Ain't No Mom Jeans

The Sunscreen Mess: What You Need To Know (In Plain English)

My mother hates it when I use the word "pissed".  But sometimes it's the only word for the job.  And after reading through the EWG's 2010 report on sunscreen, I was pissed.  According to the EWG's latest study, the vast majority of sunscreens on the market are at best ineffective, and at worst, harmful.  In fact, the EWG only recommended 8% of the sunscreens they studied.  And the worst of the bunch?  Yup - sunscreens marketed for use on babies and children.  For shame. 

Dresses For Nursing Moms - Summer 2010

One of the most frustrating parts of nursing (well, after latch issues, colostrum staining issues, supply issues, pumping and bottle issues), was my complete inability to find cute clothes that allowed for easy nursing.  Never was this issue so apparent then when it came to dresses.  I know, dear readers, that you feel my pain.  We have had many of you asking for advice on this topic.

One would think this was easy.  In this day and age of pro-breastfeeding (almost to a fault, as M points out here) one would think that there would be scores of adorable nursing clothing available to help us legions of breast-feeding mothers continue to nurse. 

<snort>

Not so much.

While there is certainly more choice now than even two years ago when I first started on this quest, separating the dowdy from the cool takes a bit of work.  Especially when it comes to dresses.  Not only do you need easy access and minimal exposure, but if you are like me, you need something that works with a nursing bra.  Gone are the days I could get by bra-less, and while one can nurse in a strapless bra...strapless bras are neither supportive nor easy when it comes to nursing.

So to narrow the scope somewhat, here are the "rules" I applied to all dresses to be able to qualify as "nursing dresses":

The Rules

1. Easy Access -- You must be able to nurse in this dress without having to untie it from the back, lift it over your head, or go through any other weird contortions.
2. Minimal exposure - One boob at a time, please.  Just one boob at a time.
3. Nursing Bra - You must be able to wear a nursing bra with this dress.  While there are a few that would require a decent looking bra, all cami style or strapless dresses are out.
4. It must be washable.  Spit-up happens. 
5. Bonus points for pooch-hiding properties

Here are my picks:

Found: Cute Mid-Height Wedges - Lucky Brand Bree

Pre-babes, as a 5'4" (and 5/8ths!) chicky, 3-1/2"+ heels were a near-daily part of my wardrobe.  I loved the colors, the patterns, the bows, the peep toes, the purposeful clickity clack of my gait and (of course) how they made my legs look, but most of all, they made me feel like I was the height I was actually born to be. . .  But as a heavily pregnant soon-to-be mom, somewhere in the middle of an ice lake/parking lot in January, it occurred to me that my heel habit might in truth be a borderline form of child abuse.  What if I slipped and fell on my cute round belly?  What if I tripped whilst baby wearing?  Or was unable to dash after my toddler due to a footwear malfunction?  Thus began my slow acquiescence to flats and (gasp! so much worse!), mid-height footwear.  

While my true tastes run more in this direction. . . 

   
 
Cynthia Vincent Luella ($400)
MICHAEL by Michael Kors Carly ($130)
GAP Lace-Up Denim Wedge ($98)

I now know that to pull these 4" and 5" platforms off, exclusive of girls night out and date night, I would need to be accompanied either by my husband or a nanny for the duration of any outing.  Not practical, no . . . especially considering we don't have much of a budget for "help."

Alas, I've hit gold in the mid-height heel department.  The Lucky Brand Bree Wedge ($89) is my new summer casual, appointments and running errands with the kiddos, go-to shoe.  It's an incredibly flattering and comfortable mid-height heel with a padded footbed, supple, non-chaffing leather and a grippy rubber sole.  With studded details and woven leather, the look is all together current and doesn't totally scream sensible mom shoe.  On first glance, I wanted more woven leather, but when I tried them on, I realized the lower cut is really flattering at this heel height and works to elongate the leg as much as a heel an inch higher would.  I picked these puppies up on sale at Macy's on Saturday and already I've worn them with a short dress, cuffed denim and rolled slim cut utility pants.  Love.  Them. 

Cynthia Vincent, I'll see you in a few years, when I'm not wearing any humans on my body and my kids start listening to direction (that will happen, right!?!?).

- M.  

Reader Question: Denim Skirts For Moms?

Reader Question:

 Okay so I love love love your blog, your advice, and have a question! This summer I realized I officially hate shorts! With a passion! I hated them prior to the babe and hate them even more now. I do however, love skirts…especially Hard Tail roll-over ones - nothing more flattering on a tummy. My question though is what is a late-20s, mom-on-the-go, appropriate jean skirt? Much like you, I am a self proclaimed jean snob but shelling out $200.00 for AG’s Box Skirt (I’ve been stalking it and it never goes on sale) makes me, well more my husband, cringe. I refuse to do true minis but don’t know how I feel about running around in a denim pencil skirt at the playground. Any suggestions?

Thank you! xoxox

Julia

Answer:

Julia, thanks for writing in, and for your kind words on the blog!! 

The AG Box Skirt you mentioned (pictured at left) is adorable.  But how annoying that it's $200....I can get jeans for that price, and this skirt has roughly half the material!  Boooo!  

So.  You are looking for a jean skirt that is (reasonably) mom-friendly, and less than $200.  Got it.

