outfit #1: gap tee / j.crew shorts / steve madden sandals
outfit #2: nine west button-up / j.crew shorts / ann taylor cardigan / steve madden sandals
outfit #3: banana republic short-sleeve jacket / j.crew shorts / nine west wedges
outfit #4: ann taylor cardi / nine west button-up / ann taylor loft skirt / steve madden sandals
outfit #5: nine west button-up / ann taylor loft skirt / nine west wedges
outfit #6: ann taylor cardi / ann taylor loft skirt / steve madden sandals 
*all c/o thredUP

Yep, I did wear a cardigan backwards in that last outfit - fun and simple way to make an otherwise ordinary outfit more exciting and noticeable.

outfit #1: gymboree cardigan / old navy tee / tractor jean shorts
outfit #2: gymboree cardigan / old navy tee / gap khakis (brand new) 
*all c/o thredUP

The only way I could get Mads to stand relatively still for this was by bribing her with a ring pop - haha.
Hey, do what ya have to.
................

Yeh. So.

$100. Eight outfits for Spring.

6 for me and 2 for the tot. 

Incredible, right?

I could have employed my best sale shopping skills to score this much elsewhere, but...

I probably would have failed. 

Miserably. 

Take it from me. ThredUP is where it's at. 

They have flawless used clothing from top notch brands, all at a great price.  

Yes, you could scour your local thrift shops for Spring outfits, 

but I am telling you...

you won't find the quality and selection that you'll find at thredUP. 

Plus- you can shop on your bum, with coffee in hand.

I mean, win win. 

*click on over here to get $10 to spend*

You can see the last used clothing challenge I did with thredUP here. 

& I can't not include little buddy...I heart him so...

how we wear it: Sneaks

Hey, Cams! - S

Yehhh?- me

Let's rock out those sneakers, yo! - S

Let's DO IT.- me

That's pretty much how our conversation went.

We are baaaack and hopefully you are too, so that you can join in on this round of How We Wear It- this time it's all about sneakers. They're awesome, delightful, comfy, cute, can be found everywhere...and versatile? Yep.  ANMJ  & I are sharing how we wore them...

I try to find any excuse to wear this hat. I found it in the Clearance bins at Target...I think it was $8. Score. I also found these super comfy, awesome J.Crew peach/neon (they look more neon in person), stretchy, denim roll-up shorts. That was a heck of a description. NO, but really. Go out and buy these. You will thank me! You can wear them long or roll them up if you're having a good leg day. I am smitten. Plus- they look good with sneaks.

THE OUTFIT:
Target fedora, similar
F21 baseball tee, similar
J.Crew factory garment-dyed 4" shorts
Target canvas sneakers
Twillypop ribbon necklace

Stripes. I can't get enough of them. You should see my Pinterest boards...I should just have one board called 'Stripes' and be done with it ;). Anyways, so I layered up the stripes here...and almost flashed you. Sorry? I think the skirt looks longer in person. Maybe. Well, it's comfy and works with sneakers, so that's a win in my book.

THE OUTFIT:
Old Navy sweatshirt
Marshalls striped top, similar
Target striped skirt, similar
Target canvas sneakers
Caroline G. bauble

(I used to model. Loll.)
So...I just got these ankle jeans from Joe's Jeans outlet. I had been waiting for forever (& a day) to get my  hands on them. They go a bit above my ankles, but I thought...what the hey...I can do the whole Audrey Hepburn thing. I threw on a dressy white button-up and smacked a bit of lipcolor on and...this...this happened. I felt oober cute and then made unnatural surprised faces. Oh!...and then I tried tying the shirt in front and ended up liking that as well. BAM. 2-in-1. 
THE OUTFIT: J.Crew (thrifted) white button-down, similar Joe's Jeans skinny ankle, similar Target canvas sneakers Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain
Now head on over to ANMJ to see how S rocked the sneaker look. 
OKAY- so now it's your turn! If you've ever worn sneakers or plan on doing so now...do share. You can use the linky tool below, post a pic to the Life in Mod Facebook page, send me an e-mail at camsdipaola(at)yahoo(dot)com, OR you can post your pic on Instagram w/ hashtag: #howwewearit. We would love to see how you wear it. :)



...some of the ways reader's have been styling their sneaks....

Sheena of Bean In Love

Callista of H is for Happy Hour

Maternityshmernity: J.Crew Edition

You know you really hit a nerve when VOGUE suddenly starts showcasing a few articles echoing your own "maternity wardrobe epiphany". Anna Wintour & Co still manage to stay relevantly aware of all grassroots trends, fashion and culturewise. This article was great, minus the caszh references to chokingly expensive designer labels. This other article  caused me to actually laugh out loud while reading, and then left me wanting to vomit. 
VOGUE's idea of "saving money" for your pregnancy wardrobe is, naturally, to spend $221 on non-maternity pants. And $4,000 on the handbag. Aware that I sound like a superbly arrogant ass, I have to say - I was unimpressed with their outfit ideas. 
I could do better. I did do better.
The next few posts in the series will showcase a few of my all-time favorite labels and how I am wearing them/making it work preggas. Starting with.... J.CREW!

