What to Buy When You Can't Really Buy Anything

So, I haven't been completely honest. I mean, did you really think I was able to refrain from buying anything for spring?

(insert maniacal laughter here)

But I really tried to be strategic about the whole thing. I knew there were going to be things getting, well, larger. But also things that would stay relatively the same. So, I opted for jackets and drapey things that would last me for a while through the early stages of the pregnancy, but also remain stylish for afterwards. And had buttons. That open.

Enter...the sweatshirt jacket.

Yup! It's a blazer! But it's made from the same material as those t-shirt sheets boys had in college! And they're everywhere! It's CUH-razy.

Take this one from BCBG:

Or this little gem from the Gap:

Or take a gander at this one from Anthropologie that eventually ended up in my closet:

There was also one at Zara that I had my eye on, but it sold out and there is no pic online.

What I liked about this jacket is that it's (a) warm, for early spring days and nights; (b) casual, for weekends, yet; (c) tailored and crisp enough for a Friday at the office, or even a low key day when I don't have any meetings. I've been especially enjoying pairing the light grey with dark pants or jeans and a colorful draped scarf over a white t-shirt.

Plus, the button is high enough that I can still get it closed...for now.

Whiteout

The white shirt is a classic piece in any woman's wardrobe. Button-ups (or downs, depending on where you grew up) are also a staple in a starched town like DC. But so many of them leave you wanting for something a little more out there, a little unique, and a little special.

One of my most favorite places for a shirt with a little zip is Anne Fontaine. I'm also a little mad for anything French. While the woman behind the label is actually Brazilian, the style is classic French. The entire store is nothing but black and white shirts in the coolest, chicest styles imagineable.

The problem is that most of them are way beyond my staffer's budget. Even when they are on sale. Let's face it, even if I sold my soul to the Devil, they would still be out of my price range.

But I love the idea of a crisp white shirt with a little bit of a twist. Which is why I was super excited when I heard that Gap was partnering with three up-and-coming designers to do limited edition white shirts.

Seriously, I ditched work 15 minutes early yesterday to hightail it to a Gap.

Each designer; Doo.Ri, Thakoon, and Rodarte; took a basic white shirt and put three different spins on it. This sounds so much like a Project Runway challenge. The results are awesome, and quite affordable.

I tried on all of them, and, while the Thakoon ones look great on the models and the hangers, they looked ridiculous on me. The puffed sleeves were just too silly, but I could see them looking better on someone taller and more broad shouldered. The Doo.Ri shirts were very cute, much more angular, but the real winners for me were the Rodarte shirts.

I've been a fan of Rodarte for a few seasons, especially their work with big fabric rosettes. I snagged all three of their shirts, a little sleeveless trapeze top with a pleated mock turtle, a dress in a similar shape with pockets in the front, and the tank top adorned with what look like farfalle pasta bows.

All in all, I really think it's nice for Gap to jump on the designer bandwagon and put out something more interesting than a ribbed tank top, but given their history with fashion-fowardness (cough...SJP and Lenny Kravitz...ahem...no one wears their Gap jeans with Louboutins...cough) it might not fly.

So, until I actually sell my soul (know any lobbying groups hiring?) and can afford Anne Fontaine, I certainly plan on wearing my shirts...just as soon as the sun decides to ever shine again...

Also, next up from the Target Go International line...Paco Rabanne designer Patrick Robinson. I loved his revival at Perry Ellis and am eager to see what he turns out for Target.

P.S. Mom, despite the way the shirts look, I SWEAR they are not maternity clothes.