Maternity Wear Need Not Be Boring, Part 2

So, I've been quite depressed lately. And one of the reasons (out of many) is my having to come to terms with my body. I've had body issues for the last few years. In my late 20's and single days, I went from 89 pounds (truly unhealthy for a 5'1" gal) to a good 100 - 105 pounds by the time I was married at age 31. Within the 1 year we were trying for a baby - with a subsequent miscarriage somewhere in the middle - I gained about 8 - 10 pounds. By the time I squeezed out my daughter who is now almost 3-years-old, I was teetering around 118 pounds. And the problem is, I HATE working out. I also HATE dieting (I love butter, cheese, fat, sweets, carbs - you name it).

Above: Hiding my pregnant belly with a wool sweater by Vanessa Bruno; Leggings by C'est Moi. Too bad I have no Hermés Kelly bag to shield my bump!

Then one day, I realized that I HATE feeling out-of-control when it comes to body image, because I know I CAN control the way I look. As a result of this insecurity, my interest in fashion and beauty waned tremendously, although I am recently gaining confidence again even though I am pregnant with daughter number 2. During the last year or so, I gave away, altogether a total of 4 moving boxes of good quality "skinny" clothes. Let's just say the teenaged girl who got her hands on some of the items had tears of joy in her eyes.

Now, here's part 2 of maternity style. The items below are all purchased from "regular" stores / brands, and not maternity shops. And you know what? It makes me feel good to be able to have the option to fit in regularly-sized clothes. I refuse to be a victim of the shapeless maternity frock! Amen.

Above: Drape top by Central Park West; Leggings from C'est Moi; Necklace from Banana Republic; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Cashmere wool sweater top by Wilfred; Moss cashmere-silk blend t-shirt by Talula; Necklace from Aldo; Leggings from Club Monaco; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Wool sweater coat by Ines at Aritzia; Moss cashmere-silk blend t-shirt by Talula; Necklaces from Etsy; Leggings from Club Monaco; Pirate ankle boots from Brown's

Above: Asymmetrical wrap by Full Circle; Leggings from Club Monaco; Suede boots from Steve Madden

For part 1 of non-maternity maternity looks, scroll on below.

What about you? Do you have some tips on dressing a pregnant woman?

Maternity Wear Need Not Be Boring, Part 1

I'm not the one to shop at maternity stores. So, here are my picks for pregnancy wear this fall/winter '09-'10. I am currently 22 weeks and growing rapidly! Note to self: cut out all the sugar!

Above: Bright mustard halter top from Anthropologie; Black sweater from Comptoir des Cotonniers; Necklace from Anthropologie; Leggings from Anthropologie; Boots from Steve Madden

Above: Blush pink bat wing top from Wilfred; Necklace from Anthropologie; Leggings from Anthropologie; Boots from Steve Madden

Above: Pink cowl neck from Wilfred; Brown sweater from Aritzia; Leggings from TNA; Boots from Brown's

Above: Black asymmetrical swing top from Isabel Marant; Leggings from TNA; Boots from Brown's

I am truly lucky to be pregnant at this time when loose tops, leggings, and high boots are pretty easy to find. Whether you are in Paris, Milan, New York...or Toronto! More maternity wear ideas to follow.

P.S. Don't forget to be a Google Follower to join my Lubitel 166+ camera giveaway. The draw is on December 6, 2009! See post here.

Lubitel 166+ Camera Giveaway!!!

Hey guys and gals,

This is one giveaway you absolutely wouldn't want to miss!

Folie á Deux and Les Filles Giada et Cairo blogs are giving away one all-new, Soviet-style Lubitel 166+ Universal Lomo medium-format film camera. For more information on the Lubitel 166+, click here . Prize package includes camera, accessories, colour ring flash, Lomo book, a box of limited edition Agfa black and white film, and coloured films. *This is NOT a sponsored event.

This prize package is worth over $500!!!

Rules of Engagement:
1. Be a Google Follower of Folie á Deux or Les Filles Giada et Cairo or BOTH (for two entries)!

2. All Followers will be automatically entered, unless you give notice stating that you do not wish to be included.

3. Each Follower will be assigned a number according to membership order, starting with Folie á Deux blog followers, then with Les Filles Giada et Cairo blog followers.

