I'm Too Old To Shop At dELiA's

So apparently I’m one of those lucky mamas who holds on to a little baby weight until the baby is weaned. It happened with Hannah, and so far it’s looking to be that way this time around too. I hope not, but we’ll see.

I’m doing pretty well with the exercising and eating healthy (except for my occasional I-need-to-eat-half-a-bag-of-Cheetos-right-now-or-I’m-going-to-lose-it moments), but you know what they say. Nine months to put it on, nine months to take it off. Oh joy.

Also, I’m nursing. And let me tell you, preggo hunger ain’t got nuthin’ on breastfeeding hunger. Some days I feel like I could gorge myself on seventeen bags of Cheetos and still clean my plate at dinner. Dainty, I know.

Anyway, as I slowly start to look more and more like my former self, I’m looking forward to getting a new wardrobe. I don’t know when it’s going to happen since I still have spit up and diaper blowouts to consider, but I can’t wait to get some fresh, new outfits.

*Gratuitous Easter photo break*

Because no one can get enough of cute kids, right?

What I’m wondering, though, is where to shop. As my dear little sister likes to remind me, “thirty’s coming.” This means I’m in the transition phase when it comes to style. I need to steer clear of the Juniors section, but I’m not quite ready for culottes and orthopedic shoes yet.

(Not that there is anything wrong with those things. And I realize there are cute culottes out there, but I can't get my mind past the ones with elastic waistbands that my grandma wore. I'm simply not as adorable as she was, so I could never pull it off.)

But here’s the thing - I’m 5’11”. And I’m cheap. And busty. So shopping has never exactly been a picnic for me.

I like New York & Company for ‘career’ clothes, but I don’t have much use for those right now. Gap…Express…too expensive. Seriously, you guys, I am C-H-E-A-P. I like to look nice, but I always feel guilty about spending money on myself. I probably just need to let go of that mindset and try to find quality stuff that will last longer.

And I can’t escape the overwhelming sense of irony that envelops me when I walk into Forever 21.

So tell me – where do you all you late twenties and thirties gals shop?

As a teen I never got to order anything from the dELiA's catalog, and I’m afraid the ship has sailed on that one. Even if they have 36-inch inseams and 'buy one get one half off'.

Then again, I could always just become one of those moms who dresses like her teenage daughter...