The first annual Hopscotch Hustle, a hip mom and baby fashion show for the benefit of WeeCycle, was a huge success! Most importantly it raised money and awareness to help Colorado's in-need families, and...now for the fun part, the fashions were spot-on. We pulled styles from some of Denver's coolest boutiques with the challenge of creating hip outfits that are comfortable, flattering and easy enough to appeal to moms. A challenge that was met in full force. Here are my favorites from the show:
Zand Amsterdam Wrap Skirts
Violet kicked off the show with these fantastic wrap skirts from Zand Amsterdam. These wrap skirts come in three lengths - we're showing the medium and the mini lengths above. The skirts are a one-size-fits-all deal (including maternity - see Molly, pictured bottom left). They have a snaps that go all the way around, so you can fit the skirt to your body. The skirts also have this cool pocket that can clip on or off - very practical with a litte one (I'm always losing keys, phone, his toys, etc). I love these skirts over jeans, with bare legs, or for a funkier look, with bright tights (like Anna, bottom right).
These skirts were flying off the shelf the day we did Violet's model fittings. I bought my favorite on the spot for fear it would disappear. Because they are so versitile, customers of all shapes and ages were snapping these babies up. One 60ish woman bought one for her upcoming trip to Europe. She looked adorable. They retail for about $50.
Maxi Dresses
I was happy to see that maxi dresses are still going strong. And why not? They are comfy, they are cool (temp wise and style wise), they hide plenty of flaws, and they couldn't be easier - thrown on with flip-flops. It's an outfit that requires no thought but still makes you look amazing (unlike your old sweatpants).
Below are two looks from Blush: on the left is a long turquoise maxi dress with neon trim from Twelfth St by Cynthia Vincent, and on the right is a fantastic maxi dress from Rachel Pally. The top of the dress was a little too bare, so we threw a tank on underneath. The easy access makes this dress perfect for breastfeeding (especially when layered over a nursing cami).
Loft22 in Denver also showed some fantastic maxi dress options. Below left is a coral maxi dress by Skye and below right is a Nally and Milly long tank dress. Both of these dresses are a bit more affordable - each are under $160.
I really like maxi dresses for pregnant gals. As I became more and more pregnant, I found that shorter styles would tent out, making me look HUGE. Which I was. However, maxi dresses tend to rein everything in - they create a longer line, taking a little of the focus off of your enormous basketball of a stomach.
Becoming Mothers boutique (Boulder, CO) and Violet both had amazing maxi dresses that would work for maternity. Violet's maxi dress is not actually maternity, but it is a bit stretchy....although I wouldn't count on it making the whole nine months (we put it on Molly, who was in her 2nd trimester). Violet's maxi dress, by Luna Clair, is pictured below left on Molly, and Becoming Mother's maternity maxi dress by Olian is pictured below right on Noelle.
Cargo Pants with Feminine Tops
I love this look. Violet boutique (top left) made cargo pants look almost sweet when paired with a floral tube top.
Becoming Mothers (top right) chose Ripe's bright purple top whose slight ruching and drape is a nice counterpoint to Juliet Dream's gray capri cargos. I also love the purple paisley diaper bag by JuJuBe - the fact that it's not in an over-the-top feminine print makes the look a bit more modern.
Blush boutique picked a flowy Tibi top to feminize brown Sanctuary capri cargos (pic bottom left, above) and used Nightcap's Les Fleurs Tie Back Top to sex up the very drool worthy Eversilk khaki silk cargos. I keep dreaming about the Nightcap top. I'm always trying to find a nursing outfit that I can dress up a bit, for those times when we're out at a party (or dinner), etc with the babe. Most of my dressy outfits are almost impossible to nurse in. I think this top would be easy to slip in and out of (or pull up)...and Angela (the model) is actually wearing it over a nursing cami. Genius.
