L. L. Bean

I have to admit, I can't think of L. L. Bean without thinking of the episode of Sex and the City where Carrie et al are talking about who they fantasize about while masturbating. They goad Charlotte into telling them who she thinks about, she says it's just one man, and Carrie asks, "L.L.Bean?" but really it's Trey, which makes everybody sad. So L.L. Bean makes me sad, or something. But they do a great job of making preppy basics and nautical stuff. And, most importantly, they make them in sizes up to 3X! Those sailboat prints on the ends could be great on a very dramatic big girl, and those two middle numbers are basically perfect classic pieces.

Gotta have faith

...Faith 21, that is. I finally girded my loins for the flourescent lighting, insanely lout music, and teeming masses of women a decade or two younger than me and took myself to the Faith 21 section of Forever 21 at the Mall of America. It was hard, but I was glad I did, because I got this brightly striped dress that I am loving like mad.




I wore it with a boatneck tee from American Apparel underneath because it's too cold to really be wearing a paper thin cheapy dress here. Also featured are my oxford shoes that I bought off ebay that were described as "Vintage 90s". Oh dear me, I am ancient.

I also went to Old Navy because I had a $25 gift card, thanks to diligent ad clicking on Mypoints.com. They let you earn points for visiting sites, and more points if you buy something. I mostly just buy stuff I was going to get anyway (like diapers!) and let the points accrue. I was able to pick up this dress for $15/free, and a couple of other things, too! I highly recommend this dress (here), with the caveat that it seems to run a size or two bigger than stated. I was swimming in the XXL, and not in a biggie tee cute way, in a baggy shoulders on a boatneck top way.



American Apparel leggings, Target hat, belt and sweater, J. Crew boots. Pardon my unintentional hipster pose.

Eshakti: Killing me with cuteness

Oh, Eshakti, how you torment me with your adorable clothes.

I have purchased several things from this company in the past, to mixed results. I usually like the way the item looks, but the quality of fabric and the fit is not always great. Still, they do standard sizes up to 26W, and will custom-size anything on the site for $10 more. That's pretty good. So if you are looking for something anthropologie-esque, but cheaper (and lower quality), or just anthro-esque in your size if you are size 14+, Eshakti's your man (or whatever).

Right now, I am in love with this tiered, corset-style dress. They run out of stuff fast, which I learned when I lusted after a dress that looked just like this but in a printed denim, and a yellow and white ticking fabric:

I also love this banded waist dress, this low-cowl, tulip-shaped dress looks promising for someone who wants to amp up the curvalicious factor, and this polka-dot top just slays me. Somehow I feel like it evokes this Spanish, pop-art, Almodovar film aesthetic that I am really into right now.

Anyone else jonesin' for some Eshakti?

Dirty Mother

Last weekend I had a hankering for something sweet and boozy, but was too cold and lazy to leave the house in hunt of it. I had a bottle of Kahlua and a bottle of brandy left over from a very ambitious holiday baking season, and recalled that at Christmas I mixed the two in a hot cocoa to kick-ass effect.* Too lazy to make hot cocoa, and remembering that my sister had told me she made a great White Russian with this raw Jersey-cow-only milk (yes, we're that kind of foodies) and some fancy prairie vodka. And so was born what I thought was an original cocktail: Brandy, Kahlua, and (very creamy) milk. Turns out, this is already a drink . A brandy and Kahlua is called a Dirty Mother. Add milk and it becomes a Dirty White Mother. I shit you not.

So I will share my delectable drink with you here:

The Dirty White Mother

• 3 parts brandy (I used E&J, but you can swank it up or dress it down as you will)
• 1 part Kahlua, or whatever coffee liqueur is handy
• Milk or cream

Mix brandy and coffee liqueur in an old-fashioned glass with ice cubes. Stir. Pour milk on top to fill.

This would probably be just as good strained into a martini glass!


*I have since learned that this drink is called a Ski Lift.

Babies 'R Us Expedition

Skirt: H&M via Re/Dress in NYC
Blue top that is actually a dress: Eshakti
Grey cardi: The Limited, via Crossroads Trading Co. aaaaages ago
Wool ribbed tights: Marcmarcs via Ebay
Boots: Diba
Necklace: Target
Lipstick: Chanel, "Pink Accent"

What I wore to be that crazy woman wearing leather boots in the snow. And to make a rare trip to Babies 'R Us a couple of weeks ago (YIKES). Potholes from hell! I always laugh when I go there because they really play on your fears of being a bad mommy with their insane contraptions and geegaws. Ethically-harvested hardwood potty seat, anyone?

