Ain't No Mom Jeans

Mom Street Style: Esther's Crazy-Hot Post-Partum Swimsuit Pic

Are you ready for this one?  This is a pic of gorgeous Esther from last summer.  Merely weeks after her fourth kiddo was born.

Did you catch that?  Her fourth.  Just weeks after.

Esther wrote:

"A FAVORITE past-time of my family's is to go swimming. Faced with the prospect of a post baby body with a good month of summer left, I felt pressure to be game for the pool and for the lake at a moment's notice.  So I took my eight month pregnant self to the less than appealing local mall to check out the Sears Land's End swimsuits.  Land's End??  I was dubious.  In fact, I never would have taken a second look if it hadn't been for your blog.  Ever.  But as I walked through the swimsuit section I was seriously impressed with the quality of their suits.  I could tell right away that these wouldn't shift around or need constant adjusting.  I found a style that I could easily nurse in and was happy to see that aside from being easy to untie and provide modest access, it also offered a fully lined and padded bust section which would be forgiving in case of nursing mishaps.   What types of mishaps?? I don't really know.  It just seems better to have more than one thin layer between the girls and the pool going public just in case.  I liked the color straight away, so I guessed at a size and brought the suit home.  Since having Hollis it has really served me well.  I haven't been a bummer and squelched our pool/lake outings on account of feeling miserable in a swimsuit, and that has made my WHOLE family really happy!"

LOVE this.  Esther (aka Chinny Chin Chin) is such a rock star.  Her whole attitude is great.  And when in doubt?  Add big sunglasses and glam earrings.  Rock on, baby.

xo,

S

 

Cover Up In Style - Six Ways to Look Great at the Pool or Beach

Looking good sometimes starts to feel like a New Year's resolution - especially come summer.  I mean, I know what I SHOULD do (*cough* apply self-tanner *cough*), but that doesn't mean I feel like slathering that stinky stuff on after the whole bathing, reading, lotioning, taking back to bed, nursing, crying, taking back to bed, rocking, taking back to bed, repeat 8 more times...craziness we call bedtime.

The point here is that while I'm a firm believer in swimsuit confidence...we all have those days.  And I know I feel a lot more confident (regardless of the state of my white pasty thighs and pooch) when I look good.  Having a go-to pool/beach outfit (yup, I said outfit) is like fake tan...but without the mess or smell.

So before we're in the throes of actual summer, put a little thought into your cover-up & beach bag.  The best pool outfits can go from the beach/pool out to the ice cream shop or around town running errands.

For some inspiration, I had a whole mess of fun putting together six outfits I'm now trying to convince Mike that I need.  (Despite the fact that he bought me this gorgeous one from Calypso last year.  Hmmm...one for everyday of the week? Yes? No.)

Anyway, check it (most everything is under $100...except the sunnies):

The "Skinny" on Post-Partum Swimwear - 10 Tips To Hide the Pooch

Here on Ain't No Mom Jeans, there is much talk about ways to cover our poochy stomach while clothed.  We've flattened it with shaper camis, distracted the eye with deep v-necks and fun swingy tops...but baring it all in a swimsuit requires actual...baring.  {shudder}

Stomach flab is one thing.  But a post-partum stomach?  It's something else altogether.  It's no ordinary flab.  It's formidable. 

Here are ten tips, purely subjective, but based on endless rounds of trial and error...

 

We Have Swimsuit Confidence! (It's a thing.)

Ok, Mamas!!  Get ready....it's Swimsuit Confidence Week!  We've teamed up with Lands End and the CurvyGirl's Guide, as well as 20 other bloggers to all loudly proclaim: 

WE HAVE SWIMSUIT CONFIDENCE!

(as I use my cute baby to strategically hide the pooch)

Swimsuit Confidence week was started to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes, and inspire them to have fun this summer! 

So Mamas, let's stop agonizing over bikini season.  Let's stop obsessing over cellulite (unless it's your baby's).  Cankles?  Bring 'em.  Back fat?  Just don't look.  Stomach pooch?  Well...we've earned it.  Let's put our focus this summer in a happier place...and just have fun.  Life is so. crazy. short. and goes by in a blink.  I don't want to waste one more minute looking at the dimples on my bum when I could be kissing the dimples on Pax's. 

With that said, here are my swimsuit confidence pics (and info on how you can win a Lands End swimsuit of your very own).....

Somebody Please Make Me This Top...

My obsessive searching for post-partum friendly tops coupled with my complete lack of sewing talents has finally gotten me somewhere. 

I just guest posted at a Jennuine Life, providing "inspiration" for those much more talented than I to come up with some DIY post-partum fashion.

What did I come up with?  Well....nothing that a few well-placed staples and duct tape couldn't take care of.

But for longer-lasting solutions, check out the contest.  Entries for her maternity and nursing portions of the contest blew me away - so much talent!!