The "less than $200" part is easy - there are a million options.  Finding something that's mom-friendly is a bit trickier -- I agree that running around the playground in a denim pencil skirt is...well...humph.  Not even sure how to describe.  Too fashion-victim?  Just plain scary?  I mean....you can't even climb the steps to help your kiddo down.  So yeah - I think the pencil-skirt-at-playground scenario is out.

Even if we rule out the denim pencil skirt, I think we have several other cool options.  Here are my favorites:

Attention Moms: Think 'Girls Gone Wild' is Dying Out? Think Again (And What To Do)

  Back in 2006, my husband bought me a fantastic book by Ariel Levy called, Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture.  In this book, Ariel explores the stratospheric rise in popularity of shows like "Girls Gone Wild" and our current sexual stereotypes of women.  But this book is more than just a rant.

It turns out that in order for shows like "Girls Gone Wild" to be successful, they need....well...girls.  They need girls to cooperate.  They need girls to willingly take off their shirts for the camera. And they do.  Why?  Ariel goes on set with a "Girls Gone Wild" camera crew and finds that all it takes, in most cases, is the promise of a "Girls Gone Wild" baseball hat.  So yeah - there's something else going on.  Add to that, the rise in celebrity of porn stars.  Porn stars are getting their own TV shows, are being interviewed in magazines for tips on sex.  Which strikes me as funny.  I mean....people know that porn is fake, right?  YES - porn is actual sex, but these women aren't really having 12 orgasms in a row.  They are just pretending to.

More upsetting, however, were the interviews Ariel did with current high school students - both boys and girls.  There was the usual stuff: girls wanting to be prettier, girls wanting to be thinner...but what struck me as new was the additional (self-imposed) "requirement" that girls now also be sexually sophisticated.  Not just active, mind you, but sophisticated. Sophisticated in a way that really isn't achievable by anyone still in their teens.  So what we've ended up with are high schools full of girls who look and act the part...but who still have no idea how to orgasm.  The bottom line?  These girls aren't enjoying it.  Like porn stars, they are pretending.

Reader Question: How to wear nude pumps?

Reader Question:  

Hi!

 

I found your website this past January and have really enjoyed it! I only wish you would write more! But, being a mom of a 27-month-old girl and a 11-month-old boy, I can imagine why you don't.

 

I have a style question for you. I have been seeing nude pumps show up a lot on the red carpet, and on the feet of those who are more stylish than I. It seems like it would be really wearable (neutrals go with everything, right?) but I'm worried that perhaps I don't know the right way to rock them. Have any suggestions or advice on how to wear neutral pumps? Also, any ideas on where to get a good pair in time for wedding season?

 

Thanks,

-Rachel

Answer:

YES!  Nude pumps are everywhere and we’re convinced this comely trend is here to stay for a while.  We love nude pumps (and platforms and flats and sandals) because not only do they make your legs look miles long, they’re total mom-brainers (i.e., your exhausted, multitasking brain can rest assured, once you’ve selected the perfect pair, that they’ll compliment virtually anything you put on with them).  

9 Spring Jackets, Perfect for Rain, Wind, or Shine

   I really feel like we should be talking about summer.  Writing about shorts, and flip-flops, and sunscreen.  But instead, the weather in Denver has been breaking my heart.  Rain, rain, and more rain (with the occasional sleet and snow thrown in) is our forecast for the next week or so.  Ugh. 

If you've been feeling my pain, this post is for you.  Here are my current favorite Spring jackets, to help you face the weather when really....we just all want Summer.

Perfect For Moms? Lesley Evers Day Dresses

There's something stealthily sexy about a day dress.  Perhaps it's because the day dress is so unabashedly feminine.  Perhaps it's because the silhouette is so different from the normal uniform of jeans and drapy tees.  Perhaps it's because these dresses are cut to celebrate the real female form (you know - the one with curves).  Whatever the reason, the sexy day dress is worth another look.  And you'd be hard pressed to find a better version of the day dress than the one that Lesley Evers has perfected.

Reading: Celebrity Mom Fashion on WhoWhatWearDaily.com

I have a love-hate relationship with Who What Wear Daily.com.  While I love most of the items featured, I'll be the first to admit that I love them in a sort of a fantasy-world kind of way.  There are only so many date nights or parties out where this mom is able to whip out the sky-high heels and gorgeous, silky clothing...so I often find myself frustrated after reading their articles about Anna Sui's new Cloaked Tiers Skirt or the adorable lace-up (and very high heeled) booties worn by Jessica Alba.  Love them, but how often would I wear them?  Not very. 

Reader Question: Baby-Friendly Necklaces?

Reader Question: I want to wear necklaces that are on trend but my son will pull them off. Could I wear a scarf as a necklace look? Even in hot a$$ summer? thanks. love love love your site.

Answer:  It doesn't seem like fashion trends could get any mom-friendlier right now.  What happened? Was it the celebrity baby boom of 2008/2009?  I mean, rock hard abs are a distant memory, the hottest footwear out there right now are cork wedges and flat sandals and muffin top is actually in.  But it's true ladies, the gettin' has gotten even better.  Now we have fabulous, mom/baby-friendly neck gear to boot.