Rock Shic: Elegant Expecting

Elegant Expecting

12/07/2016

#779 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 34 – Office Chic

Happy Wednesday! In anticipation of the little one’s imminent debut, not to mention my never-ending state of playing catch-up, mamma is haring with you some favorite looks from the tail end of my eight months pregnancy look book. At this point, it was really all about staying comfortable, but looking reasonably chic for work. This time around, I noticed that I stuck a lot more to the traditional black (could be a seasonal thing too), whereas last time I didn’t do it as much, with some exceptions being this one at Week 32 during my first go-around, which I aptly titled "Office Opulence."

The first look I paired with my trusty Bun Maternity gathered tank, which I also featured during week 33 – I’ve been pretty much wearing this on rotate. What did I tell you about this little black number being THE BEST layering piece? I’ve actually been experiencing a lot more with ponchos during this pregnancy, as you can see from week 32 and week 30.

Second look, featuring that trusty Helmut Lang blazer I also wore during my first pregnancy (see here during Week 21 of first pregnancy), is also one of my favorite tailored looks for work. Black, sleek/clean silhouette, coupled with a nice (slightly edgy) jacket. This necklace is from Kaight Eco-Fashion (last seen during Week 26), and it’s proven to be a great staple piece throughout my second pregnancy.

Tell me, what’s your favorite go-to preggo look for work? At some stage I’ll have to pool together all of my best office shots for a cohesive “pregnancy in the office” portfolio. Stay tuned!

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 34 -- Fourth of July Style

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 34 -- Playdate in Tompkins Square Park

Posted on 12/07/2016 at 01:48 PM in Eight Months, Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/05/2016

#777 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 33 – Playdate in Tompkins Square Park

Dress: Gathered Tank Dress by Bun Maternity | Sunglasses: Kate Spade | Boots: Steve Madden | Necklaces: Vintage found in Ziggurat, from travels to New Zealand | Plus that shopping bag from Sweet William, one of my favorite local children’s clothing stores! Last featured here.

Aloha! We are officially pushing towards the final week and yes, yes, yes mamma’s still playing catch-up with her “Elegant Expecting” series but I’m optimistic that we are getting closer!!

This was taken during my 33^rd week (pretty much smack in the middle of the eight months mark), and we had a nice playdate that kicked off at lovely little bakery in the East Vilage called Abraco (used to be a hole in thew all place but they recently moved across the road and still have a Café 81 sign across the road hanging outside). I highly recommend. We met up with some ex-pat friends who wanted to talk preschool stuff (such is the new norm!), before heading north to the Upper East Side for a birthday party. Yes, these days our social lives consist of loads and loads of birthday parties. My 3 year-old toddler has a more rocking social calendar than I do.

Here I’m wearing my new gathered tank dress in black from Bun Maternity, which is great for both pregnancy and nursing!!! An absolutely winning combo in my book. I love it because the gathered-up details are absolutely flattering, particularly as you begin to balloon and you just need that extra support, and it is the best layering piece I’ve found to date. This pregnancy, I am all about BLACK… perhaps it’s the New Yorker in me (or the chillier weather compared to last time around when it was the height of summer!).

P.S. Can you believe how family-friendly Tompkins Square Park has become? We’re talking beautiful playground with sand castles (okay so the sandy itself can still be a tad bit iffy), plus weekend farmer’s markets. What a difference! Hubs loves to tell stories when this place used to be a junkie-zone… but times have certainly changed my friend.

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 33 -- Fun with Polka Dots

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 32 -- New York Botanical Gardens

So chic, so simple, and a perfect post-partum dress for discrete nursing! #tankdress #BunMaternity

Posted on 12/05/2016 at 03:33 PM in Eight Months, Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Nursing Chic, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

12/02/2016

#776 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 32 – A Visit to the Botanical Garden

Here’s to the start of 8 months pregnant!!! I’m feeling rather proud of myself, as I’m more or less seven weeks out, and I can’t believe how spritely I was at that stage (see full feature here on our Scarecrows and Pumpkins Excursion). For one thing, I was energetic enough to haul all the way to the New York Botanical Garden for a special trip to see scarecrows (okay fine so we ubered there, but it was still quite the effort if you ask me). I remember this was the first time I rocked my JoJo Maman Bébé navy maternity cape and absolutely fell in love (much like I did with my Isabella Oliver poncho, see here). It soon became a stable piece for the remainder of my third trimester (though at this point, even the cape isn’t enough to hide this puppy).

