Dress: Brooklyn Industries | Vapor Jacket: Helmut Lang (last featured here) | Clutch: Ted
Baker | Shoes: Calvin Klein | Sunglasses: Cole Haan | Bracelet: From
Barcelona
Happy Friday! As I
type, we are making our way up to Boston for my college reunion (thank goodness
for MIFI!). I’ve started my 29th
week this Thursday, but I wanted to sneak in at least one post for my 28th
week. 28th week!!! Officially the start
of the seventh month and the beginning of the third (and final!) trimester.
I’ve been feeling the pregnancy bow look recently. Particularly something in a contrasting color
(I love this little red belt so much I’m even pairing it with some of my other
dresses). The other day, a colleague of
mine, who’s due at the end of June, remarked, “at this stage, you’re far better
to wear something fitted, rather than anything too baggy and loose.” I think she may just have a point there!
Recently, I even went ahead and invested in a few pairs of
shoes one size up (yes, the swelling does get that bad!). Believe me when I say that it’s a very
necessary luxury.
I was on the phone today with a dear friend from Boston when
he said, “you were one of my first friends to get married… and probably the
least likely person to do so.” I found
that comment funny, and I suppose there is much psychology behind it.
“I didn’t think it was weird,” I noted briskly.
“Well, that makes sense,” retorted my friend, “you know
yourself better than I do.”
Hubby and I were married on October 4, 2008. We’ll soon be at the five year mark (omg!),
and also happily expecting our first child together. It definitely feels like a real union at this
point, and I still feel lucky that I can look at him today and feel absolute
adoration and respect, in spite of the nonstop frustrations and
complaints.
What is it about weddings, and in particular, wedding
planning, that makes the experience so all-consuming for both the bride and groom? But really…
just the bride?
Why is it that after the wedding, it’s as though you've just come down from this enormous high and you’re suddenly bereft and left with the realization
of how ridiculous you might have been, or how (tick-tock) it is time to return
to the land of the normal beings again?
Does all self-awareness go out the window when you are deep in the thick
of things? I wonder this myself, as I
know that I’ve definitely demonstrated Bridezilla tendencies when I was getting
married.
The funny thing is, whatever magical powers you wielded on the
day of your wedding, and even the days (weeks/months) leading up to it, they all
but dissipate the following morning. The
inevitable nature and clarity of this fact dawned on me when I asked one of my
bridesmaids to do something the very next day, and she all but said, “nah.” Looking back, I don’t blame her.
So far, we have about four weddings planned this year (that
I know of) – one coming up in San Francisco (pre-Nuke!), and three in September
(post-Nuke!). My favorite part of every
wedding (most recently in Rio and at the St. Regis in New York) is that moment
when the bride steps down the aisle and the world just simply melts away. I live for that moment, as I believe it absolutely
defines the beauty and sanctity of all weddings.
For me, that was probably the most magical moment of my own
wedding day. Now, if only I could
remember more from that night!
Happy Tuesday! I have
an odd sensation that the next few weeks will zoom by in a flash. I have my ten-year college reunion this
weekend in Cambridge (whoa!), followed by a wedding in San Francisco, then my
baby shower, and then a business trip
to Chicago. Whew.
This week has already been truncated since Monday was
Memorial day (not that I am complaining).
I guess what it all means is that I need to kick things into high gear a
bit, all whilst my third trimester settles in!
That said, I’d like to just take a brief moment and
transplant myself back to our fancy digs at Sandy Lane back in Barbados, where
we stayed for four days to celebrate my birthday just a week ago. Simply looking back at the images I took is
enough to make me sigh “Namaste.”
It’s no secret that Sandy Lane is the crème de la crème of
the southern Caribbean. When I told some
of my well-heeled jet-setting friends that we were staying there, they more or
less did a double-take and said, “you know that it’s one of the most exclusive
spots in the Caribbean right?” I must
admit, my inner-little-girl did squeal a bit in delight at the thought.
I think what sets the Palladian-style Sandy Lane apart, at
the end of the day, from a lot of the other nice establishments in Barbados,
and perhaps the entire Caribbean writ large, is its attention to finery and
details. Never mind the fact that you
get picked up and dropped off at the airport in the hotel’s Bentley (included
in your daily rate!) – I, for one, thought that our automated room shades were
the coolest touch (I enjoyed opening and closing the cascading draperies to the
rising sun every morning, much to hubby’s annoyance). On our last night, the hotel even rang to ask
whether we’d like them to pack for us (again, squeal!). Ultimately, hubby was too reluctant to let
others roll his clothes… and I suppose I can’t really blame him. Although personally I would have along just
as a social experiment!
