Dress: Ingrid & Isabel Double Layer Midi Dress + Nursing in True Navy
Being a style blogger for the past 6 years, I didn’t realize how much of my closet would change when becoming a mother. There were the obvious changes, like size, and for me it’s been harder than expected to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight as I’ve been suffering from patellar tendonitis on my left knee and for the last 10 weeks a broken right foot, but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. Though, I think the biggest change was that I’ve needed my clothing to do more.
Shirt: Ingrid & Isabel Double Layer Woven Top + Nursing in Bright White
As a mom, who has exclusively nursed her son for the past 8 months, finding clothing that is nursing-friendly has been a struggle, especially being well-endowed. Many new moms can still adorn their button-up blouses, or many of their pre-baby clothing that allows for easy nursing while on-the-go, but for me this has been impossible.
Shirt: Ingrid & Isabel Off The Shoulder Maxi Dress in Blush
Luckily, I’ve partnered with the amazing maternity brand Ingrid & Isabel, and have a few key items that have been on serious rotation over the last few months that have allowed for me to discreetly feed my son. Specializing in trendy clothing to take you from your first trimester into your fourth (after baby is born), I became obsessed with their line of dresses and tops and this amazing jumpsuit that make nursing a breeze.
I must be honest, breastfeeding has been one of my favourite and least favourite parts of the last 8 months. I can feel the special time coming to an end as Sterling becomes more dependent on food and he approaches his first birthday. Which makes me feel excited to take back ownership of my body, but also saddens me as I’ll miss the cuddles and closeness that breastfeeding provides.
Sterling is wearing: Romper: Smash & Tess, Outfit: Target Cloud Island (pants, shirt), Hat: Hillcrest Mall
I’m wearing: Visor: Kate Spade New York (old), Hat & shorts: Target (old), Frames: c/o Clearly (black) (pink)
Personalized backpack & duffle: c/o Ketzel Baby
For our nursery, we wanted our small space to feel clean, bright and yet invoke a magical feeling, but as we didn’t know our baby’s gender it was important to keep the space as neutral as possible. Our goal for the room was to give Sterling a room that he would love to grow up in.
We started with the search for white furniture that would provide as much storage as possible (small space problems). When I came across the Baby Knightly Wyatt 3-in-1 convertible crib at West Coast Kids, I knew I had struck gold. I loved the simple and smart design of the solid wood crib, the brass metal accents and of course the storage trundle. It also has the ability to convert into a toddler day-bed and a full size bed, meaning we’d only be investing in one piece of furniture that would last for a longer period of time.
Our nursery has two large windows and gets tons of natural light and we knew we wanted our only real wall to be an accent wall, but were unsure if we wanted to paint or wallpaper. We came across Rocky Mountain Decals on Instagram, a Canadian company that specializes in easy to install and removable wallpaper. Trevor and I fell in love with the Misty Mountain wall mural and thought it would be the perfect neutral backdrop for our little explorer. The installation of the mural was easy, a simple peel and stick application and took Trevor a few hours to put up. The fact that its effortless to remove is also amazing, as when Sterling grows we can update his accent wall to a different one of their fantastic murals or papers. Check out this video of the install of the mural.
Once we had our accent wall picked, I began to look for accessories and decor that fit the mountain theme. When I found The Butter Flying (again on Instagram), a Montreal-based brand, I loved the idea that the mobile would be the clouds. These hand-made mobiles were so delicate and beautiful, adding the perfect amount of special charm. The Butter Flying and I have teamed up to offer you 10% off The Butter Flying’s Etsy shop by using the coupon code 10HAPPY.
When it came to planning Sterling’s linens we wanted to make sure that the pattern or print would make sense against our Rocky Mountain Decal mural. We soon fell in love with the playful Bison pattern from Little Unicorn. We picked out the Brushed Crib Sheet and Brushed Muslin Cotton Quilt and a bunch of their swaddle blankets (Tropical Leaf, Lemon and Bike Family seen here) to wrap him in while he sleeps.
Flooring was one of the final details for the room to help ground the space and add an element of warmth. We have hardwood floors throughout our home and I wanted to have a plush rug for Sterling to play on. Lorena Canals available at West Coast Kids is an amazing line of machine washable rugs that specialize in creative and fun prints and spaces meant for nurseries. We never know what will end up on our rugs with a cat, dog and baby so it’s important for this to be durable and easily machine washable.
Sterling’s room is small, so we needed to make sure that we picked things that complimented the space. The Keekaroo Peanut Changer has been the ideal for us, sitting perfectly on top of his dresser, thus taking up no real estate on our floor. Our Peanut is slip resistant and made of a material that won’t allow fluids to penetrate. I also love how easy it is to wipe clean (because accidents happen), without adding any laundry.
