Why I Wish I Could Just Wear A Onesie

Looking at my daughter, as she sits here on the kitchen floor playing with the TV remote, I feel the slightest twinge of jealousy. Is it because her meals are cooked for her three times a day? Nope. Is it the undivided attention she receives from my man when he gets home from work? No, it's not that either. Is it because she looks so darn cute and comfy in her pink onesie? Absolutely.

Here, in no particular order, are the top five reasons why I wish I could wear a onesie everyday:

1. I wouldn't have to wear pants

2. People would mistake me for Lady GaGa and then I could have access to her bank account

3. Shopping in my closet would be so much easier

4. It is a look that can easily go from day to night (and then to overnight)

5. It requires minimal accessories, throw on your multi-purpose bib necklace (both fashion and function, in this case) and you are good to go

Is Fashion Rehab making me a just a teeny tiny bit crazy??? I'll let you be the judge.

Lady GaGa picture here in a denim onesie (wings optional)

Love, A

P's (Rehab) Christmas Wish List

1. Vanity Fair subscription - I have been reading this magazine every month since I was a teenager, along with my fave fashion mags
2. Glide dental floss - I have super tight teeth and this is the only stuff that works for me. It 's not the cheapest floss on the market, but as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, "You shouldn't neglect your gums."
3. Stud finder - insert joke here
4. Pomegranate Green tea - I try to drink green tea everyday cause I have heard it is really good for you. Problem is, I think it tastes like dirt. But A had the most amazing, delicious pomegranate kind once. Don't know where it came from, but it came in a round container...
5. Gift Card(s) - for Holts, Coach, Banana Republic, Christian Louboutin (if such a thing exists!), M0851 for after 365 Fashion Rehab is over. Only 168 short days from now...

How come this adorable little set doesn't come with a stud-finder?

Hands down this is the strangest, silliest, shortest wish list I have ever written, but I felt like I needed to throw a line to my friends and family. I have been getting many inquiries lately, mostly of the "What the heck can I buy you?" variety. I keep trying to tell Mr. Darling he can totally buy me jewellery. I just won't be able to enjoy it or wear it until May 15th, 2010. Assuming I make it through Fashion Rehab.

Love, P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #17

Inspirational Word Bracelet, plumpparty.com, $14

Need a little encouragement over the holidays? These resin bracelets are super cute, totally affordable, and will definitely brighten anyone's day!

Stocking stuffer, perhaps?

Love, A

Stella!

People often say to me that they think that shopping for my 16-month old daughter would be a cure-all to my no-shop blues. Sure, there are amazingly cute things out there for babies, but I can definitely say that if my jeans are feeling a little too snug or I am having a blah day, picking up a cardigan for my daughter isn't really going to fill the void.

If any of you are doubting my words, let me just share with you that I was recently subjected to Stella McCartney's insanely adorable children's clothing line for Baby Gap. First of all, I was totally jealous that my daughter could possibly own her first piece of Stella McCartney before I do (check out the adorable dress pictured from her women's Spring/Summer 2010 collection), and secondly I wondered if in fact I would go totally nuts and buy up the entire collection only to satisfy my own retail cravings. This really was a once in a lifetime opportunity!! (By the way, I can totally hear you non-shopaholics out there snickering at me for that comment. )

Well, guess what? I did not buy one thing. Totally true, I am not lying. Yes, the collection was fabulous, it was very rock and roll inspired with little tutus, ruffle blouses, and the most kick-ass pair of pink high tops that would have looked awesome on Baby E, but yet I still resisted. So what made me say no? Price was a definitely factor, although not insanely outrageous by baby boutique standards, it was high enough to definitely make you think before purchasing. Basically what stopped me from buying anything was the fact that my daughter doesn't know who the F Stella McCartney is, and why would she care if she was wearing her clothes over the regular ones in Baby Gap?The only people Baby E cares about are ones who love her, feed her, and take her to the park, and unfortunately for us Ms. McCartney isn't one of them! I think I will save my designer purchases until six months from now when they can actually hang off of my back, not my daughter's. But, then again, if the collection happens to go on sale, well that could be a whole other story...

Love, A

P.S. Uh-oh. As I am writing this I literally just found out she is doing another collection for kids in March. Will I be able to stand my guard twice in one year? Vote below to let me know what you think, and then stay tuned to find out!

Will "Mama A" be able to resist the urge to splurge on Stella for the second time around?

Yes, of course! Designer labels are totally just a way to mark-up clothing and have no real value, especially for kids.
Absolutely no way! The above sentence is a joke, right?

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #16

Love Drop Pendant from Tiffany's $550

This Tiffany necklace really is love at first sight.