Pancakes

I wore this to a benefit pancake breakfast last weekend:




Top: Dorothy Perkins
Pants: Tripp twill skinny pants via Buffalo Exchange
Sweater: Target
Shoes: Simple eco-sneaks

I rarely post pictures of myself in sneakers, but let's face it: I wear them a lot more than I used to. These eco-friendly cousins of the ubiquitous Converse version are my usual pair, but I also love my weird suede and canvas beige New Balance sneakers.

While I was out wearing this, I was approached by someone who recognized me from my outfit posts on the Fatshionista! Livejournal community. This is the second time that has happened to me, and both times it was within blocks of my house. Flattering or creepy? Both? I am not gonna lie, I was totally flattered. It made me want to make good on a suggestion an online friend made that I get my husband a tshirt that says, "My Wife is a Fashion Icon" (context: we were discussing seeing Iman in a Bowie shirt on Project Runway Canada). Not sure he'd wear it, though.

The chambray dress

So elsewhere when I posted this dress someone remarked that she couldn't look at it without think of Super Mario's brother, Luigi. She does have a point there...

Dress: Target via the magical Salvation Army, $10
Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft, purchased secondhand, $5
Leggings:American Apparel via ebay, $9
Boots: J. Crew via Jeremy's in Berkeley, remixed, $19
Beret: Target, via the magical Salvation Army, $3
Earrings: H&M, $3

*I will posting some backlog outfits over the next few days, so bear with me if you have seen these before somewhere...

Old Navy Maternity Sale

Old Navy has all their maternity stuff on sale right now, and free shipping on maternity and kids' stuff with code ONGIVE50. I am loving this striped dress, available in XL and XXL and in the fill range of sizes in solid colors. Would look cute on the non-pregnant as well!

And speaking of Scottish things...

Rest in peace, Alexander McQueen. You brought a show to the catwalk that indicted England for the Highland Clearances, and you made me want to wear some crazy-ass shit. And you were a blue collar kid who made his high art dreams come true. You are gone far, far too soon.

Gabourey Sidibe on Craig Ferguson

Apropos of nothing, but I adore her, and I adore Scottish accents, and she really has the best interview repartee I have ever seen from a young actress. Enjoy!

An outfit

I wore this today to the aquarium at the mall with my very crabby two-year-old.

This is the epitome of what I have been wearing this winter. Boots? Check. Ambiguous tunic/dress type of dealy-do? Check. Wool sweater and a jaunty cap? Check and check. Belt optional.

I'm in love with this hat that I found in Austin while visiting my awesome friend Rudy. It looked good on both of us, but he graciously allowed me to purchase it. I usually don't like caps, but this one has the cutest little brim:

The dress/tunic (it has pockets!) is a color that I always am drawn to, but feel like it washes me out, especially in winter, so I like to pair it with darker colors. I am quite fond of finding ways to wear colors that are not "good" on me. How about you? Do you like to be "bad" and wear another season's colors?

Outfit details:

Dress: Gap via Re/Dress Consignment store in NYC
Sweater: Target via the magical Salvation Army, aka Target's year-round garage sale
Leggings, Belt and Earrings: Target
Boots: J. Crew via Jeremy's in Berkeley, CA
Hat: 1940s jockey cap via Protoype Vintage in Austin, TX

Long time no see

Hi all (if there's more than one person reading this!),

I am going to make a stab at reviving this blog with a slightly different format. I will still proffer my style tips, but it will be more general in nature and include lots of outfit shots! I will start with a backlog of outfits and fill in new content as I come up with things.

Long time no see (for blog) by lowbudgetdiva

Items in this set:
eShakti Silk dress comes in sizes 0 to 26W and custom sizes, $60
Women's Mossimo® Kady Boots - Cognac : Target, suitable for wider calves, $30
Judith Jack - Amarillo Marcasite/14K Gold Vermeil Brooch (Antique..., $135
(3-Pack) Cotton Spandex Jersey Legging, American Apparel, $78

There will still be plenty of info about maternity and nursing clothes and fashion that might be particularly useful for the plus-size-wearing mama, but the focus will be more on showing some of the style solutions I have come up with in my day-to-day. I hope you find something you like!