We had a lovely Ocean Room in the Turtle Wing (Suite #210), which I
highly recommend, as it was conveniently located to absolutely everything (main lobby, restaurants, and
most important of all – the beach!). The
morning aqua breeze, the regal tropical sea, the sun-kissed soft sand, even
that occasional afternoon rain drop.. all of these elements came together to
equal pure relaxation and heavenly calm.
The entire experience was spot-on peaceful and romantic, precisely what
hubby and I were looking for. Looking
back, I suppose that in addition to my birthday, this also marked our ultimate
baby-moon! For that, I couldn’t have
asked for a better and more memorable spot than Sandy Lane.
The comfiest bed! Hubby is still reminiscing about it.
Okay – so technically I’m well into my 28th week
now, but I can’t help but post one more look taken from our trip to Barbados
last week. (Marking the end of the sixth month, aka bye bye second trimester!).
Here we are in Bathsheba, the island’s surfing mecca, along
the rugged Atlantic coast of the island.
Flanked by gigantic boulders and golden sand, it is a quiet and sleepy
fishing village favored by the locals, making it a nice change of scenery and
pace for hubby and I.
We took a leisurely afternoon stroll along the untouched, windswept
sand, and admired the enormous, mushroom-shaped boulders just below Tent
Bay. It was a lovely afternoon, quiet
and tranquil – and I smile now even as I write, sitting on my bed and listening
to those NY sirens whirl by. How I wish
they were the sound of the sea breeze instead!!
Really digging this buttoned-down, shirt dress by NU New York! Even wore it to the office the following week! Versatile indeed.
Earlier today – I decided to spice up this lukewarm weather
and get a dose of culture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art uptown. The exhibit I was going to see, "Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity," had actually kicked off in February,
but between work, my travels to Paris, Amstermdam, Switzerland, Portugal and Barbados, prepping for the
baby, and a myriad of other things that’s called life – I am only just getting
to see it. Better late than never I say!
It was a fascinating display of art and culture, which came
close to my own expectations (though perhaps those were colored a bit by reviews
I’ve read and word of mouth by discerning colleagues). I’ve always been a big fan of Impressionism
(partly because of my father’s teachings), so the art itself was an easy
sell. However, it was the thoughtful
juxtaposition of both art and fashion that I found particularly compelling –
reinforcing the notion that the two are never very far apart, a philosophy I strongly
subscribe to.
So go ahead and enjoy the art and fashion la mode, as seen
via the lens of Manet to Monet, Renoir to Baudelaire, Tissot and Stevens, Mallards
and Zola – all of whom artfully depicted the stylish Parisians, arguably the
harbinger of “la modernite” of their times.
“For painters of modern life, fashion mattered.”
The exhibit ends this Memorial day weekend, May 27th
– so catch it at the Met while you still can!
Sometimes in the diffused radiance of opera or theater, young girls of the best society, their shoulders, eyes, and jewels catching the light, resemble gorgeous portraits as they sit in their boxes, which serve as picture frames. Some prim and proper, others frivolous and fair... They are theatrical or solemn like the play or opera they pretend to be looking at.
-- Charles Baudelaire, The Painter of Modern Life, 1863
Dress: Pinkyotto | Bracelet: From my
travels to Afghanistan | Hat and Earrings: Top Shop | Sunglasses: Kate Spade
| Necklace and Ring: Calypso St. Barth | Bag: From the Standard Miami
We are almost at Week 28, which would kick off the official start
of my seventh month (aka Third trimester!). Today we met with my OB, who told me that I’ve been “doing much better" weight-wise (whew!)…. I guess all that swimming and fluttering in
the ocean really paid off! He also told me
that Nukie is a “sizable baby.” I
ventured to guess that the Nuke’s probably about two pounds by now (at least that’s
what the books all say). “Probably a bit
more than that,” responded my reticent Japanese OB. You have to appreciate the man’s tenacity and
honesty. “Maybe he’s tall like you,” I
turned to hubby – who more or less just shrugged.
Well, as long as the baby is healthy, everything else is
pretty much immaterial!
We took these photos on the beaches of Barbados last week. It was nice to have a car so that we could
leave our resort and go explore... particularly on the East Coast, where it is
much less developed and far more favored by the locals.
Here I am at Foul Bay, which was literally empty apart from hubs and
myself. I decided to go with my personal
interpretation of “Gypsy Chic.” I bought
this dress from Pinkyotto on 49 Prince Street some time ago, with the intention of wearing it to Miami (it had that
vibe about it). Of course, back then I
would need a belt to cinch everything in, as the dress was quite flowy and
baggy – but not anymore!!!