Love, P

The Essence & The Form

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I nearly had a relapse when my love life took a turn and all I wanted to do was hide in new, pretty things. Time has passed and things have changed - for the better, I think, though these have become times of baby steps...

Throughout my struggles, I was blessed to have an amazing support system of friends and family on whom I could lean. Among this outstanding group was, of course, The Mater. And The Mater told me a story, or theory, rather of The Essence & The Form which gave my perspective a much needed window washing. The theory is this: there are people everywhere who are grasping for The Form. It could be a fancy corner office, a marriage or a big house. They are convinced that if they just got this, they would be happy. And then, lo and behold, they do get it. And, at first, they are overjoyed! But then, the corner office doesn't come with the creative freedom, the marriage doesn't bring unconditional love, the big house is so big that it is actually kind of lonely... Everyone thought they were desperate for The Form. They didn't realise that what they were really looking for was The Essence. The Essence is harder to come by than The Form. In fact, a great many people find The Form, but very few ever get The Essence.

I have found The Essence. And his name is Mr. Darling.

Love, P

The 5 W's

We're guessing some of you are wondering What We Wish We Would have bought before committing to a whole year of Fashion Rehab. And we would love to say that the list is filled with sexy stilettos and fashion-forward frocks, but the truth is, six months in, we really are just yearning for the basics. Clothes can be updated and belted and hemmed and all of those things, but sewing yourself a brand new pair of Hanky Pankys can be a real bitch.

In no particular order, here are eight items that we truly wish we would have bought before starting FR:

1. Bras - the Victoria Secret ad campaigns are enough to make A consider getting a lift because she can't buy the newest "Miracle Bra"

2. Eye Shadow - in peachy cream for P and sapphire blue for A

3. Raincoats - have you seen the weather lately???

4. Black Pumps for P - you do remember her Cole Haan Lust-Have, don't you? That was no joke

5. Underwear - for obvious reasons

6. Liquid Bronzer for A - if she runs out, we suggest those closest to her run for the hills!

7. Yoga pants - they stretch, they sag - you know the deal. Just one extra pair would be amazing!

8. Socks - again for obvious reasons (does anyone know the dying art of darning?)

So, next time you open your drawer and absentmindedly think "Oh, I have nothing to wear", consider yourself lucky. At least you won't find yourself in the rain soaked through to your fraying undies like some girls we know.

Love, A&P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #15

Clinique High Impact Black Honey Mascara - limited edition $14

Ah... an oldie but a goodie. I'm sure most - if not all - of you are familiar with Clinique's infamous Black Honey lip gloss, but did you know they also make a Black Honey mascara? It is amazing! The first time I bought it, I fell completely in love and immediately wished I had stocked up on at least three tubes. (Shopping problem? Moi?) At the time, I was told it was a limited edition and figured it would be discontinued. But, much to my excitement, I discovered the tried and true makeup company (I would wager everyone has at least one green tube or silver compact in their bathroom/makeup bag) released it again a few Christmases ago as part of its holiday collection. So, now is the time to look. It is a great mascara all on its own - volumizing, no clumping, but even more than that, it is the most gorgeous eggplant-y shade that suits every eye colour. Think of it as electric blue mascara's older, more sophisticated sister.

Oh, and since mine is almost completely dried out, could someone pick one up for me? (Just kidding - kind of.)

Love, P

A&P - a few photos

As part of our week-long 6-month anniversary celebration, we thought we would share a few photos of us. They are of times of celebration, times of reunion and times of laughter.

A&P sharing a martini in Toronto and lounging South Beach style.

Party times in Palm Springs and during the Toronto International Film Festival.

P trying to keep it fashionable at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia & A sporting her fave Gucci shades in Napa Valley.

Love, A&P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #14

Marc Jacobs Quilted Crossbody Bag, Neiman Marcus, $525

After all, it is our anniversary, right?

Anyway, moving along to the land of reality...I found this other super cute crossbody bag from Forever 21 (shown below) for far less than the above "I would do anything for/I am obsessed with/so cute, so 80's" Marc Jacobs bag.

Metal Trim Shoulder Bag, Forever 21, $25.80

Either way I am clearly not getting any bag, any time soon, but thought I should share with you what is really going on in my fashion-deprived head.

Love, A

Happy Anniversary!

Today is our six-month anniversary. Six whole months without shopping! Can you believe it??? We are definitely both shocked and excited that we have made it this far.

