I Tried It: Trunk Club

There are so many clothing subscription services out now (a more detailed review of Mac & Mia is coming soon!) that I thought it would be fun to expand my thoughts on a few of the more recent ones.  If you're a fan of Stitch Fix (my review on that service here, here, and here) then get ready to switch it up, because I've found something I like even more!  

Trunk Club, long a service that was similar but only offered men's clothing, has finally expanded its offerings to include women's!  

The great thing about Trunk Club is that they don't charge any styling or shipping fees.  It's completely free to receive your trunk.  You can even schedule your package pickup (for free!!!  again!!) through the Trunk Club website after you've given your stylist feedback and just set it out for pickup.  With Stitch Fix, you have to drop your package off at a USPS drop point - not a big deal, but less convenient for sure.  I also really appreciate that I don't feel the need to "spend" my styling fee by making sure it goes towards an item in my shipment.  Trunk Club operates on the success of their stylists skill, so you never feel pressured to buy anything as a client.  You are also able to chat with your stylist on the phone or via email before she puts your trunk together, which makes for a more successful experience overall.  

Trunk Club sends you 12-15 pieces per trunk (including shoes and handbags, or jewelry and scarves if you request it) and before your box is shipped you get a "preview."  During this you log on to your account and are able to veto any items you DEFINITELY don't want sent because you don't like them, and your stylist will pick new things.  This greatly ups your chances of success, which I loved because it's very disappointing to get a box with absolutely nothing you like in it!  

After you get the box and try on, you have 10 days to return your unwanted items, which is quite a bit longer than any other service I've seen.  All in all, Trunk Club completely blew any of its competition out of the water and is definitely my favorite of the clothing subscription services so far. 

Okay, copious amounts of try on photos below!  

These were on top of my box so they got photographed first - they're kind of a mustard color, and although very cute this color doesn't jive well with much of my wardrobe.  Return!  

I didn't think the cuff was all that great on these Madewell shorts with my muscular legs, and this white Rag & Bone t shirt was a HILARIOUS $85!!!! I made sure to note that in my feedback, $85 plain t shirts really aren't my jam.  

This Equipment v neck blouse was very pretty but ran large, and it was also quite see thru.   I loved these Rag & Bone black denim capris, but they were out of my budget for denim and didn't fit all that well anyways.  

This Joie top was $248, SO there's that.  It went back.  Obviously.  

I really liked these Topshop jeans but don't need any more blue denim, I really wished they were white.  They were super comfortable!  I requested something like them in white next time.  

This dress was quite pretty, but not as pretty as another white dress I tried on from the box, pictured below.  So it went back!  

This blue dress was a great color but just so 80s!! I wish it hadn't had the second straps on the outside.  

This pink dress was very well priced and so was the jacket, but the jacket was too big and I don't wear much of this darkish pink, so they went back.  

This dress I LOVED!! It's by Cupcakes & Cashmere (a blog I've read a long time who has lately started a fashion line sold at Nordstrom) and this was the first piece I've ever tried from it.  It was extremely well priced considering the cut and quality and I really, really like it.  It was worth getting the whole box to find this dress in my opinion.  The fabric floats really nicely in person, and it'll be extremely comfortable this summer.  Win!  

This was toooooo dowdy on me. Return!  

These sneakers are Joie and very cute, but so delicate that I didn't really feel they were "playground practical" and I'm not sure where else I'd wear them.  

I LOVED these booties/sandals and they were under $100, which was awesome.  They're by hinge. (a Nordstrom house brand) that I've loved for a while and the blushy-neutral color will go with everything.  They'll replace a Target pair I wore into the ground last summer and are very comfortable.  

If you have any questions about Trunk Club please let me know in the comments!  You can sign up for your first trunk here - like I've said I cannot seem to think of a downside, so get to it!  Spring is coming!  

saturday in the park

Wearing: Blush Ballet Flats // Crop Top (can't find, but this one is ADORABLE) // Midi Skirt (sold out, but check your stores!) // Blush Motorcycle Jacket (sold out, but also super cute and similar) // Earrings // Stroller (we bought ours used for MUCH less, check out "Little Britches" on Facebook!  