Given that the waves on this side of the island,
which faces the Atlantic, is far more intense than those on the West Coast, I
knew there was no way I’d go into the waters. Hence, I figured it was the perfect occasion to bring on the beach accessories!
Yes, that ever famous "line" down your belly that pregnant women get! Mine is a bit crooked for some reason ;)
Couldn't resist bringing these Bonnie Marcus mummy-to-be sandals with me! Last featured here.
Natalie Portman at the Oscars (Feb 27, 2011). I later learned that she was roughly five months along at the time.
Ever since I’ve been doing my “Elegant Expecting” series, I’ve
been (unsurprisingly) paying closer attention to celebrity maternity style. As my yoga instructor poignantly pointed out,
“we are living in the age of Kim Kardashian and Kate Middleton” – neither of whom I
particularly click with style-wise.
Though I do find Kim’s approach to maternity dressing amusing, I almost
feel sorry for her for being compared with Kate Middleton – who hardly looks
pregnant at all.
So then I got to thinking – which celebrity pregnancy style do I find
the most interesting? A brief search on the
web rendered the following results. I
would say that Gwen Stefani’s maternity looks rank the highest on my list, as
her aesthetics probably resonate the most closely with my own.
My one advice for all of you expectant fashionistas out there would
be, if you do decide to pick a “style model,” try to choose one whose body shape
most closely resembles your own. In my
case, neither Kate nor Kim would fit the bill (and never mind Jessica
Simpson!). Try to also be realistic about how far along these celebs are. It makes no sense for you to compare yourself with somebody who is four months pregnant if you are six months along yourself (trust me, the difference is significant!).
Having said that, I went with a few ladies whose approach to dressing I could most identity with, and here are some
of my takeaways:
1)
Mixing with patterns is the way to go. Gwen seems particularly adept at this
throughout her pregnancy (and beyond), be it with florals or stripes (Fergie’s not bad
either). In general that is my personal
preference as well, which is why I still shop at non-maternity stores, even as
I hit my third trimester.
Loving Fergie's beach-preggy look in Rio.
2)
A blazer, plus flowy blouse and slacks will
always pull your look together.
Jessica Alba (aka the queen of blazers and colored pants), does a nice job here. Okay so when it comes to bottoms you cannot escape the maternity
department (my go-to solution has been leggings), but you can certainly get
creative when it comes to tops and jackets!
3)
When in doubt – always wear a maxi with
a light shirt/sweater. This is an easy
look (which I recently wore on the beaches of Barbados), particularly as we get larger. I
also think that having a little bit of a cover up (in a different color) can
look more flattering and effectively streamline your silhouette. This is key for me, as I find that long maxis
don’t always flatter me and my burgeoning belly – but wearing
something over it helps to balance out my proportions. Ms. Alba also seems to be a fan of this combo.
4) Don't be afraid to show some leg! This can be tough at times –
particularly when Mr. Swelly feet comes around, and you get cankles (a battle I
am currently fighting). Be that as it
may, I do like Kate Hudson’s approach to her peasant dress and sky-high heels, just be
sure to keep hydrated at all times!
5)
Long sleeve shirt dresses are the way to
go. I’ve been investing in a couple of these myself, as I find them to be the perfect balancing act, particularly for
the office. Plus, let’s be honest, as we
gain more weight all around, our arms get larger, which can look a bit ungainly
when bared. That is definitely on my
to-do list as far as body-toning goes! (Though I suspect that Halle Berry, even in her incredibly pregnant state, does not have the same problem).
6) Last but not least – when in doubt, always turn
to our fallback color of black, you can’t go wrong! I am loving Jenna Tatum’s ensemble here (though she doesn't look very far along there), and
if my swollen foot can squeeze into those boots, I would totally live in them!!! (Sidenote: Jenna also seems to love her denim cover-ups, which can be a nice casual day-look if that's your thing).
Above all – I would say, just have fun with your pregnancy
wardrobe! Get to know your body, what
works, what doesn’t – and also be realistic about how you dress. I personally find it a bit funny when
shopping on-line, and am quite convinced that half the models we see
in the ads are actually just wearing fake belly bumps, since real pregnant
women seldom look like that (take note Beyonce!). As your pregnancy progresses, your belly not
only protrudes outward, but it also increases in circumference overall),
which would inevitably make you look bigger and wider (something a prosthetic
belly bump just can’t mimic). This is
yet another reason why I’m a big fan of patterns and tailored blazers!