I’ll share with you some more of my office looks featuring this cape at some stage (I’ve gotten so many compliments I can’t even tell you!). The only downside, I suppose, is that it makes it difficult to wear a winter coat over this bad boy, although these days, mamma’s so heated carrying out my little kangaroo-munchkin inside, I’m almost NEVER COLD (this from a woman who’s almost ALWAYS COLD!!).

Happy Thursday you guys… and more importantly – to December 2016. I can’t believe that it’s the last month of 2016 already. Jeepers creepers do I have a lot of catching up to do still! I know, I sound like a broken record.

P.S. My little man inside has been kicking like CRAZY. I’ve asked my doc at one stage about this as I swear that he’s a heck of a lot more active than his older brother, to which he simply shrugged and said, “maybe you’re just more sensitive to it this time.” You gotta hand it to this guy, in the ten years I’ve known him, he has consistently remained nonplussed and understated.

Posted on 12/02/2016 at 12:21 AM in Eight Months, Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/30/2016

#775 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 31 – The Little Princes

Right around this time, I remember thinking… this isn’t half bad, I can still put on my old tee-shirts (stretch the heck our of them), a pair of my trusty maternal leggings, and call it a day. These days, I wouldn’t even do that to said shirts, as it would be considered a new form of cruel and unusual punishment.

While we were out and about on our excursion last week (see here on Week 30), I had come across a “little prince” shirt (I think I bought monster boy something for 5/6 year olds since that’s basically what he wears nowdays) plus a onesie. A onesie!!! Both were sold at Strand – who knew they carried such an awesome line of tees?

There you have it, it marked our very first purchase for the little guy, right at the very last week of my seven months stretch... thus is plight of the second child! If I told you how early it was that I started buying outfits for our first, it would become rapidly embarrassing (in fact, you can read all about it here at week 16!).

Worry not however, I more than made up for it during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping extravaganza – call it hormonal or a bout of delayed “nesting syndrome” but our little #2 guy is definitely SET as far as his 0-3 months wardrobe goes.

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 31 -- In Chicago

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 30 -- Capes and Costumes

Posted on 11/30/2016 at 11:39 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Seven Months, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/28/2016

#772 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 30 – Capes and Costumes

Okay kids!

We are getting closer on our catch-up phase. Still the seventh months, but at least we’re now in the “thirties” phase. Technically I’m more approaching 31 weeks than 30 here (note that 31 weeks also marks the end of the seven months of pregnancy), but it kind of all blends in at this stage as I basically became married to my cape/poncho look. Here I’m donning my Isabella Oliver Camrose Maternity Poncho – yours truly has long been a fan of the brand (see here), and this piece and I have largely been inseparable for the better part of my third trimester.

Somehow, I feel like my second “Elegant Expecting” series has been as much about the chronicles of munchkin as it’s been about me. It’s been quite the journey, particularly as we prep our little man on his future of becoming a BIG BROTHER. This particular series is all about mommy, munchkin, poncho, and costumes. That’s right costumes! We were just approaching the Halloween spirit… and we took the little one to the Halloween store in Union Square, coupled with a visit to the Strand Bookstore, Zumiez, (our neighborhood skater store), plus a Superhero-themed birthday store. Life is good for our Rockshicbaby, especially when dressed in his favorite Skeleton hoodie.

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 30 -- Napa Valley

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 29 -- Wedding Anniversary at Per Se

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 31 -- The Little Princes

Posted on 11/28/2016 at 11:43 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Seven Months, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/20/2016

#770 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 29 – Eight Year Wedding Anniversary

The 29^th (nearly 30^th week) of my pregnancy was wrought with lots of ups and downs. I was going through a ton of reorganization crisis at work, stressed beyond comprehension, and yet… well, something wonderful also happened. By sheer happenstance I was able to take a mini break from work (a much needed salvation), and it also allowed me to plan a last minute, impromptu anniversary dinner at Per Se, featured here.