We were graced with a little more spring preview weather the past few days, so of course we spent the majority of our time outdoors (I'm actually typing this up sitting in our gazebo!)  I've been dying to get into some new spring clothes - to be honest, I hard get dressed in the winter save a few holiday parties - so it was the perfect time to debut this full, polka dotted midi skirt.  It's from TARGET.  Darrell thought it was Kate Spade and who can blame him?  Nope, a fraction of what that would have cost, and surprisingly practical for playground time!  

Who says you can't look a little glam pushing a stroller?  

treasure & bond

Shirt (sold out, similar) I wear a small in their shirts and they're still generous, so buy accordingly.  // Jeans // Booties // Necklace // Tote // Sunglasses

Confession: I bought this shirt in two colors.  It's hands down the most comfortable, best fitting, softest button down shirt I've ever owned!  I'm learning that I'm a HUGE fan of this brand, Treasure & Bond.  Like, consider me officially a hoarder of all things plaid that they make.  I've got my eye on this, this, and this.  I have this already (previously see in a blog post here.)  Also THIS is adorable.

I'm done.

I swear.

(This too.)

Plaid shirts are just BEYOND easy, for mom wear.  They hide a multitude of stains, unbutton easily for nursing, and are oh-so-comfy.  These jeans are also a repeat favorite of mine - they were $19 (yeah, NINETEEN DOLLARS) at Nordstrom Rack so definitely check there if you have one locally before ordering online, because I have worn the heck out of them.  Size down too!  I'm wearing size 26 here.

hey pretty mama/nursing style: the button down

Top - Lilly Pulitzer Elsa , Shorts - J. Crew, Sandals - Jack Rogers, Earrings - Kendra Scott, Sunglasses - Ray Ban Clubmasters

 So here's the thing about style blogging - sometimes the best laid plans don't really work out!  I had planned this outfit out Saturday night and woke up to the most dreary, cold day.  So we took these pictures and.....I promptly ran back inside to change into jeans and a pullover for lunch.  Last day of May, high of 60 degrees.  St. Louis weather will never cease to amaze me.  

So after that thrilling talk about the weather, let's just jump into the meat of this post...

If I read one more recommendation to wear 'button down shirts' while nursing I might just puke.  Truthfully, button down shirts are TERRIBLE on women whose breasts have just become disproportionally large in comparison to their bodies.  It's ridiculous to even suggest them as an option in general.  They pull, they aren't flattering to a somewhat inflated waistline, and they tend to look either oddly formal or overly frumpt.  Popovers, however, are an entirely different story!  

I love a popover blouse because you get all the benefits of a button down without the button-popping problems.  As long as you get the right size, you're golden, and they look just as good tucked in as out.  This top in particular is one of my favorite styles, and is consistently released by Lilly Pulitzer year round in a variety of prints and solids.  

hey pretty mama/nursing style: shift dress

Shift dresses are one of the most common requests I've gotten since starting the nursing style series.  It is admittedly VERY hard to work around a shift while nursing.  It takes very specific styling to make it work.  Even more frustrating is the fact that shift dresses are among the most flattering styles to post baby bodies!  I have two solutions to this problem.  

1) Buy a shift that zips down the front.  Easier said than done, I know - this is the Lilly Pulitzer Alexa shift, and although you can't tell in the photos at all, it has an invisible zipper in the front detail.  It goes realllllly low and really high! Totally adjustable, totally ideal for nursing.  This dress has a much higher price point that clothes I usually recommend, but I actually found it half off at my local Lilly signature store (The Pink Magnolia!) and maybe you could do the same?  It came in three colors, and there are also a few sellers on eBay that have it new with tags for much less than retail.  Word to the wise - size up, it runs small! It's certainly an investment, but in my opinion the sixties silhouette will never really be out of style. 

