This article is the second in a multi-part series based on "rules" I've applied again and again when doing style consultations / closet clean-outs with moms....but updated for summer. See our Part 1 of our Summer Style Rules For Moms series here....
Mamas, I loved your comments on Part 1 of our Summer Style Rules series. But just to clear up some confusion: I don't actually wear denim skinny jeans all summer. I was just showing the different shoe/bag combos against a standard "momiform"...and was too cold that day for shorts.
Now feel free to give me grief about wearing a sweatshirt in the pic above. IknowIknow. But unless it's 90 degrees, this Mama is cold. (Exception: When pregnant. A little clue for future use.)
(But we still haven't decided on #3 or not. So you may never get to use the clue. Not sure why I feel the need to Spell Out My Childbearing Intentions here...perhaps because my husband and my mother read this blog? Sigh. I can hear your thoughts, "Who cares, S?" Ok, moving on....)
SUMMER STYLE RULES. FOR MOMS. YES. Here we go with the next two rules...
RULE TWO: Stylish Sunglasses = Stylish Mama
Wearing a pair of stylin' sunnies? You look cool. Period. We've talked about the power of It-Girl Sunnies before...and it really is amazing. It-Girl sunglasses can make even a pair of mom-jeans look...uh...ironic. (not really)
But the message here? Get yourself some crazy-awesome sunnies. And by crazy-awesome, we mean quality, Mamas. All the way. Aaaannd, of course, a full dose of style.
Our advice will be no surprise to longtime readers - you know where we stand on the quality-vs-quantity debate, and we've urged Mamas to consider cool sunglasses as an accessory-of-choice before.
But let me also add this to the mix:
Big 'ol sunnies with polarized lenses prevent you from squinting in the sun.
Me...not squinting.
(wearing, on S: J.Crew sweatshirt - similar here, Abercrombie & Fitch Classic Straight Destroyed denim, Salt Hathaway sunnies, Essie Turqs & Caicos Nail Polish
That's big, isn't it? I mean...no squinting has to equal no wrinkles, amiright? How else do we get wrinkles besides sun damage or squinting? (Don't tell me...gravity, shmavity.)
The downside, of course, is that polarized lenses are expensive. But we managed to round up eight fairly affordable pairs of oh-so-cool sunnies (all with polarized lenses), that will take any momiform up a few style notches...while preventing wrinkles (and, you know...saving your vision, blahblahblah):
Maui Jim Baby Beach, $275 | Maui Jim Sugar Beach, $159
Oliver Peoples Corie Coral Polarized sunglasses, $295 | Paul Smith Kismine Polarized, $300
Tory Burch Polarized Square Sunglasses, $185 | Salt Optics Hutton Polarized, $375
Oakley Sweet Spot in red, $110 | TOMS Kinshasa Polarized Sunglasses, $119
RULE THREE: Put a Hat On It
Are you sick of me harping on how cool hats are? OMG ME NEITHER!!
We first gave hats some love last summer, in our article Summer Hat Picks For Moms To Wear Now and Into Fall...and since then, M and I have been all hat-bananas. See all of our articles that include hats by clicking the Accessories - Hats category link.
But why hats? As a rule?
Here's the deal: Hats popped onto the hipster scene a few years ago. And instead of just making a brief appearance and then dying out...this trend is, if anything, coming on stronger. Perhaps the royal wedding buzz helped this trend along..but hats are now considered outfit basics, rather than a novelty item.
Here's why I love hats for moms:
No sleep? No shower? Greasy hair? HAT IT.
At the playground all day getting wrinkles? HAT, please.
Too poochy for the bikini and feeling dowdy in your one-piece? COOL HAT TO THE RESCUE.
Your bundle of joy spit-up in your hair as you headed out the door? Twist it all up and PUT A HAT ON IT. (Yes, speaking from experience here. Don't judge. The smell goes away...eventually. I'm pretty sure moderately sure no one else knew.)
But here's the thing, Mamas: Right now...all hats are cool!
Ok...maybe not all. Unless it's Derby Day...I'd avoid anything that looks too derbyish. As M so kindly demonstrates.
But seriously. Big hats, small hats, straw hats, uh....not straw hats (canvas, perhaps?). Whatever. Find a hat that you think looks cute. If it's not a fedora...who cares? You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that retailers are carrying a TON of hat options, so find one that best fits your gorgeous-mama face.
Like M's gorgeous-mama face in her not-a-derby-day hat
Also, remember my friend Sarah? Of the military-inspired hat? She's been trying to make the fedora work...but gave up when she found this fabulous little cloche hat....at Target.
(Sarah's wearing the Mossimo Cloche Hat with band at Target)
She's obviously sportin' her hat at the pool, but it would look just as cute with a maxi dress or toughened up with cut-off and shabooties*. (*shabooties - M's word for those crazy-sexy flat sandals that this mom street style chick was rocking)
Here are a few hats that I'm currently coveting...and they range from fedoras, boaters, bowlers, cadet hats, floppy hats and a pork pie hat (seriously the name). Prices from $9 - $128 (but most are under $50).
In terms of styling, I think summer hats look best with a simple tee and a pop of lipstick. Or copy M's look above and pair your hat with a cool tank and earrings. Stylish and fun...yet easy and effortless.
More "rules" next week....
xo,
S