(grey vintage cotton tank)
Why I Love J.Crew for Maternityshmernity Outfits:
1) Quality of the Fabric. This is key! Let's start with their Jersey. Shana over at Ain't No Mom Jeans perfectly shows the importance of quality fabric - its all in the drape! A really good Jersey Cotton will stretch beautifully, giving you ample room for comfort over your pregnant curves, but it will also drape well so that you don't look dumpy or figure-less. 

Black Kimono-sleeve Maxi  Green strapless (old-  it was an "Amie" dress, this is the only one available this year. Mine doesn't have a drawstring waist, so don't know if that would work) These two dresses I have included in my J.Crew lookbook here are both size Medium - but it works, not because I have some unrealistically perfect bod [I don't] but because they were not made cheaply. 
2) The Regularity of the Sales. The best part about both these dresses is I bought them on Final Sale. The green one I actually got two years ago (it looks nicer than clothes I get from Target after only two weeks) and it was around $20. It looks so much like a Hatch Collection dress, its just way way way way wayyyyy cheaper! And has the same amount of quality!
In fact, every item I have that I am using right now for my non-maternity-maternity closet was bought on super clearance. I haven't paid more than $20 for a top or $50 for a dress (and most of the normally $90 dresses were bought in the $20 range too!). Things just don't go on clearance like this if they have maternity labels. 
Yes, on sale they are the cost of full-price Target, but I find it to be worth every penny for how long they stay in my closet as favorites and staples. And withstand all the wear! (See point 1).

3) The Style. Oh the style! The most compliments I have gotten over what I'm wearing this pregnancy have been, predictably, when I'm in J.Crew. They are always so ahead of everyone else with their styles, and yet so timelessly classic, that you can wear things that are YEARS old and people will still ask you "Where did you get that?!"

My particular faves at the moment are the highlighter pink Vintage Cotton V-neck and the Graphic tee.  Covering my pregnant butt are the maternity essentials - shorts. I cut up an old pair of bootcut maternity jeans (think they were from Target) for the denim shorts, and bought the white and black shorts from Old Navy during a promotion. I have my eye on a few GAP pairs too - those will probably be my next Maternity purchase! :)
Thanks to my ingenuity with these outfits, I've been able to stash aside a little extra for shoes. I am a shoe-fetish girl, so this is an instant happy boost for this preggas. 
the shoes: Jack Roger's Navajo's TOMS BR Wedges, similar
-Kallah at Being Open to Life

maternityshmernity: business casual for the s.a.h.m

Outfit posts are hard. Seriously.  I was a fashion blogger virgin before this series, and I was all, "Get cute (high res) pics of myself looking my best and put them online a few times a month? psshhh. Doing it in my sleep!" And after just two of these suckers, I'm all,  "How do you people do it??!!?!" [Camille.]

My husband is getting his MBA, and last Friday evening he really wanted me to accompany him to a little get-together of his fellow classmates and a few of their professors.  It was a very lowkey event... everyone else was showing up at the bar just in their business clothes.  This was, however, more intimidating to me than if it had been fairly formal. Being a staying at home mom makes business caszh tough enough... throw in a growing bump and you have quite a challenge. Have you noticed that alot of maternity clothes are either yoga-style comfy/casual, or going-to-a-wedding-style formal? I didn't want to stand out too much...but I did want people to be able to tell without a shadow of a doubt that I am pregnant, not smuggling muffins.  (ok- I may been sticking out my little 4 month bump a bit in these pictures)

my outfit: blazer- thrift find! // short sleeve top (sm.)- *anthro. // white Blanqi (reg. length) // 7 for All Mankind denim- on sale at Nordstrom Rack (duh) // jewelry- J.Crew + Banana Republic //  diaper bag- Ellington Handbags

*anthro runs pretty boho roomy in some things, so it makes it ideal for our series! this will probably only fit me for one more week lol, but then it'll make for a great transition time when I have that weird post-partum jellybelly going on

These pictures are not what I had envisioned when planning this post. 

For one, I had no control over the fact that the weather dropped from 60 on Thursday,

to 40 degrees on Friday night, when we went out. 

40 degrees and wet. And windy. And chilling to the bone.

I had planned on wearing some cute heels with this outfit but it was just too cold and wet, 

so these Banana Republic black boots had to do. 

(no longer available - these are not similar because they have a heel and I am anti-tall-boot-heel)

Ya'll like my diaper bag? Yeh, diaper bag.

Diaperbagshmiaperbag. 

This bag made me feel lux and confident among all those MBA girls. More details coming in the next post ;). 

Fashion bloggers: clap clap clap. How you make it look so easy beats me. 

Maternityshmernity: a Night Out

Hey! I'm here with my FIRST EVER FASHION POST.  Please be forgiving. 