You may find yourselves wondering, "What is the point of this whole experiment?" Well, what started as a "What if..." quickly turned into a "Why not?" which then turned into a "What the F were we thinking?!", but by that point we were too far gone to turn back. For us here at 365 FR, we can both say that so far this experiment has been intensely difficult and most times, seemingly unrewarding, but the perspective we have gained from it really has been priceless. And so, what have we learned so far? Well, we have become insanely aware of the bad purchases in our closets and what makes them so - A wrote about it last month in The 5 "Common Threads" of Unworn Clothes - but we have also fallen-in-love-all-over-again with so many of the good ones. We now use everything until the absolute end before replacing it with something new. We have learned the (painful) art of patience and acceptance, and also that shopping with other people can still be fun even if you don't buy anything! A has re-sparked what feels like her long-lost creative tendencies in her many DIY projects (P has never been all that talented in that area...) Maybe the biggest lesson, though, has been that we have realized that our love for fashion is as strong as ever and that there is absolutely no way we will ever do something like this again!

What's coming up over the next six months for 365 Fashion Rehab? Besides long days and torturous nights? We will be sharing more tips and Lust-Haves, more polls and pics, and soon we will be launching the official 365 Fashion Rehab Podcast on iTunes! Oh, and did we mention how quickly the holiday season is approaching and how we are going to be dealing with that? Of course we didn't, because we have absolutely NO idea how that is going to pan out... (yikes!) Will that be the true test of our resilience and dedication? Will we be able to hang on? Stay tuned!

Love, A&P

P.S. According to our first poll, 25% of you said we wouldn't make it this far! Are you impressed?

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #13

Betsey Johnson Carlos Sandal $100 (on sale!)

A little on the wild side, I know. But that's the point! Even though these sky high stilettos are tres of the moment (animal prints are big this season), the truth is animal prints done well are timeless. And these kitties? They really are the perfect blend between egdy and classic.

Love, P

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-have #12

London Fog Camille Trench Coat, Londonfog.com, $99

While most parts of the U.S. and my native Canada prepare for snowball fights and snowy nights, those of us here in the San Francisco area are gearing up for our rainy season. What better way to enjoy it than with this cute London Fog trench? I, on the other hand, will have to embrace the winter in my old rubber boots and floral-print umbrella, sadly humming my own trench coat-less version of "Singin' in the Rain".

Love, A

Fashion Does Have Funny Moments!

When you think about fashion, humor is most often not the first word that comes to mind. Most funny moments in fashion seem to come in the form of parodies, because let's be honest, sometimes fashion can take itself a bit too seriously! Previously here at 365FR we have spotlighted Julia Stiles' funny faux eco-clothing promo, Tina Fey's retro Mom Jeans skit, and today I would like to present you with "The Rachel Zoe Project Parody- Recession Fashion Tips."

For those of you who are not familiar with Rachel Zoe, she is a stylist to the celebs (Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz, Liv Tyler, etc.) and has her own reality show on Bravo called "The Rachel Zoe Project". It is totally over the top and often just plain ridiculous, but somewhere in the midst of her insane catch-phrases and awards-show drama, Rachel Zoe is an incredibly hard worker and has to be respected for the name she has made for herself. This, however, does not mean that we can't have a bit of a giggle over this reality show inspired spoof!

So throw on your oversized sunglasses, kick up your stilettos, grab your Starbucks and watch as Beth Crosby (acting as Ms. Zoe) debuts her new recession inspired clothing line!

Love, A

The Jean Poll

At the beginning of this crazy experiment, A and I decided it would be a good idea to conduct an inventory of our respective closets. While this task was fairly daunting and took us quite some time to complete, it really seemed necessary that if we were going to spend the next year "shopping our own closets" - a term which, I have to be honest, I am not very fond of... given our current circumstances, it just feels cruel - it would be best if we knew exactly what we were dealing with. It would be an understatement to say that some of the results were slightly shocking.

Now, let me be clear; obviously A and I both have sizable closets. Though throughout our twenty-year friendship, she has mercilessly teased me about the particular girth of mine, we both have more than we need otherwise we wouldn't be putting ourselves through this... this... torture. Yes. Torture. There really isn't any other word for it. The surprise came not in how much we have, but in the particular categories in which we have the most. I am a self-described Bag Lady. I love bags. I change my bag almost as often as I change my outfit. However, the bag category didn't have the most hatch marks. And even though many consider me to be a shoeaholic, that wasn't at the top of count either. But more on that, and some of our other discoveries, later.

Now, to the matter at hand. A and I decided that after peeking into our own closets, some of you, our Fabulous Fans, might let us have a peek into yours. So, we are launching a new poll: The Jean Poll - How much denim do you have? A clocked in at a cool 32 pairs, while I came in just under at an even 30. Now it's your turn. Open the door and take a look. There's nothing to be afraid of. I mean, honestly, if we can do it...

Love, P

P.S Our Closet Confidential Poll is still open! Be sure to cast your vote below for who's closet you'd love to have, too!

