21+ Dressy Tank Size 1X

Forever 21+ Hangar Print Blazer Size 3X

Dorothy Perkins Emerald Dolman Sleeve Blouse Size 22UK/18US

Red Velvet Sewing Print Dress Size 3X

Dorothy Perkins Heart Print Bubble Hem Top Size 20UK/16US

H&M Floral Print Blouse Size 14

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and your week friends!

Fall Shopping Preview

Have you started fall shopping yet friends?

I know, I know...it's only the beginning of August but I always find the first round has the best stuff. It's so hot outside that I'm looking more for transitional pieces that can mix and match with what I have now.

I've been scouring my fave online shopping haunts and here's what I've ordered so far...

This dress from ASOS Curve is so pretty! I'm a huge fan of the shape (blousy top, full skirt, nipped in elastic waist) and the mix of floral and stripe in the print takes care of that for me! I'm wearing it today with bare legs and when things cool off...I'm thinking navy tights and a creamy cardi! Don't forget that ASOS offers free shipping globally on everything!

The pastels and brights in skinny denim has not been for me but I'm super drawn to these earthy neutrals like this rusty bronze, wine, deep teal and midnight blue. I ordered these from American Eagle in the same skinny fit I know and love! Plus I scored the free shipping deal AND they're on sale...how's that for awesome? I plan on pairing them with flats in September and booties in October!

Speaking of boots, I just received this scrumptious pair I ordered from Long Tall Sally! If any of you have larger feet...this is a great resource. I'm a size 11 and sometimes 12, but they even go up to 13! I ordered these slouchy suede boots in a rich mink colour in both 11 and 12, paid ten bucks in shipping and I can return anything that doesn't fit to the LTS location in Kildonan Place - easy peasy! The 11's fit perfect and I can't wait to pair them with tights and dresses...you can even fold them up or down and they have the slightest hint of a heel - just enough for this tall girl to feel comfy!

What's on your fall wish list friends? What are you most looking forward to wearing?

Style School: Fall's Wardrobe Helpers

Ahhhhh, fall fashion....makes my heart go pitter patter. Unfortunately, I've been hoarding my fall wardrobe due to unseasonably high temps here in Winnipeg. Not that I'm complaining, but a girl's gotta be ready for anything in the unpredictable prairies. So I've been going through my old fall gear and my new additions, to pick out the work horses that will really extend my remixing options.

1. Winter white oversized shawl sweater (Gap) - Cozy, cozy, cozy! This sweater is going to be thrown over all my summer tops to take the chill out and I see it paired with lots of skinny jeans, jeggings and tall boots.

2. Olive cardigan (Old Navy) - Oh how my cardigan collection grows. For fall I chose an earthy olive - to me it's almost a neutral and I can throw it over everything from flowy white summer tops to printed dresses. Buttoned up, belted or open, the options are limitless!

3. Owl printed scarf (local boutique Out of the Blue) - Don't scarves make everything better? I will be throwing them on regularly starting this week. They're a fabulous way to try new prints and colours and they just look 'fall'.

4. Jeggings (Gap) - These skinny jeans are super comfy and pair perfectly with tall boots, summer tops and sweaters. You can even try them under a dress, with a drapey scarf and some fantastic earrings.

5.  Wide belt (Forever 21) - I'm learning more and more that it's all about silhouette for me (thanks Project Runway!) and this wide, elastic belt cinches in all my dresses, tops and even layered sweaters for an hourglass look.

6. Chocolate opaque tights (Hue) - These cute tights in my new neutral will be great under all those dresses and skirts I picked up during the summer. Plus they're adorable with both flats AND tall boots!

7. Gold necklace (Target) - Gold is hot right now and I think it adds a real warmth to my fall outfits. My palette of warm, earthy caramel, olive, cream and chocolate go perfectly with gilded accessories.

So, what are your must-have fall items? Have you been shopping yet? What are your fave trends?