Some of my best and fondest travel memories have involved water (despite not being a particularly strong swimmer). Learning to dive in Belize, doing a ship wreak shore dive with hubby in Malta, shark diving in South Africa, charting a boat over New Years with twin 350 horsepower engines in Cartagena – these all rank quite high on my list of unforgettable moments.
As far as birthdays go, I thought it would be tough to beat our 2010 sunset boat ride in Oman, which hubby had thoughtfully engineered. It was just us and the fjords, as we sipped some bubbly and snacked on canapés on the gulf of Oman, only to return home for in-room dining with our very own private chef. Kudos to hubs!
Though I must say – my aquatic birthday experience this year was equally spectacular, with the friendly Barbadians (or Bajans as they are familiarly called), and could easily give Oman a run for its money. We took the hotel’s speedboat, an 18 ft Boston Whaler, out to sea for a swim with the turtles. I wasn’t really sure how well I’d fare, given that I hadn’t gone snorkeling in years. Plus, I wasn’t overly optimistic that the turtles would make an actual appearance.
As it turned out, the experience was fantastic! We floated and glided with the turtles (who kept bumping into me, perhaps with the notion that I was one of their own?). Our captain did assure me that these turtles would not bite, in spite of being omnivores. “Although if you hold your hand out,” he said, as he casually tossed a piece of raw tuna into the ocean, “they may think that you’re trying to feed them.” For that very reason, I worked hard at swimming with both fists shut, which can pose its own challenges.
In spite of trying to over-engineer the entire thing, I was still a happy girl at the end of the day. Just the thought of floating in the Caribbean Sea amongst these lovely creatures (on my birthday, no less!) made me giddy with delight. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Barbados, and might I add – infinitely more relaxing than some of my other oceanic adventures, such as shark diving in South Africa!!!
Dress: Old Navy | Bracelets: From Dekalb Market (Brooklyn), featured here | Ring: Nolan
(boutique in Nolita) | Hat:
H&M | Sunglasses: Cole Haan
This look was the first outfit I threw on after our arrival
in Barbados. Nothing beats that very
moment when you change from your travel ensemble in order to fully embrace the start
of your holiday!
For me, this nautical-themed maxi (a total steal from Old Navy
Maternity!) was just the perfect garb to make me feel “beach-ready.” I wasn’t ready to put on my bikinis yet (tough
later I was practically living in them), but I knew I wanted something easy, breezy,
and completely different from office-wear.
Feeling the powder soft sand beneath my feet was a complete hallelujah
moment for me. My puffy feet have been
extremely swollen of late (they’ve been getting worse and worse since my return
from Lisbon), though a couple of days of swimming in the ocean and wearing
nothing but flip flops have done them some good!
Note: I plan on getting a lot of mileage out of this maxi
dress this summer. It would look super
cute with a little biker jacket or a mustard yellow wrap – don’t you think? Though you can’t see it too well from the photos,
the halter neckline is also extremely flattering, not to mention uber comfortable. Seriously, how could you go wrong?
The minute we entered the upstairs lounge, I knew I was in for a rare treat.
Last night, we enjoyed an early birthday dinner at the Cliff restaurant, situated just a short drive away from our hotel, the Sandy Lane.
This place has long been on my lust list, as many discerning gourmands back home, including the Hsu Closet, had recommended it to me prior to departure. So naturally, I had to see it for myself! Verdict? It certainly lives up to the hype!
The dramatic cliff-side location (as the name itself would suggest) did not disappoint, and both the food, as well as the ambience were top notch (brought to you by a Bajan owner and a London chef!). I particularly enjoyed our aperitif experience – overlooking the sea, with tiki torches lit all around us.
Would you believe, that dinner also included a feeding of neighboring stingrays? How fantastic is that!! Our other highlight of the evening (apart from my flaming birthday dessert ball, pictured below) consisted of chatting with the lovely Cherrianne Perucci, who’s been working at the Cliff for nearly twenty years. A mum of two herself, I loved that Cherrianne laughingly encouraged me to eat plenty of sushi while I’m preggers. “The rules are always changing,” she winks. Ain’t that the truth! Here’s to another new year and many more... with ever-bending rules upon the horizon.
My flaming dessert!
Stingrays as dining companions!
Our windswept seating, lit with torches… very romantic and special indeed.
Based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Rock Shic is an excerpt taken from my personal lookbook of real people around the world. It is a combination of aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and travel. I also offer personalized Lookbook Consulting and Styling upon request. Please contact me at rockshic (at) gmail (dot) com. Services include: Wardrobe Analysis, Closet Organization, and Personal Shopping.