White Plus Bright
White pants aren't necessarily mom friendly. I'm picturing myself in white pants at the playground, eating ice cream with my son, pushing my stroller with one hand while I drink my coffee....ugh. Bad news. However, nothing looks cooler or more got-it-together in the summer than white pants. It just seems so...Grace Kelly. Or Jackie O. Or someone else who channels effortless glamour. I want some effortless glamour, dammit!! I want some instant chic!! So. Despite the inherent risks, I'm going to do white pants this summer. I'll wear them out to dinner, I'll wear them to parties (adult parties)...ok, maybe that's it. So it's a date night look. It's fabulous.
The outfit on the top row, left, is one of my favorite outfits from the whole show. The
top is by Velvet, the white pants are by Sanctuary, all found at
Blush.
The outfit on the tow row, right,also from Blush, shows the Ikat Tunic by Burning Torch paired with a white cropped pant from Billy Blues. I like the proportions of the longer tunic with the crop pant.
Loft22 (outfit below), picked the fantastic MM Couture Coral Tank with gold studs as a perfect top for their Sang Real white jeans. This top is especially flattering on girls with curves.
If you are pregnant with your first, you probably don't have the
white-pants-and-toddler problem that I described, and won't for some
time. So for you pregnant girls, Becoming Mothers put together two
very cool white pant looks below.
The first one (above left) is causal - White Crop pants by Ripe and a yellow t-shirt by Bloom Maternity. (FYI - Bloom maternity makes the coolest t-shirts - you can pick which bloom you want on the belly. The designer, Gabrielle, makes all of the designs by hand.)
The second look (above right) is Ripe again, but this time their crop short, paired with Olian's bright yellow tank. I love this look with the bright striped diaper bag by Fleurville.
Mini Dresses with Pockets
Gwyenth Paltrow did it. She had two kids and emerged, looking sexier than ever, in short-short mini dresses. Face it - your boobs are shot, your belly will never be the same, but your legs! Your legs probably look the same as they did before baby. Or at least the flaws can be camoflauged with a good self tanner. And dresses with pockets are a genius invention. All dresses below are from Loft22 in Denver.
Top row - French Connection black dress (left), Backstage black and white floral tank dress (right)
Bottom row - Hype strapless mini (left), Hype yellow and flax linen sundress (right)
Unexpected Detail
Fancy Tiger boutique (Denver) is my go-to source for independent designers, cool, local accessories and just....something unexpected. Their segment at the Hopscotch Hustle showed an easy, casual cool with a slight rocker vibe. Each outfit was almost basic...but was made interesting by the choice of fabric, the print, or the cool accessory. Here are my favorites:
Above left is a Heavy Rotation Tee and Fancy Tiger's own cotton skirt. I love the look of a t-shirt paired with a soft casual skirt instead of the expected jeans or capris. And the skirt is made out of t-shirt material. This is a great option for summer.
Above right, I love the rocker tank by Uzi and ripped jeans paired with the grandma cardigan by Nick & Mo. From now on, I will rock-out my sweet little cardigans. SO cool.
The outift above left is a great example of elevating the t-shirt and jeans mom uniform with fab accessories and an interesting shirt. The tshirt is by Heavy Rotation, the jeans are iT jeans, and the belt buckle, which I think makes the outfit, is handmade out of vintage children's books. You can read more about it (and see examples) here.
Who says horizontal stripes aren't flattering? In the outfit above right, Lisa is pregnant, and still looks amazing in this LA Made top. I love, love, love the key necklace.
I love this romper. I love the plaid. I love the cut. I love that it looks like something I wore when I was six. But is, actually, quite sexy when worn with heels. But I'd wear mine with flip flops to the park. And swing on the swings. So cute.
Hopscotch Hustle Boutiques
Becoming Mothers, Boulder CO
Blush, Denver CO
Fancy Tiger, Denver CO
Loft22, Denver CO
Violet, Denver CO
A huge thank you to all boutiques that participated, to the show's producer, Kerri Butler from A Touch of Bliss Events, and to Ricardo Meija for the awesome pics!!
xo,
S
Great post!!!
Posted by: Kerri Butler | May 05, 2009 at 11:36 PM