Flour Clothing Vintage Giveaway

i ❤ vintage!  Vintage styles, vintage cuts, vintage patterns.  Imagining its previous owner, the events it has attended, the stories it has to tell. 

And as it turns out, most of you and your narrow little waistlines aren't dressing for two.  I can therefore dress vicariously through you enjoying frocks from one of my favorite vintage fashion lines: Flour Clothing

Sponsored by

Lady Kayleen, CEO of Flour Clothing, has generously offered two pretty little gift certificates ($100 and $50) to her pretty little shop as part of a Cardigan Empire giveaway.  Win your credit towards one of your own Lady Kayleen treasures, using any or all of the approved methods below:

a) Go to Flour Clothing, inspect her vintage treasures, and leave a comment on what garment of memories you'd like to parade in.   
b) Follow Flour Clothing on Facebook

c) Blog, Tweet, or otherwise share info on this contest and leave a confirming comment.

d) Add the Flour Clothing's button to your blog or website

 
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/flourclothing" linkindex="23"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4579941148_295e39dc71_m.jpg" width="175" /></a>

The winners of the Flour Clothing Giveaway will be selected on Friday, September 3rd.

The first winner will receive a $100 Flour Clothing gift certificate. 

The second winner will receive a $50 Flour Clothing gift certificate.

In the meantime, I will be away from the keyboard, returning Friday, September 3rd.  See you very soon!

Trimester Specific Maternity Fashion

Whether your occupant's presence was only recently perceived or your nest is already abundantly ripe, below is a fashion guide for each stage of your roost raising:

Trimestre Primo (Weeks 1-12):
Bra, Knickers, Trouser Extender

Your very first-est purchase, must-est absolutely be a bra, preferably a trio of them.  The tender blossom of your lady eggs need tending.  Start scheduling a fresh bra fitting around eight weeks.

Next, you and your seed will need to analyze your entire closet. Abstain from purchasing unnecessarily now.  Perhaps you already have a few empire waist tops, some longer pleated tees, or an extra stretchy pair of trousers that continue to serve you and your growing empire.

Next identify items that might work with slight modifications. If you have pants and skirts that still fit nicely around your thighs and seat, but are a tiddly bit tight around the confines of your new belly buddy.  try purchasing a Bella Band, Belly Belt Button Up, Belly Band to keep your southern garments in their station.  If all else fails, a rubber band will suffice.
 

Trimestre Secondo (Weeks 13-26):
Maternity Cluster

Your belly is finally starting to bump. While fashion architecture is traditionally executed to draw attention away from a broad area, this is not the case in pregnancy. Your expanding arched abdomen is a glorious line. And it is unmistakable physical evidence that you are very desirable to the opposite sex.

Your goal now is to acquire a minimalist maternity wardrobe.  Retain what continues to serve you from your non-maternity wardrobe and add in new items to complete the set.  As you evaluate, remember you are not a packaged sausage. If you can see any excessive details of your figure metamorphosis, it is not serving you. And your child should never fall below the line of blouse. Baby will be angry if he finds you left him exposed to the public.

In the end aim for: 10 shirts, 5 trousers (including 1 pair of jeans), 1 skirt, 1 dress. All of them should be good servants, faithful servants. Servants who flatter you.

But hasty one, proceed with wisdom. Buy slowly. Re-wear each garment in as many combinations as possible. Glutton yourself on the intoxication of well fitting pretties because as it turns out you two may only have fleeting weeks to enjoy each other.  

Avoid trimester specific buying, and look for items that will grow with you and your uterine companion.  This includes wrap knits, tie back tops, and extra long stretchy jersey blouses. 

Trimestre Terzo(Weeks 27-40):
Accessories

Start slowing down your maternity purchases.  The items you wisely purchased in the second trimester should continue to accommodate your growth.  

Now is the time to acquire accessories.  Redress your wardrobe with bright baubles, fine millinery, and the excellent work of your favorite cobbler.  Not only will bags and scarves refresh your appearance now, but they will continue to serve you postpartum. 

If you must buy a new garment, opt for an open closure layering piece (ie sweater or jacket).  The outer pieces can create structure and verticality around your beautifully broad belly.

Still to come, pregnancy body types, maternity fashion flops, and more.

Procure your own empire constitution. Your personalized fashion look book can include your own pregnant styling rules of conduct and much more.

More Coco

You queried regarding more Coco fashion, and her doting mother could not refuse you.  Below is a sampling of Coco's summer layette.  The cluster observed both nautical and patriotic leanings.  And a common color palette allowed for easy mixing and matching of accessories.

But now we need to get back to dressing Baby Billie in utero.

A Short Interruption

Bits of cheerios on my living room rug commingle with piles of cooling laundry.  My abandoned open laptop drains its battery, as a barrage of e-mails and a half-composed post on Maternity Fashion Flops dance and dim across the screen.  

But Coco and I are snuggled up for an afternoon siesta.  The squishiness of her thighs and the scent of cupcakes behind her neck rolls lured me in. 

Her siren song was just to compelling today.  I promise to come back a very efficient adult on Monday, can you forgive me my Friday forbearance? 

Maternity Fashion: Bump it Up

Dutiful research and live experience on the pregnant form has uncovered gestating body types, maternity fashion faux pas, and a barrage of darling boutiques for the blossoming belly.  All promised and to come, but for now a hopeful little video for the pregnantista in you.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Maternity Fashion: Date Night

This week the focus is on fashion for gestating mothers, we'll premier with a date night ensemble.