I lovvvvve dressing up. I love playing with my huz's Nikon D40. Handing said Nikon to someone to have them take pics of me, posing, dressed up? Not so much love for that one.  But what's a maternity style series without real-life illustrations? 
I am doing this for you people. This past Monday night, I went on a little Moms Night Out for the Mothers of Toddlers group (MOTs) at my Church. We went to a cute little restaurant near the NoDa side of Charlotte, The Peculiar Rabbit, and as its hipster name would suggest, it was super cool and the food was uh-may-zing. I had just scored some loot from Ann Taylor the day before at the mall... this gorgeous coral (looks bright red in these pics, but its really tangeriney-coral) silk button down was originally $98, but I paid $20 for it! I also found some pretty bracelets. Trying to vamp up my accessories this pregnancy.

I had gone shopping this past weekend in search of transitional tops  - I have already outgrown all my tops. They are so uncomfortable. I read somewhere that it isn't uncommon for women in their second pregnancy to feel like their breasts get bigger way faster than they did in the first pregnancy... anddddd that has definitely been the case for me! 

I'm hoping it means they, um, stabilize, at the size they are now though. That would be appreciated.

Because the shirt is silk, it drapes really nicely, despite the sheer size of it. (I got it in a 12... we'll see how long it'll last... but it'll definitely be an awesome transition shirt for now and the month of August that I am postpartum with that gross, puffy jelly belly!).

And I felt pretty darn attractive in it, which is most important!

These black leggings are the Topshop maternity ones I showed y'all in my Basics post. They are thick enough to cover all and sundry cracks, and super comfy. Plus I love the length - I hate when leggings bunch up at the bottom. Too 80s.

The bracelet (Banana Republic) really makes me  happy. I never accessorize, so this is a big step for me. I'm growing up. These flats are my absolute favorite things - they are J.Crew "Cecilia"'s, and I am surprised by how much I love them, since I usually never go for patent leather shoes. But something about the black trim w. the leopard print goes well with the patent. Classic yet unexpected. I love it.

Oh and, okay, one "belly" pic. Though its so embarrassing.  My belly is just poochy right now!

Yep. Not a fashion blogger. Written all over my face.

(those were the alternate shoes - from Nordstrom Rack - that I ended up feeling too shy to wear. Not when I won't be drinking!)

Moral of this post: when in the end of the first slash beginning of the second trimester,  balance maternity comfort (the leggings)  with drapey tops that will be kind to your awkwardly changing body, and be a little adventurous with the fabric and accessories. And if you are not born a fashion blogger yet have fashion blogging thrust upon you...  try not to make such awkward faces.  The End. Kallah

"I am NEVER driving a minivan" -me

"Oh... ... darn" -me

Yeh, it happened.
 I am now a minivan mama.

I won't lie, I teared up a bit as we drove out of the dealership, leaving my faithful VW Jetta behind. :(

I felt like part of me had died- the young, fun and free part. Haha! 

I guess this is what getting older is all about though.

Change...and minivans. 

This cream, white + gold ensemble was my way of revolting against "soccer mom" status.

I will be a stylin' swag wagon driver!

A couple more kids may change my tune.

ASOS // J.Crew // INPINK // Holiday DIY // Hush Puppies

............

BTW:

There is going to be a stylin' LiM giveaway starting here tomorrow!

hint: the Hills 

that time I had awful hair for a blog shoot.

the outfit: 

under-tank//Old Navy//$10

over-sized slouchy top//J.Crew//$12 (sale of course!)

black jeggings//Marshalls//$14.99

combat boots//Steve Madden//$49.99 (oldie)

link chain bracelet//Banana Republic//oldie

.............

Ok, my hair is awful. 

Something must be done...

& soon before I go crazy on my hair and chop it all off!

That would cause my husband to weep express his deep disappointment

  (he has been waiting so long for me to grow out my locks).

A little back story on this shoot:

It was hot, it was humid, I was thirsty...this was the last outfit. I was thirsty.

I thought about "fixing" it, but realized there isn't much you can do with heat, humidity and...the ominous darkness that is my roots.

Any ideas?

 I can't afford a color and I do not want to trim it just yet.

First world problems.

My shoes do rock though.

..............

&

You may have missed it:

hometown visit Re-visited

Happy weekend, lovies!

denim on denim.

the outfit:

denim button-up shirt//Marshalls//$9.99

white straight leg denim//J.Crew//(oldie)

DIY Aztec print wedge//Rampage//oldie

I think I will work on looking at least slightly happy next blog shoot.

I look rather sad and woebegone.

 But Cat is SOOOO cooll!!!!! I just am CRAZY ABOUT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 (hacked by my sister, fyi)

...............

&

You may have missed it:

how-to style: military green jacket

a 5 sec. beach trip

...............

The Moo and I are heading back home from our hometown visit tomorrow a.m.
*sniff* It has been such a relaxed 2 weeks back here in MD.
Aside from the 7.5 hour car trip, I am actually looking forward to getting back to our little home...
& the hubsters/da-da (he has been at work training in CA).

There isn't anything much better than returning home after a long stay away.

Happy weekend, lovies!