Around the room the decor that can be found are wooden toys, classic books and his future accessories (shoes and hats) that give the room that fashionisto feel.
Playforever Midi Race Car Bonnie
Cloud B Sleep Sheep Smart Sensor
A Little Lovely Company Light Box
Converse Infant Chuck Taylors, Everything is Mama by Jimmy Fallon, Your Baby’s First Word will be Dada by Jimmy Fallon
Shoes: Mally Designs, Dino: DIY
I am absolutely in love with our nursery and I hope Sterling will love it too. Check out the other room reveals in our home: Kitchen & Living Room.
I received products compliments of and/or in collaboration with West Coast Kids, Rocky Mountain Decals, The Butter Flying, but all opinions are 100% my own. If you are interested in working together in please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com).
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At South Beach. Sterling wearing H&M. Barbara wearing Who What Wear from Target.
Ever since I was little, I’ve been visiting Miami to enjoy the sun, sand and shopping. It’s always felt like a second home for me. This year would be a very different trip for me, instead of visiting my grandparents, I’d be visiting my parents and instead of bringing a friend or Trevor, I’d be bringing my 7 week old son.
On the balcony. Sterling wearing Carter’s. Barbara wearing Universal Thread from Target.
The thought of traveling with a newborn was stressful, but once I got his papers together (passport and letter for Trevor stating I could travel with him – which is 100% needed when crossing the border) I got excited to show and experience my favourite place with him. Miami for many is an amazing party city, but for me it’s always been a place for relaxation and rejuvenation. This year with Sterling on hand, I planned to take it even slower for our 10 day trip.
The Flights
I did a lot of research for best practices when flying with an infant. The best tips I learned was to feed upon take off and landing, as the swallowing process helps with the pressure changes. If feeding wasn’t possible then pacifiers could help to avoid popped ears.
I also decided that because I was travelling alone it would be best to wear him using my Solly Wrap and by the time we took off, he was sleeping. My infant wrap (which I love) was actually amazing for both the travel days and on the longer days exploring the city.
At The Miami Design District. Sterling in Solly Baby. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie
The Meals
We visited some of my favourite restaurants that I’ve been dining at each year, like Mo’s Bagels & Deli – which is like the most classic Jewish deli with unbelievable smoked salmon (they call it nova) and amazing black and white cookies, The Original Pancake House – which has the best chocolate chip pancakes, and Joe’s Stone Crab, the go-to spot in Miami for stone crab.
The Days
At The Miami Design District. Sterling wearing Carter’s. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie
We visited our usual spots like the Aventura Mall and Lincoln Road, two amazing destinations for shopping, with the latter having amazing restaurants and a great late night atmosphere. We also explored the breathtaking Miami Design District and the inspiring Wynwood Walls, a community covered in stunning graffiti and street art filled with culture, cafes and galleries.
At Wynwood Walls. Barbara wearing Farm Rio from Anthropologie
Though most of our days were spent relaxing by the pool and taking in the beautiful weather.
At the pool. Sterling wearing hat and bathing suit from Babies R Us. Barbara wearing (old) Joe Fresh, Glasses Kam Dhillon from Clearly.
The Gear
I must say that one of the most important things for traveling with a newborn is ensuring you bring the appropriate gear. The key items for me and Sterling were my infant wrap, our Maxi-Cosi car seat, our Dock A Tot (as mentioned in a previous post) and our ValcoBaby Stroller.
The Snap Ultra stroller was used everyday providing Sterling not only a smooth ride but also protection from the sun with its large breathable canopy. The lightweight stroller fully reclines providing Sterling the perfect place to snooze during the pool days and easily folds down and to take with us in our rental car to explore the city. The large basket underneath was the perfect place to hold our parcels when shopping.
At the pool. Barbara wearing (old) Mara Hoffman, Glasses Kam Dhillon from Clearly, Shoes: (old) Loeffler Randall.
Have you traveled with an infant? What were your tips and tricks? I cannot wait for our next trip together!
Photography by Gary & Cynthia Solomon
I received products compliments of and/or in collaboration with ValcoBaby Canada, but all opinions are 100% my own. If you are interested in working together in please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com
Maternity shoots are a right of passage that I feel that all pregnant women should spend the time and money on. After everything your body does during these 9 months it’s important to embrace and celebrate all the changes by documenting it. Picking an outfit that makes you feel glamorous and comfortable is key to having a successful shoot.
This gown was created by the amazing team at Sew Trendy Accessories, a brand that specializes in handmade maternity gowns, formal gowns, boudoir clothing, gown accessories and newborn outfits ideal for photo shoots. I picked the timeless Krysten gown in white, because I loved the long sleeves and elegance of the cut.
