Vintage Style: Carly Simon

I loved Carly Simon when I was little — she and Stevie Nicks are the first female singers I remember listening to on my parents' record player. She recorded Hotcakes in 1974, shortly before giving birth to Sally Taylor, her daughter with James Taylor. 

Carly has always exuded all-American confidence and beauty and her pregnancy look was no different (especially remarkable given that Taylor had recently entered rehab for drug addiction). The cover of Hotcakes is so pretty and it's fairly awesome that she used a maternity photo as her album cover. The album, released days after Sally's birth, hit #3 on the charts.

Her pregnancy style was very laid-back and very seventies. It's also relatively easy to update and emulate. I'm not sure I can fully endorse the red knee socks and clogs, but a floppy hat, patterned dress, and chambray shirt  are au courant now too.

In other news, I'm really sorry about my long absence. It has been a crazy two weeks around here - Miami, a bout of the flu, moving back home after a five-week kitchen and bath renovation, etc etc. It's been bananas -  I should be back to regular posting now.

(Images: 1. Ed Caraeff 2. Vieri Salvadori 3. via Girls Like Us - The Music)

Off to Miami

Next week, Alex and I will have been married for 8 wonderful, adventurous, memorable years. To celebrate, we're off to Miami for an anniversary mini-trip. See you back here next week — hopefully with some pictures of fabulous Miami-area mamas.

(I'll try to post a better picture of my dress next week, on our actual anniversary. Our house is currently packed up for some renovations and we don't have all our pics online - that's how long ago we got married.)

(Image: Andrew Collings)

Elizabeth's Essentials

I can't remember how or when I discovered the addictive blog do i even like this?, but it rapidly jumped onto my daily read list. Written as a series of letters and style musings between best friends Amanda (in Chicago) and Elizabeth (in DC), it's fun to read and consistently chic. They always find great pieces, from gorgeous orange purses to enviable costume jewelry.  A few weeks ago, they kindly asked me to contribute to their Blogger's Hit List column and I had a blast working on it and assembling a list of current non-maternity faves. 

Never one to miss an opportunity, I asked the 39-week-pregnant Elizabeth (who had her son Oliver a week later) to share her pregnancy essentials with Style 9. Here's her list, full of chic basics that will carry you through all three trimesters. 

1. Who knew that a couple of simple black tank tops could save me from breaking down in tears when getting dressed in my last trimester? When hormones were running high and nothing looked “right” I would reach for one of these and the day was saved. They have not faded, pilled, or stretched out and they completely covered my bebe bump. $20 at The Gap.

2. I like shoes — a lot. So as my feet began to get a little bigger, the number of pairs that I could wear in my closet began to shrink. I did some searching and much trying on and found that Tom’s were the answer. They are so comfortable and have been able to accommodate the fluctuation from swollen feet one day to normal footsies the next during my last couple of weeks of pregnancy. $44 at Toms.

3. Burt’s Bees lip balm has been essential. I don’t know what it was about being pregnant but I would nibble on my lips when I slept. Never had that occurred before and what resulted was less than kissable lips. This stuff got my lips back to kissable soft in no time flat. $3 at most drugstores or Burt's Bees.

4. As the pregnancy progressed I found that a warm bath relieved many of the aches that my body experienced. Adding this Verbena Foaming Bath takes a bath to spa-like levels. The scent is light, refreshing and most of all relaxing. In the last few weeks of pregnancy I had to decide how worthwhile a bath would be, worrying I might need assistance out of the tub. Alas, never needed to call out to my husband for being stuck yet had it happened, it would have been worth it. $32 at L'Occitane.

5. Late in my first trimester we moved from Chicago, IL to Chantilly, VA. The downside was leaving my bestie, Amanda. The upside was rekindling my fondness of Chick-fil-A. When I didn’t wish to hear mention of any other food due to extreme nausea, their chicken sandwich, waffle cut fries and lemonade made everything better.

Thanks Elizabeth and congratulations on your new little one!

To see more of Elizabeth and Amanda's finds, check out their blog do i even like this?