2) Bring a sling with you!  I have a habit of wearing shifts more and more lately, because to Claire what is out of sight is out of mind.  Now that she's almost one, I'm trying to cut down on her nursing a bit to introduce more solid food, and take some of the pressure off of me.  We aren't weaning!  Just making a transition to a little bit more freedom for mom and baby.  Shift dresses have been a big help with that.  Of course, she still has to eat eventually.  What I'll do when we're out and about to avoid having to run to the car is throw the sling on like a sash, unzip the dress from the back, and shimmy one arm out, the side that is covered by the sling.  I just do that on both sides and usually no one is the wiser.  It's especially easy and discreet if you happen to be seated in a corner booth! 

hey pretty mama: brunch style

I'm always thrilled to get some pictures of Claire & I that aren't selfies!  It's rare any more for the two of us to get very dressed up, but this past Saturday we were invited to brunch at the last minute, the sun was shining bright, and I happened to have a new dress.  So off we went! We headed to an old favorite place of ours - Rooster - where they have fabulous vegan options and a delicious brunch cocktails. 

(A note on nursing: I didn't actually breastfeed Claire in this dress however; despite its fitted nature I could have.  It has an easy to reach zipper and tugged down just a tiny bit I could pull it down enough in front to nurse.)  It's from J.Crew factory and my mom bought it for me!  I can't find it on their website anymore but I believe it is still in stores.  Claire's sweet floral dress is from Old Navy. 

hey pretty mama: stitch fix

 Hi everyone!  So my Stitch Fix box came this weekend, and I'm so excited to share with you what they sent me - this box was SO SUCCESSFUL.  (If you missed my first post that explained Stitch Fix, click here.)  I love everything they sent really, but I'm keeping three items that were total winners, so read on to find out why and which ones! 

This top!  I LOVE this pretty halter top.  I actually pinned it to my Stitch Fix Pinterest board, and my stylist sent it to me, so that was awesome!  It was really flattering and light.  This is a size small, and if you can find it online (I couldn't, sadly) it's called the "Dakota Crochet Detail Halter" by Daniel Rainn.  It was $68, which is more than I would normally spend on a top, but I felt like it was really special.  

I also loved this top.  I thought it was a great shade of blue and the flowy nature of it makes it great for nursing in public.  It drapes really nicely and was also made of a super light fabric.  I actually wore it that day, which I think always says something great about a new item, when you wear it right away.  It's by Skies are Blue, this is a small which you can see runs a little big, and it's called the "Walters Crochet Detail Top."  It was a very reasonable $44.  

The jeans I'm wearing with those two tops were also in my fix, but they were a miss.  First of all, I don't really need full length pants in the summer in St. Louis.  Second, they are a size 27 (my usual size) and ran huge.  They're very soft and stretchy and I easily could have worn a 26 which is totally unheard of for me.  They're by Mavi, called the "Freida Ankle Length Skinny Jean" and I personally wouldn't really recommend them, especially for the price ($98!) 

 

This dress was the big hit of the fix - crazy nursing friendly, Darrell LOVED it, and it's really really comfortable.  This was an item that I wouldn't have picked out for myself at all, but I loved it on.  It's also the right length which is something hard for me with maxi dresses because I'm so short!  It's by a brand called Gilli, the Zuli Striped Maxi Dress, and this is a medium.   It was $78, which again is more than I would normally spend on something like this but I kept it because it looked great on, and because Darrell insisted! 

Lastly, they sent this big reversible stitched tote.  It wasn't real leather, and I didn't just love it (it felt a lot like something you would get at Target for $30) so I decided to send it back with the jeans.  All in all, I was thrilled to get two cute new tops AND a cute new dress!  I'm already looking forward to next month's fix - I changed my frequency to have them come less often since I don't need clothes too badly right now - and crossing my fingers I get my first 5/5.  

Have you signed up yet?  Get set up with Stitch Fix here!  

Tell me, did I inspire any of you to sign up?  How did your fixes turn out?  I want to hear all about it in the comments!  

hey pretty mama:nursing style/a romper!

romper, shoes, and necklace all forever 21.  sunglasses - ray ban

On the list of things I was searching for in a nursing wardrobe, an easy one piece was definitely on my list.  It sounds impossible - they aren't EASY to wear, nursing friendly or not - but hear me out!  