Friday Spree

Happy Friday! The countdown is on...one week until the big day! It seems the busier I get, the more my shopping addiction kicks in...what can I say - it's all in the name of blogging and fashion! Plus it's a stress buster!! I mentioned ordering online yesterday and there are two shops I've been eyeing for a very long time...

The first one is UK retailer ASOS. They offer smart and chic looks plus extended sizing in their ASOS Curve line. I've read great things about their clothes from other bloggers plus they offer FREE worldwide shipping! I spotted this lovely chiffon midi skirt in the clearance section and decided to go for it. I think it will work well for winter with black accents and tights and boots.

image via Asos

My other coveted site is Modcloth. They've been introducing a sprinkling of larger sizes but they were always hard to find until they introduced a new 'search by size' feature that makes it SO easy to see what's available. I love Mocloth because of their unique prints and so I chose these two lovelies to try. Can't wait to get them!

image via ModCloth

image via Modcloth

Online shopping is always a risk with sizing and fabrics but one of my fave things is to read the Reader Reviews - real life accounts by others who've bought the items. They offer a great perspective on fit, fabric feel, quality and more. Modcloth has a fab reader review section!

I'll be sure to keep you posted on how they turn out...

Have you had any experiences with either shop? Do tell!

Style Peek: striped tunic + cropped denim

Happy Friday! I'm so glad the weekend is here. The weeks are just flying by and these are my chances to pack as many errands/wedding tasks/blog back-up as possible! We're celebrating J's aunt's birthday with a family gathering this evening and I've made my signature Oreo Cheesecake (recipe here). What are you up to this weekend lovelies?

After many days of belts and shorts and skirts, I braved the scorching heat in cropped denim just to pull something else out of my closet. I paired it with my new favourite oversized tunic from Joe Fresh (only 16 bucks!!) and dark brown wood and leather accessories. I can admit that even though I often lean towards a girly style - I have a bit of prep in me too...Ivy league schools, misty eastern seaboards, eating lobster in Maine, sailing and nautical details,  I definitely have an affinity for that lifestyle as well!

navy and white striped tunic - Joe Fresh

cropped jeans - Old Navy

wooden necklace - purchased many moons ago in a boutique in Calgary

brown leather sandals - Hush Puppies

caramel leather bag - Roots

toe nail polish - Turquoise & Caicos by Essie

cheek stain - Cha Cha Tint by Benefit

What about you friends? Do you favour a certain style but find yourself falling for another one every once in a while?

Hope you all have an amazing weekend! I'll have some fun posts for you over the next couple of days...I have a fantastic story for a new 'The Story Behind...' and a sweet recipe to share! I'm also working on a sale of my current Lather Creations inventory and a wedding DIY...lots of goodies to come!

PS: Have you seen my Style at Home article yet on great places to shop in Winnipeg? You can read all about it here.

Style Peek: watercolour dress + aqua necklace

Hey friends! Happy Tuesday, I'm excited for the short work week.  Today it's officially 1 month to go until the wedding and let's just say almost every day has a task or plans or a hair appointment or a family get together. I read on another blog that September is going to be Sleeptember and I concur...I think that's what I'll be doing too!

Here's what I wore out for J's birthday dinner last night. I picked up this draped watercolour dress from the sale rack at Target during my road trip to Grand Forks for 17 bucks! I paired it with my awesome aqua granny beads necklace from Goodwill ($3!). So all in all, a $20 outfit minus the shoes. Not bad Lenore, not bad....

I also did my first foray into thrifting for actual clothing today at lunch (we have a massive Goodwill next to our office - dangerous!). I've shied away from thrifting clothes because of my size and height but I'm determined to try again. No luck today but I tried 4 things on and I've started thinking of how I can tweak and alter to make them better work for me...that's half the battle right?

Watercolour dress - Target

Aqua beaded necklace - thrifted

Gold flats - Steve Madden

Do you thrift clothes friends? Any tips for me??