We had initially intended to go away to Rhinebeck in celebration of our anniversary. Though when that fell through (and I wasn’t disappointed that it did, given all of the stress from work and given that munchkin was under the weather), I was almost despondent that we were just going to let the whole affair slide. Though never fear! What is life without a little streak of adventure, I say. Thanks to a last minute strike of luck on Opentable, coupled with a back-up sitter, we were able to sneak in for an early-ish sit down at Per Se. The rest was history.

I put on my favorite navy dress (a seven months pregnancy staple), last seen here at 27 weeks, coupled with this lightweight floral sheath that I purchased recently (more of a hippie child look but I am kind of loving it for pregnancy). The only thing that was missing was a nice fedora to go with, though I suppose that wouldn’t have fitted in very well for Per Se! You can’t quite see it, but I was wearing this peacock hair piece that I purchased from my recent trip to Salem… a little bit of art & period piece to accompany our fine dining experience!

P.S. Would you believe... EIGHT YEARS OF MARRIAGE! We have a beautiful little three year old at home -- who drives us bonkers half the time but we love him to pieces... and another little man on the way!!! Time truly flies when you're doing so much together.

Posted on 11/20/2016 at 09:47 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Seven Months, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

#769 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 28 – Tea Styling in Salem

Happy weekend! Mamma’s still playing catch-up, but we are definitely getting closer!!!

Week 28 officially marks the beginning of the seven months, and the start of the third trimester. It was also the last “alone” trip that hubs and I took as a couple, as we drove to Salem, Massachusetts for a friend’s wedding (featured here). It was a beautiful affair, and also one of the more gorgeous Fall weekends that I’ve got to enjoy.

I kept telling myself then that I was “almost there” (ha!), though I did absolutely love my body at that stage. I wasn’t so uncomfortable that it was difficult to move around, and yet I was confident enough in my bump that I was ready to flaunt it everywhere. If I had to make a marker, I would say that this was the point where I officially recognized that the bump was HERE, and it was here to stay!!! Therefore, instead of trying to “hide it,” I was absolutely ready to embrace it.

Plus, who can resist bringing a little bit of downtown NY sass to a New England wedding? This was the outfit I wore to the wedding ceremony held at the Immaculate Conception, afterwards hubs and I went and grabbed a cup of tea at our favorite tea shop in town, called “Jolie Tea Company.” If I lived in Salem, I basically envision myself coming here like, every single day. It’s just so darn irresistible!

Posted on 11/20/2016 at 07:37 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Seven Months, Third Trimester | Permalink | Comments (0)

11/17/2016

#768 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 27 – Graffiti Park

Okay okay – so I’m **totally** behind on my preggo-style series, though it’s always fascinating to look back and see how different things were back then. I remember feeling super uncomfortable and “big” at this stage (boy did I have no idea what was in store!!!). This likely marked the last "chapter" of my pregnancy where I could fool myself into thinkilng that I could fly under the radar when it comes to looking pregnant. Don't get me wrong, it's still not a guarantee that I'd get a seat on the subway, and to be fair this was also the weekend where I helped host my bestie her baby shower and half the people there expressed surprise that I was pregnant. Looking back, I realize that they were probably just being nice. More on that another time.

Speaking of the baby shower... all I can remember was thinking -- man!! I'm so big and unruly, and God it's hard to walk in these heels. It was so hot outside (or so I thought) and I hated walking in heels. Thank goodness for my Tieks, which I'm wearing at the Graffiti park here and which I wore on most days throughout my second trimester. I don’t wear my Tieks much these days now that I'm well into my third (largely also due to the weather change), but this dress I still don every once in a while. Back then I looked like a swallowed a bowling ball, but these days, well these days… it’s more like a gigantic Jack O’Latern pumpkin that's just hanging out inside of my belly.

The best part of the day was welcoming Fall with my delectable munchie. We went to the First Street Green Art Park on the corner of Houston and 1^st street. We loved gazing at wall art (you know how I obsessed I am with graffiti), munchkin was digging his Orange Pumpkin sunnies, and best of all, they were handing out free apple cider in the classic/traditional NY coffee cups! Truly the perfect Autumn in New York experience...