 Rompers have the benefit of being very "play on the floor" friendly.  There's no risk of overexposure.  Because they have to be pulled on over the hips, they tend to be cut bloused in the top half, making them easy to pull down a little bit for nursing.  This one hides all baby snot (I'm a human Kleenex in Claire's mind) or other stains of the day; as proof, just know that I wore this from 7 am and we took these pictures at around 6 pm.  This one went out of stock after I linked to it on Facebook last week, but they still have the listing up which leads me to believe it will be restocked!  Fingers crossed, because I wouldn't mind having it in that dusty rose as well.  

The one downside to the romper as a mom-iform?  Uh, the bathroom situation.  Claire tends to fall asleep while I'm wearing her, and while normally that's no problem, I really had no good way to pee when she did.  It wasn't the end of the world - she normally naps for about an hour and obviously I didn't need to go the entire time but hey - just thought I'd share in case anyone else also didn't think of that and found themselves in a similar conundrum!! TMI?  Oh, well.  

And just as a "proof that it works!"  

Boom!  Nursing baby, and I'm still fully clothed.  

hey pretty mama: nursing style/stitch fix

 
Since having Claire, I've had issues spending money on myself.  I'm pretty sure I"m not the only mom who could say that - every time I go online to buy much needed clothes, I end up finding something I could buy for Claire instead and rarely complete the mission.  

Add to that the task of finding cute clothes in my size that facilitate nursing, wrangling my baby that HATES the stroller and only wants to worn into letting me try on clothes in a dressing room and well, the entire thing is basically a nightmare.  

I'm picky, so when I initially had heard of Stitch Fix I wrote it off as something for people who didn't have opinions or a clearly defined personal style.  However, I was so wrong!  I'm pretty sure it was designed with moms in mind.  They even have maternity clothes now, which is pretty fantastic.  

Here's how it works: you fill out a style profile when you sign up, including your sizes, visual examples of styles you like, and even linking to a Pinterest board if you have one for clothes.  You pay a $20 "styling fee" which goes towards anything in your fix that you keep.  I've received two boxes so far and kept items from both, so I've never really paid for the service, only the clothes. 

I have one important tip - definitely do Stitch Fix at least twice before deciding if you like it or not.  Feedback makes all the difference, and you'll also want to get a feel for how their brands run.  Personally, most of what I received in my first box ran quite large, so I changed my sizes down in my style profile after receiving it.  I also made note of why I did or didn't like the items and my stylist improved my next box by leaps and bounds.

Here's what I got in my "fix" this month, and I'll tell you what I kept and why!

1.  Polka Dotted Chiffon Dress

 

 I told my stylist that I was breastfeeding & mostly looking for separates, but I also said that if a really special dress she thought I'd like came through to include it.  I think this fits the bill - I tried it on and immediately Darrell said he loved it, so it's a keeper.  It was $74, and when you see the fabric in person and feel it, it feels well priced.  I'll wear this to work or out on date night, mostly likely when we aren't with Claire because it's so covered up.  But, the shape is great for a postpartum mama - soft and flowy but waist defining.  

2.  Button Down Popover Blouse

 

I almost never choose a button down because they always gape in front of my boobs, which I hate, HOWEVER this ended up being my favorite item in this fix.  I actually realized that if I just unbutton the top button it's not too scandalously low, so I decided to keep it, with the obvious benefit that it's a fantastic top for nursing.  It was also about $40 which I found very reasonable.  I wore it later that day to a friend's birthday, which is where the top photo was taken! 

3.  Crochet trimmed sheer tank. 

 This was a totally epic fail!  I'm not sure why I was sent this item, it's impossible to wear a bra with it (unless it were one of those flimsy, lacy, "meant to be seen" numbers that I clearly don't wear) so it went back.  Easy choice! Don't hate me, but I can't remember what the price was! 


4. Printed keyhole blouse. 

I really WANTED to love this top, but it just wasn't flattering on me!  Aside from the fit, it's 100% the type of thing I would have picked out for myself.  Sadly, it's cut at a weird length, and it kind of tented out from my chest.  So it went back!  Also making that an easy choice was the price tag, I think this was $58. 

5.  Drop earrings. 

 

 Truth be told, I asked them to stop sending me accessories.  I got a scarf last time that I also didn't like, and these earrings really didn't do anything for me, plus they were $28.  I just don't think they looked any better than what I would find at Forever 21 for $4, so they went back!  