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #11

Target Oversized Black T-Shirt, $5.24

A t-shirt is obviously such a simple thing, but when you go almost six months without shopping sometimes the basics are what you miss most. Need I say more?

Love, A

Letter #2

Dear M0851,

I miss you. There I said it. I know this has been a weird time for us and that I probably further confused the situation by visiting you in Montreal today. But, really, M0851, did you really think that I would come to La Belle Provence, your birthplace and stay away? I am sorry if you think I did it just to hurt you. I will tell you it hurt me. Seeing your new, beautiful collection, I thought my heart would stop. I came very close to sliding one of your amazing new winter coats on (it's bloody cold, here, M0851!), but I thought that would be crossing the line. In the interest of full disclosure, I think I should tell you that I did slip on what I have decided to name the "Amelia Earhart" hat - you know, the leather (of course!) one with the furry ear flaps? I couldn't help myself. I was touched to see that you made a hat small enough to fit my teeny-tiny pea head. Silly as it is, it gave me hope that there could be forgiveness from you 176 days from now. (Good God! Is it still that long???)

I know that you don't necessarily agree with this project I have undertaken and that you have taken it personally. It is not just you I have cut out of my life - albeit temporarily. It's everyone; Holt Renfrew, Sephora, Coach, The Gap, Banana... I wrote a letter to Club Monaco, too. I tell you this not to salt the wound, but so you can see that I am serious about this, however painful it may be for both of us. (It is very painful for me.)

I want to make myself a better shopper. Not just for me. For you, too. If I can get some clarity and be more conscious in my shopping, it will only make our relationship stronger. Instead of being racked with guilt and only seeing you a few times a year, like at your amazing sample and Friends & Family sales, I'll be able to see you when the mood strikes. And then when I wear your things, I will feel wonderful, marvelous and chances are, warm. You really do make the most amazing coats out there, M0851. Hands down. Your bags are also to die. I am especially fond of the dark turquoise cinch bag I saw on St. Laurent today. But I digress...

Wait for me if you can, M0851. I know that my Amelia hat might be long gone and that dreamy mustard scarf I lovingly grazed may have floated away, but I will get over losing them, if you remain my steadfast and loyal winter go-to. If not for you, I would have moved South by now, I am sure.

I remain your ever faithful fan in spirit, if not in wallet.

Love, P

P.S. I heard from a friend that she was down in NYC sporting one of your new gorgey toffee brown shoulder jobs. She said when she met up with her long-lost friend, the first thing he said was, "Hello Bag!"
You still got it.

If I Could, I Would...

Lust-Have #10

I complemented a stranger on these earrings the other night. She was super nice and told me she got them at Aldo. I, personally, am hankering for the gold, but either way, they are classic and a super steal at only $10 for both!
Love, P

Cheap Cashmere: What is The Deal?

Hello fellow fashion lovers and style mavens. I have just one word for you today, and that word is "cashmere". You love it, you want it, but frankly you are just confused by it. One store sells it for $80, the other for $300. What is the deal?

Real Simple magazine has a spread this month featuring cashmere pieces for less than $100. After my initial reaction of jealousy and rage towards all those who are able to buy cashmere this season, I did stop for a moment to ponder this $100 question. Can you really buy a great long-lasting cashmere sweater at that price? Don't hate me for saying this, but my answer is no.

If my textiles class in college taught me anything (besides confirming my strong distaste for anything acrylic) it was that all cashmere is not the same. Fibre length is one way to check the quality of cashmere. The shorter the fibre, the cheaper the yarn, therefore the hand is not as soft and there is a greater chance of pilling. Who doesn't hate pilling? You can shave that sweater all you want but inevitably those little balls will always come back! Also, if the knit is really loose (unintentionally) this can be a sign of a shoddy sweater because this is a way for manufacturers to use less yarn and cut costs.

This is not to say that all inexpensive pieces of cashmere will immediately fall apart and all expensive ones will last forever. Most of the larger brands have greater buying power than the boutique designers so they are going to get a better price on manufacturing, which in turn will make you, the customer, get a better deal. When purchasing cashmere I would suggest trying some of the designer discount warehouses (like Loehmann's in the states, or Winners in Canada) and buying a higher quality item on sale, versus paying regular price for the Kmart version (and I mean that literally because Jaclyn Smith is doing a $70 one for Kmart).

The other thing about cashmere is that it never goes out of style! My only caveat is do not buy it in a funky print with weird beaded accents or fringe because that is just plain wrong. A cashmere sweater in a solid color and a classic shape, like a v or cowl neck, is the ONLY way to go!

Happy shopping!

Love, A

Autumn Cashmere sweater from Bluefly, $145 (originally $242)