4. One winner will be selected on Sunday, December 6, 12 noon EST via random draw. Winner will be announced on the same day.

Good luck, mes chéris

Ballerina Sparkles and Mille Feuilles

A 3-year-old girl has been dreaming of ballerinas lately. There are instances of awkward pliés and grand jetés, as well as certain en pointe walking on the living room floor.

And naturally, this mama conjures up ballet reveries of her own when she herself was in Madame Renata's class some thirty years ago. And in the world of natural consequences, a starry-eyed mom enrolls her child in beginner ballet lessons, in the hopes that her little angel will appreciate the beauty of movement and grace. Just as she does.

The little girl is dazzled by the delicate gossamer layers of a ballerina's tutu that imitates the silky folds of gentle flowers in bloom.

Meanwhile this mother, although too late to be a ballerina, longs to dress in the elegantly lithe style of the dancing nymphs. She browses Repetto Paris' collection of flats inspired by the company's longstanding tradition of crafting dance shoes.

Two dreamer girls twirl to Mozart's symphony across the floor. The young one, spinning in the joy of the moment; the mother, swooning over an elusive chimera. Perhaps, in a fleet of the mind: a night at the Opéra Garnier, donning an ethereal couture made of mille feuilles, or thousand layers?

"Oyster Dress" by Alexander McQueen for the House of Alexander McQueen, spring/summer 2003

Ball gown by Olivier Theyskens for the House of Ricci, fall/winter 2007-2008

"Eugenie" by Christian Dior for the House of Dior, fall/winter 1948-1949

"Venus" by Christian Dior for the House of Dior, fall/winter 1949-1950

"Chambord" by Christian Dior for the House of Dior, fall/winter 1954-1955

A girl can dream, can she not?

*Gowns via {here}

The Moroccan Fly

Our little family travelled to Marrakech this spring, et voilà, we all brought home the perfect Moroccan souvenir. Lightweight and treacherously comfortable, these tunics are perfect for lounging around the garden or the beach (or the Sahara Desert) on a balmy summer day.

We loved shopping the artisanat shops of the Marrakech souks, and so we knew that we had to bring something home! This cute little boutique, Warda La Mouche (the name means "Rose the fly"), embodies the kitschy, non-traditional Moroccan style sense that is symptomatic in this European-flavoured desert city. Here, tunics, caftans, and djellabas are crafted in colourful Liberty-style prints with a smattering of embroidery here and there.

Women's tunic dress €75 EUR / $112 USD / $118 CAD

Men's shirt €65 EUR / $97 USD / $102 CAD

Blink and you might miss the store on Rue Riad Zitoun El Jedid on the southeastern part of the medina.

Fashionable place to wear your tunic: Majorelle Garden on Avenue Yacoub el-Mansour in the Ville Nouvelle, Marrakech. The villa was formerly owned by painter Jacques Majorelle but later purchased and skillfully restored by Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé.

Warda La Mouche, Tel. 212 024 38 90 63, no website.

Girls' Night Out

Saturday nights have a different meaning for me nowadays. Gone are the days when at 11 pm I have my disco nap so I can be ready to head out by midnight. And those early morning walks back home from the club with a coffee and cigarette? Over and done!

Today, I spend Saturday nights with my little girl and we dress up to wherever we go - to a restaurant, the mall, Chapters bookstore, or a family party. And her favourite outfit of late? This Vestiaire de Jeanne blouse made of 100% Belgian linen. We bought a size 6 so she can wear it forever.

Clé of Vestiaire de Jeanne and Vestiaire de Clé has the chicest, most merveilleux linen clothes for girls and women respectively. Mommy (that's me) has her own Vestiaire top here. So, if you want to dress like a Parisienne, put this brand in your style Rolodex. This blouse is €75 EUR / $112 USD / $118 CAD.

As for me, dressing up my very pregnant body has been a challenge. I was extremely lucky to find this bargain black dress with angel wing paillettes from Vero Moda. $52 USD / $55 CAD

And this is the very reason I love having daughters. Because we can dress up to the nines on a Saturday night!