For reference, all the tops in this fix are size small, and the dress is a medium.   I also told my stylist I didn't need bottoms at the moment, only tops & a dress or two. 

If you're thinking 2/5 isn't a great record, know that the two pieces I kept I LOVE and I know I'll wear them a ton.  Also, I only kept one item from my first fix so this is an improvement!  I have high hopes for the next one.  If you keep all 5 items from your fix, you get a 25% discount on all of them, and of course Stitch Fix wants you to buy everything so they really do make an effort to keep improving.  Aside from being a practical way to shop if you're busy, getting a surprise box of clothes to try on in the mail is always really fun.  I would totally recommend it if you need a little spring reset in your wardrobe.  

You can click here to sign up!  

(A little side note - I'm not being paid or endorsed by Stitch Fix in anyway!  I just thought it was a great service for moms, and I've really been enjoying it.) 

Let's end with a cute photo of Claire & Darrell for good measure, okay?  

hey pretty mama: nursing style/1

tshirt:lb brand/jeans:madewell/shoes:birkenstock/sunglasses:quay

Today I'm really excited to start a new series on the blog about style & beauty specifically for moms called "Hey Pretty Mama."  We'll cover hair, skincare, makeup, and clothing but since I wanted to start with the most requested, we're kicking it off with nursing style!  

I've received several requests from readers & friends wanting to know how they can maintain their style while they're nursing a baby, and having been nursing Claire for the past 9 months (losing the baby weight while doing it) I have some insight.  Of course, this is just what has worked for me.  I obviously have a specific body type and my tips may not work for everyone but I'm going to do my best to keep these ideas pretty general!  

First of all, I just want to say that before I had Claire my style leaned towards kind of the preppy, very put together look - I leaned heavily on shift dresses and things with a nipped in waist.  I rarely wore items with low cut necklines because I didn't like to highlight my disproportionately large chest.  Those styles did not work for me once I was nursing!  I was looking forward to getting back into my pre-baby clothes after I had Claire but I soon learned that even if they fit, they weren't practical. 

My old clothes didn't make "the girls" easily accessible.  I'm not one to go search out a private space every single time we nurse.  If you are, then this series probably isn't something that you need to follow as a guideline!  If I were seeking a closet or restroom to feed Claire in whenever she ate, I could simply unzip my shift dress and halfway undress to feed her, no big deal.  If that's your jam, great!  The most important thing is that you and your baby are comfortable.  

Personally, I like to nurse my baby everywhere.  If I'm in the midst of a conversation, I would rather nurse Claire and go on with it - it's sort of a personal mission of mine to normalize nursing in public and make it less shocking.  I want to encourage other moms to feed their babies without fear, moms who might otherwise be deterred from nursing because they worry it will inhibit their everyday interactions and daily life.  I want nursing in public to be a common, natural thing to see.

I also want to do that without telling you that you have to purchase specific clothes "for nursing" because I searched high and low for cute "nursing" clothes and well.....they don't seem to exist yet! 

That said - I had to rearrange my personal style to make this work.  Today's outfit is one that I wear very frequently.  It's comfortable for playing with Claire all day but put together enough that I still feel cute.  To make my point, I'll just let you know that I wore this outfit the entire day starting at 7 am, and we didn't take these pictures until 6:30 at night.  That's nearly 12 hours of stretching the neckline down for nursing, playing, having a baby wipe snot on me and my shirt is still looking pretty good! 

To clarify the difference between this and just "jeans and a tee shirt" - this is just a base for you to inject your style.  You've got to add 3-5 of the following: 

A floppy brimmed fedora.  

Some funky flat sandals or tennis shoes.  

Great big sunglasses.  

A personal piece of jewelry.  

An oversized, classic leather handbag.  

A men's watch.  

A patterned scarf. 

I've stepped out of the "style blogging" game for quite some time because I was feeling a little bit disconnected from it, but this has really reinvigorated my interest - if I can encourage moms and moms-to-be that you can nurse your baby for as long as you both wish to and look good doing it, then all the better.