Date Night for Three by cardiganempire

Flutter Sleeve Wrap Dress; Maternity Dresses; Isabella Oliver...
$159 - isabellaoliver.com
More Isabella Oliver maternity »

Gap Lace-trim tank
$9.99 - gap.com
More GAP maternity »

Nine West Women's Escher Pump
$66 - endless.com
More Nine West pumps »

Seraphim Necklace
$58 - anthropologie.com
More Anthropologie necklaces

Amazon.com: Cross Town Clutch - Springtime in Surrey

$87 - amazon.com

For those of you who want a non-maternity, highly inexpensive version of the Isabella Oliver Dress, try the Soprano Dress at Dress 4 Less

1 hundred 98 cents = your own maternity fashion look book cheat sheet.

Procure your own empire constitution. Your personalized fashion look book can include your own pregnant styling rules of conduct and much more.

Pregnancy Inspiration: Gadgets

A few of my favorite Gadgets and Tools of Baby Wizardry.  Tell me about your "couldn't live without-s" in the comments.

Having borrowed a single Bob from a friend, mid-morning jogs became one of Mom & Coco's favoritest activities.  Bob's adjustable tracking ensured we could keep a straight line, while his handy front swivel wheel allowed a turn of direction without a cessation of movement.  Not wanting to leave Billie out, Mommy's pennies are being saved and Craigslist is being scoured for a double Bob. 

Smarty Skip Hop shuttle clips allow speedy, easy changes from shoulder to stroller (a critically important shopping features).  The ample pockets provide an organized spot for all baby's personals, and the durable, machine washable vinyl features nary a cartoon character.

Clean babies are more fun to snuggle.  Coco shows you her pudge in the puj, in this little video review.  I can't believe how big baby daughter has gotten.

The Miracle Blanket is aptly named.  Mr. Bagley suggests a brand change to the baby straight jacket, because it was the only swaddle from which newborn Coco could not escape.  While the procurers consider clever Mr. Bagley's highly marketable name change, all you need to know is that it keeps tiny cherubs snuggly and secure and ensures a better night sleep for everyone.

Pregnancy Inspiration: His & Hers

With births coordinated 14 months apart, Mother better at least coordinate their ensembles.

(Click on images for links to places of merchandise).

Pregnancy Inspiration: Boy Frocks

My vision of Baby Billie & Big Sister Coco in gender appropriate frocks

Since discovering the gender of my Billie Belly seven days past, I've been attempting to assemble little Mister's layette.  Sadly, its been a disappointing effort.  I suppose I appreciate dinosaur t-shirts and khakis as much as the next mother, but why have we imposed such a finite range on our miniature males?  

Coordinating trousers are an option, if I can accessorize with a cap

While Miss Coco spends most of her days in rompers and dresses, she, and all women subsequent WWII, can don trousers when a rigorous crawl or a chilly afternoon walk warrants the fashion.

So why can't Baby Billie wear a one-piece, open-bottom frock?  I will not use the "d" word because I strongly wish to avoid fashion androgyny.  This garment would not include feminine accouterments such as ruffles, pointelle collars, lace trimmed hems, or gender confusion. I appreciate the distinct natures of men and women,and I do not aspire to blur the distinguishing line through fashion.

The perambulator too please

Prior to the 1900s, baby apparel avoided gender specificity.  And it was only in the last 300 years that the trouser entered the world of apparel at all: Roman skirts, Jewish robes, Scottish kilts, Pacific sulus, Indonesian Sarongs, and Indian caftans have seen far more years on life's runway than have trousers.  And modern days haven't seen the complete and universal male adoption of the double opening bottom.  Formal occasion and ceremonial costume, particularly those religious and educational, still favor the freedom and elegance of an unfastened understructure. 

Universally becoming to tiny males and females

Personally, I believe male frocks are something outgrown around the age of potty training.  Like footed pajamas, they have a maturation expiration.

The male frock as exemplified by John Jr.

But for diaper changing practicality, natural ventilation, and the love of chubby cherub legs, can we accept frocks on gentleman infants?  I promise to add short pants underneath if necessary.

Please amend your own thoughts and arguments in the comments.

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This message is not Mr. Bagley approved.  He has in fact vehemently threatened to misuse my blogger credentials in order to remove said post. 

I disobey the adamant warnings of my dear one, on behalf of Baby Billie, and his little baby boy cohorts everywhere.

Favorite Things: Snips, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

Pregnancy Inspiration: Companion

Seven years ago today, I walked into my living room and beheld the visage of my husband for the first time.  I immediately saw in him the countenance as my future spouse, and he called his mother to report reciprocal premonitions on his way home.

    

Fall 2003

So today, I ask your forgiveness in a nostalgic, sentimental message to my dear one.

---------------------

Not the Romeo to my Juliet

the Tristan to my Isolde

the Lancelot to my Guinevere,

You are the Adam to my Eve.

Our love will not end in double suicide, broken hearts, or public execution

Our love flourishes in beginnings, not ends

in endurance not extinction.

Although we’ve seen our share of sorrow

We have eaten the fruit together,

eyes open,

and begun life.

Sweat for bread,

and sorrow for conception.

We have clung to each other as one flesh in times of joy and times of tribulation

Holding hands in affliction and in happiness.

And there is no one else whose hand, I wish to hold;

My desires will always be towards you.
------------------

I love and adore you, and I pray our son grows up to be just like his father.

To seven times seven times seven more years at your side,
Your Eternal Help Meet

Pregnancy Inspiration: Billie's First Film

So what do you think?  XX or XY?