I'm crazy-excited to see what those crafty ladies come up with in the post-partum fashion category.

xo,

S

Mom Street Style: Kristel and The Cutest Way To Take Weekly (and oh-so-stylish) Belly Shots

So....I was right in the middle of throwing myself an "I miss Denver" pity party when I received an email from reader Kristel of Glowing Light Blog.

"My husband and I recently moved to Denver, CO and somehow I discovered your blog along the way. I love it because it has definitely given me inspiration to keep up with my sense of style as I prepare to become a mother. Since I was just newly pregnant when we moved to the city we thought we should take weekly belly photos around Denver to show our family back home how my pregnancy was progressing and how amazing this city is. "

Awww....I love Denver.  And seriously - how cute is Kristel?  The floral skirt, pulled up over the bump, paired with baby blue oxfords?  Total perfection.

Kristel continued, "Each week we choose a street that corresponds with the week of pregnancy I am in (13th ave for my 13th week, 14th street for my 14th week, etc). It's been so much fun discovering Denver street by street and showcasing the belly growth along the way."

And there it was.  A totally adorable (and stylish) belly pic, taken on 13th, right down the street from our old condo.  Sob

Round-Up: Mom-Friendly Sliver and Demi Wedge Sandals

 S. and I have hotly debated the mom-friendliness of flare denim: "So dumpy when they pool at the ankle. . . " fervent nodding, "Only hot with platforms. . . "  But with S., where there's a will there's a way, and--rocket scientist that she quite literally is--she of course found the perfect solution for moms: sliver (or demi) wedge sandals.  In fact, I'm fired up and ready to upgrade my Gap flares to premium denim based on her breakthrough post Wearing Flares with Flats. 

10 Gorgeous Pooch-Hiding Maxi Dresses For All Occasions

  I've been having a problem with maxi dresses as of late.  At 6 months post-partum, I'm still just too poochy for most.  While an empire-waisted top will (typically) swing out nicely to hide the pooch, an empire-waisted maxi is so weighed down by all the extra fabric, it actually emphasises the pooch. 

Not. Good.

Heart-breaking, actually, considering that last summer (while pregnant), I basically rotated through one of three maxi dresses.  Everyday.  Maxi dresses are now, to me, like flip-flops:  you just can't call it summer without 'em.

And yes - some maxi dresses do have an elastic waistband, but most have the waistband hitting dead-smack in the middle of the trouble zone.

So I've made it a quest to find flattering, pooch-hiding maxi dresses.  And I've found ten. 

Wearing Flares With Flats

   Flares are incredibly flattering.  Worn with a pair of sky-high wedges, your legs go for days.  Legs for days.  What's not to like?

But flares with flats can be tricky - especially for the petite.  (Hi. That's me.)  Even M has admitted to feeling a tad on the dumpy side when wearing flares with flats.  (NOTE - I've never seen M looking remotely dumpy.  Not ever.  It's just a feeling she mentioned.  Got it? Not looking....but feeling.  The last thing I want is to inadvertently call my newly-pregnant BFF dumpy.  OMG.  Stop.  Talking. Now.)  Anywho.

So what is the problem, exactly?  Part of it is just getting used to a new silhouette (we're all pretty entrenched in skinnies) but part of it is just the sad truth:  Flares look best with heels.

But I refuse to be discouraged.   I'm a pretty firm flat-wearer these days, and also am in love with my flares.  So I was determined to make it work.

Now, after much trial & error involving several pairs of flares, duct-taped hems, and many, many types of flat shoes, here's what's workin' for me:

Mom Street Style: Nicole's Thrifted Maternity Finds (and Tips For Bump-Styling at Goodwill)

Hip Mama-to-be Nicole sent in this cool shot of herself sportin' a totally on-trend maxi skirt she scored at Goodwill.  Nicole says:

When we became pregnant, I had just a few goals:  the first to stay healthy, to prepare a lovely home for my new bundle, try not to let my hormones take me too far off the deep end & lastly - never to lose my sense of style.  It was a challenge I was up for and luckily my body worked with me.  I love fashion and my passion for thrift shopping can be seen in a number of my maternity ensembles like the one I have attached. I was in Savannah this past weekend visiting a girlfriend who just had a baby and had to show off my new skirt.

Nice job, Nicole!!  Love the skirt, love the belt, love the sunnies.  Nicole's top is from Motherhood, her belt and sunnies are from Marshalls, and the skirt, as mentioned, is from Goodwill.

It turns out that Nicole is an entertainment reporter for CBS...and recently did a piece about maternity styling on a budget.  It's awesome!  In the video, Nicole gives tips on shopping your local Goodwill and solid bump-styling advice.  And when all of her fab finds cost less than $25....it's definetely two minutes worth watching!  And my very favorite part?  The totally adorable striped outfit she wears to go shopping.  Check it out....