Incidentally, this also marked the end of my SIXTH months of pregnancy (yet another milestone as it also coincided with the finish of the second trimester). Now it is onwards and upwards to my third trimester! Whoo-hoo! #thefinalpush

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 27 -- Barbados Part II (Life Aquatic)

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 27 -- Barbvardos Part III (Retro Beachy Glam)

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 26 -- A Piece of Oasis at Riverpark

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 25 -- Graffiti Styling on Allen

A graffiti lovers' dream

My boys, my loves. Are they not the cutest? #rockshicbaby

Posted on 11/17/2016 at 09:36 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Second Trimester, Six Months | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/19/2016

#762 Elegant Expecting Part II – Week 26 – A Piece of Oasis at Riverpark

Who said you can’t wear white after Labor Day weekend?

This outfit has been by far one of my favorite go-to pieces throughout my second trimester. In fact, both of my Phillip Lim shirts (white and navy) have been staple pieces, see feature here on Phillip Lim for Target and why it basically rocked my world. It got to a point where I was literally seeking the same cut from other designers and/or seeking additional colors from the same designer. Alas, no luck.

For the record, what works during the second trimester no longer works as I'm entering into my third trimester, as I've recently discovered. I think that even here I am stretching the utility of my Phillip Lim shirts (no pun intended), since I was just shy of hitting the third trimester mark (for the record, your sixth month of pregnancy is supposed to end by Week 27). Thank you "What to Expect When you're expecting!!!"

Same kudos go to my trusty Rachel Roy silk-knit shawl. All jokes about “Becky with the good hair” aside, the silhouette of this piece is absolutely genius, and I could not imagine my (early) pregnancy wardrobe without it. Sometimes when you need that extra coverage (but nothing too stuffy or hot given that you’ve got a bun in the oven), this is the right piece of garment for you.

These photos were taken at Riverpark, which is a bit of an oasis right by the East River of Manhattan in the Murray Hill neighborhood. It’s a Tom Colicchio restaurant with lovely water views and even a little locally-grown farm. If you haven’t been, I would highly recommend it (coming soon to my "Eat Drink Love" series), as it truly feels like a slice of heaven that makes you forget about the hustle and bustle of the city. Plus, it’s a great dining spot for kiddos, so it’s a true win-win!

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 25 -- Graffiti Styling on Allen

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 24 -- Double Date Night at Marta

Little man brought his props from his 3rd birthday party from the Brooklyn Zoo! See here and here for more on the day's festivities. #Rockshicbaby #TurningThree

Posted on 10/19/2016 at 06:40 PM in Elegant Expecting, Elegant Expecting Part II, Second Trimester, Six Months | Permalink | Comments (0)

10/09/2016

#758 Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 25 -- Graffiti Styling on Allen

Combining my favorite things!!! Street Art (for more check me out at Jetset Graffiti), Maternity Fashion, and of course... my beloved munchkin #RockshicBaby #momlife

Another week, another bump style! Belated, of course... with one of my favorite Rebecca Taylor silk pieces that I wish I had the occasion to wear more often.

This was taken on the very momentous week (I was nearly 26 weeks at that stage), right before munchkin started school, eeks! This year he's doing the 3's program (aka what they call "Nursery" at his school). See here for all of our Preschool related posts.

It was our last "carefree" days together, the calm before the storm, if you will -- and right before the madness of his Birthday Bonanza party at the Zoo!

Here I was feeling pretty good about myself and my body. On that very same day, my neighbor texted me and asked, "was that YOU on the roof? I thought it might have been with your son, but you didn't look pregnant."

Awww -- flattery will get you everywhere in life.

Incidentally, it was also this very weekend that I had quite the awakening, where, just a day before -- I was with munchkin at our local bookstore (see here where we used to go for "mommy and me reading class") and literally felt sick. I don't know what came over me, but suffice to say it ain't good. Perhaps it was something I ate, or the heat, or the fact that I was dehydrated, but the bottom line was, I was NOT well and I was all the worse and stressed because I had my Nuke baby with me. Thank goodness the patrons and staff at McNally took care of both of us... hubs rushed over in no-time, and just before EMT got there (yes!!! They called EMT!). One of the shop clerks even asked me whether my "water had broke." Isn't that nuts?

It just goes to show -- sometimes you have to take things easy, and acknowledge your own limitations. This certainly marked my awakening, and a real turning point for me during my pregnancy.

Related:

Elegant Expecting Part I -- Week 25

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 24 -- Double Date Night at Marta

Elegant Expecting Part II -- Week 23 -- Lake-Side Love