When you order your gown and send in your measurement there are some options you can choose from to customize the dress. I chose the boat neck, rather than a droop back, to ensure I could wear a bra and picked to have a simple train instead of the exaggerated ones. If you are looking for maternity shoot inspiration, check out their Instagram account, as it served as a daily source of the most magical and beautiful images.
We shot this at 35 weeks pregnant on a freezing cold day at the Scarborough Bluffs. Other outfits that I’ve shot that could have worked for a maternity shoot are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and one of my favourites 6.
Dress & Headpiece: C/O Sew Trendy Accessories, Jewellery: Vintage
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Strong and bold accessories will help glam up this look and add seasonally appropriate sparkle. These pink cat-eye Friday frames from the new Main + Central Tortoiseshell collection paired with beautiful earrings compliment the outfit perfectly. When choosing frames from my collection to wear, I always look for a shape and colour that add interest to an outfit.
Shopping for glasses online, you may find it hard to choose which shape works best for your face, but Clearly has an amazing part of their site which helps you pick the best frame for your shape. I’ve always been drawn to the cat-eye shape and haven’t taken this pair off since I got them, as I love feminine shape and perfect colour.
Don’t forget to shop at Clearly using the promo code BARBARAANN20 for 20% off frames and lenses (some exclusions apply).
Dress: C/O Ripe Maternity from Carry Maternity, Frames: C/O Friday Frames by Main & Central from Clearly, Earrings: Michelle Ross, Watch: C/O Daniel Wellington, Shoes: Zara (old)
It’s getting to be that confusing transitional time of the year, when not only am I dying to wear my new (and old) fall pieces, but also am exhausted by the summer options. The days are still so hot, and it’s impossible to be layering knits and textures yet. So, I’m left with getting creative, and finding new ways to wear my fall favourites, early.
I’ve folded down a vintage dress shirt, that is a little big on me, and tucked in the collar. Then I tied the hanging sleeve with the bottom of the shirt, giving it that belted look, creating a very on-trend and updated asymmetrical top. Paired with simple culottes and my trusty mules, I’ve styled a classic look with an updated twist.
Shirt: vintage, Culottes: WhoWhatWear x Target, Mules: Design Lab from Hudson’s Bay, Earrings: Erickson Beamon from The Room, Glasses: Kam Dhillion from Clearly.ca
Photography: 2Boo Studio
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DAY 2 NIGHT
I believe I’ve found it. The perfect dress for any occasion. The print is works for all seasons and because it is so unique it makes it quite timeless, the length is for all weathers, the cut is a classic.
Clover Canyon creates pieces that have the most interesting prints; I’m completely obsessed. I will be on the hunt for some of their collection (on sale) during this holiday season.
Fashion Magazine asked the style panel what to wear from the office to a cocktail party! check out my answer.
Photography by Trevor Negin
Dress: Clover Canyon Coat: T. Babaton Sweater Kimchi Blue Socks: Adidas Pumps: Aldo Watch: Michael Kors Earrings: Vintage
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Shirt: Joe Fresh Pants: Joe Fresh Shoes: vintage Belt: Banana Republic Bracelets: (left to right) gift, watch- vintage, leather spiked cuff – gift, mini spiked bangle- banana republic, jewelled cuff – vintage
So yesterday was the Joe Fresh x Lou Lou Shopping Event Where I had not only the privilege of shopping the fall collection on sale, but meeting Joe Mimran was such an honor. One of the great legends in Canadian fashion, and designing so many of my favourite pieces.
The fall collection is filled with beautiful prints, and bold colours to be mixed and matched. I was able to pick up some great pieces, that are going to work so well with the other fall trends! Fall is a great time to reset, and review. Normally I wouldn’t wear this collection of bracelets, but after a closer look – they totally work. Now is a good time to review your closet and jewelry box and edit while looking at things in a different light. (also giving a new excuse to go shopping)
things you should take a closer look at:
(please note this list will be updated as I plan an extended shopping trip)
Your Basic White Shirts: they are a basic and often get abused the most – if you see them on sale soon – I’d pick them up and donate your older one (if you can afford too of course)
Tights: Fall is around the corner and if you plan for the need pick them up whenever they go on sale. Warm tights, pantyhose, and all hosiery, are great investments if you can grab them reduced
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Tank: Old Navy Shirt: Banana Republic Pants: American Eagle Shoes: B2 @ Browns
So clearly colour is in, and not going anywhere. Though there are certain ones, just like some prints, that have become basics/neutrals.
A Bright Red: works well with any pattern, bold or simple and looks amazing colour-blocked with oranges, yellows and pinks
Camo Green: I love camo green with everything, this colour works well with pastels, paired with neons, basically everything
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