J'adore Vanessa Bruno

Anyone who picks Lou Doillon as their model / muse has got to have edge with a capital E. Vanessa Bruno, the daughter of a former Scandinavian supermodel and a French fashion house founder, has got the x-factor and the DNA for designing cool stuff!

le film vanessabruno avec Lou Doillon.
the film vanessabruno with Lou Doillon.
http://www.vanessabruno.com

From the Athé collection autumn-winter 2009-2010, this wool sweater with kimono sleeves and ring collar caught my eye. $330 US / $360 CAD

Here is my very own Vanessa Bruno sweater hanging at home. The wool - like any kind of wool - is a bit itchy, but a smooth bodysuit or undershirt beneath should do the trick.

And guess what? It's great for pregnant women like me! I'm aversed to buying frumpy maternity clothes, but this sweater is a versatile piece that can be worn during and after pregnancy. Paired with black tights and knee-high (or even thigh-high) boots, this is a great functional attire for the very pregnant. So here I am with a watermelon belly, donning the said sweater.

Black has never looked so good. Geometrical sweaters, blunt trapeze dresses, asymmetrical drape tops, and textured pants are just some of the things Vanessa Bruno is known to perfect.

As fashion writer Clara Young puts it in her article, "French Kiss" for Elle Canada, "What the French [sic] are absolutely against is the the 'total look' outfit. It's more about putting together something from a well-known house and relying on small but indispensable brands like Vanessa Bruno and Isabel Marant...they form the backbone of the Parisian woman's wardrobe - not Dior or Chanel."

Chanel Love

With the recent release of the Coco Avant Chanel movie, I was inspired to dust off my beautiful Chanel Camellia thong slippers, circa spring-summer 2008.

Perfectly comfortable footwear for summer strolls with the family! Guaranteed to take a life of its own while shopping at Chanel's Rue Royale shop in Paris.

When Coco Chanel first pinned a camellia to her suit, the shy scentless flower had suddenly been elevated to an iconic status in the fashion world. It has since become synonymous with the French couturier.

Yet Another Blog. Why I Started This Terrible Idea...

There's a steaming glass of Parisian Mariage Frères tea on my desk. My favourite blend - Marco Polo - is a fruity, flowery black tea that resonates with hints of strawberry, citrus, and rose.

I must be insane to start another blog. Pensive, I went through the scenario in my head: I have a young family to care for; I already write a travel blog; I'm managing an investment renovation project, and I'm dealing with all kinds of issues regarding my regular (yawn) job. I came to the conclusion that I am, indeed, insane to subject myself to such a behaviour.

I recall when I first started my other blog, Folie à Deux, which is all about travel. I had no expectations that it could lead me anywhere. Not knowing much about HTML and CSS, I spent many sleepless nights learning how to tweak the style sheets. I also had a crash course on how to use a digital SLR camera, Photoshop, my new Mac notebook, and all the social media tools out there. I tell you, those nights came with a price. I'd be exhausted the following day; I would even have mini-meltdowns. It was a time in my life that can be compared to a nuclear near-collapse as I tried to balance my new found love for writing and blogging with breastfeeding an infant who barely slept through the night.

In any case, everything appears to have worked out for the best. Burning the midnight oil on my travel blog, Folie à Deux, earned me a place as a finalist in Best Travel Blog category at the 2008 Weblog Awards. This, in turn, opened many doors for me that I wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to enjoy had I not started the blog. Moreover, I have met many fabulous, like-minded travellers, vagabonds, digital nomads, lifestyle designers whom I respect to the fullest. They have inspired me to revisit my passion and re-evaluate my goals in life.

With this blog, I am hoping to connect with families all over the world, and share in this wonderful journey of parenthood. We can focus on exchanging ideas and advice on mostly fashion and design, but also on travel, food, lifestyle and well-being. Or we can simply relish in swapping evocative photographs or anecdotes of everyday life as a parent.

Why Les Filles Giada et Cairo? Giada is my eldest daughter (almost 3 years old), and Cairo will be the name of this next one coming in March 2010. Les deux filles (the two girls) make my heart sing and they galvanize every inch of my soul.

Some once said that great stories usually come out of terrible ideas. Is this such a terrible idea? We'll see in a few months.

xoxo,
Jen