Ain't No Mom Jeans

Styling a Comfy Printed Maxi Three Ways (Reader Q)

Reader Question:

 

Hello,

I am so glad I came across your blog via the Rookie Moms site. I need this fashion kick in the butt to get out of my yoga pants. I feel I often find great pieces and then get them home and don't know what to do with them.   Case in point, I just ordered this skirt  and am super excited about it, but am I limited to a white tank? If you could give me another recommendation, I'd really appreciate it. 

Thanks!  

 Jenn

 

Answer:

I took one look at this skirt, Jenn, and immediately contacted the designer (via Etsy, love that!).

It's on-trend, gorgeous, yet as comfy as sweatpants.  You should be super-excited about it!  Nice. Pick.  Ms. Krista over at Satin Stitch Designs was kind enough to send a skirt over to me so I could style it up here.  (And psst!  Each is custom made, so no hemming required.  That is much appreciated by this short Mama.)

Jenn, since you are writing in looking for ideas, I'll skip over the obvious stuff like the white tank you already mentioned, or a black tee, or chambray shirt, or even a denim jacket...right?  I mean...any of those would be fabulous with this skirt, but since you took the trouble to write in, let me see if I can do something a bit more interesting.  Here we go.

Confession: I Hate Thrifting. (But I'm Trying To Change My Ways)

I've walked into thrift stores only a few times in my life.  The whole setup isn't really my thing.  I hate digging through huge piles of stuff, I have a bloodhound's sense of smell (mold especially kills me), and I find itchy clothing depressing.  I don't care who made it in what decade, I'll take a new jersey knit over vintage polyester any day.   

I do own some vintage pieces, though.  I'm not totally immune to their charms.  All of mine were passed down from my mom.  I wore Mom's old Calvin Klein cut-offs all through high school and college, her sexy red maxi dress when I was pregnant (the only time my boobs were big enough to fill it out), and you may recall seeing her sparkly prom purse on the blog from time-to-time.  But here's the deal:  They were my mom's.  I didn't have to go scrounging through bins, worry about smells, or wonder about a stain.  They all came with stories - familiar stories, stories that are now part of my family lore.

But thrifting...it's intimidating and impersonal and smells bad.  Yet it's cheap.  SO cheap.  And it's better for the environment.   

As a tree-hugger who is not independently wealthy...yet (snort)....if I'm really serious about reducing my own personal environmental impact (and saving some cash along with those trees), I need to take another look at how, and what, I consume.  I'm all about CPW (cost per wear) and buying fewer, better quality items...so how can you go wrong with quality at $3.99? 

I'm assuming, of course, that quality can be found for $3.99.  Because Yentine said so, more or less.  And she's pretty much the thrifting expert in my little online world.  

So keeping Yentine's first tip in mind (HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, which may have been the root cause of my past failures)....I went thrifting.  At the Goodwill in my tiiiny hometown, population 25,000.  If you ever wanted to set a thrifting bar low, go to a small, isolated town with an overabundance of non-ironic Carhartt.  But unlike Philly, in my tiny hometown I can park without fear (the PPA is NO JOKE) and I have free babysitters (thanks, Mom!).  

My thrifting trip was....hunh.  Successful?  Keeping an open mind, I did end up trying stuff on, and even walked out with an item or two.  To prove I was there illustrate, I took pics.  

NYFW Recap: Nina Skarra, and My (Short-Lived) Stint as a Street Style Photographer

Do you remember my friend Brent, of Urban Fieldnotes?  He managed to score tickets with a plus one to a NYFW show.  Aaaand guess who he asked to be his plus one?

I obsessively starting planning My Outfit.

But there was a catch:  Brent is a street style photographer, not a fashion blogger.  So his plan was to attend the show, but then spend the rest of the day outside doing his street style photog thing.  And since I was tagging along for the day...."Shana, dress warm" said Brent.  "It's going to be 30 degrees, and after the first four hours of being outside, you'll really get cold."

oh.  Wait - four what? 

 

And that's the story of how I ended up at my first NYFW in a puffer coat. I did, however, wear a pretty dress underneath (as well as three layers of tights & leggings).  I felt...you know, cute and comfortable, if not photo ready.  

I think "photo ready" is over-rated anyway.  From what I could tell, it involved way too much bare leg for 30 degree weather (says the mom).

Scored a Fab Dress at Target? Awesome. Now Here's How To Wear It Without Looking Like Everybody Else...

Mamas, you know Target's designer collaborations, right?  Have you ever scored an item before it's sold out?  Perhaps a printed tunic from the Tucker collab, or my little red and navy dress from Jason Wu?  Well here's the thing:  everyone's got one.  So when reader Samira asked if she could guest post on ways to keep your Target score fresh, I was all. over. it.  Yes, please.

*********

Kirna Zabete for Target is here!  It’s been a lower-key launch than say, the Missoni collection (!!!), but that is a very good thing for us humble shoppers.  This collaboration may not have as high a profile, but it does have the combined eye of two excellent clothing curators, Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley.  Designer taste on a Target budget: always a win.  

Unfortunately the upside of Target collabs (so available!) is also the downside: so available.  Many of us interested in fashion on a budget will be adding these pieces to our wardrobes in the coming weeks.  Take this pretty floral dress for example:

Kirna Zabete For Target Long Sleeve, Tie Front Floral Dress, $45

 

It’s gorgeous, it’s washable (hey, polyester) and it’s the kind of dress you might think you have to rock-paper-scissors your girlfriend for.  Nope, even if you both get one  (S's Note:  Hear that, Mol??)  you could mix it up in some very different ways—all of them low-key.

Here are three ways to keep your Target dress fresh:

Mom Street Style | Hana & The Hi-Lo

One last little outfit of summer....

Sigh.  Love this, love summer.  Pretty Mama Hana and her little guy Luke at the Lobster Fest.  It was hot, hot, hot in Hana's neck of the woods, so she busted out the sandals and the hat while she still can.

That skirt & shirt will transition so easily to Fall.  Just add a denim jacket and ankle booties and voila.  

Hana, thanks so much for sending this pic!  You look gorgeous, and I'm now dying for a high-lo skirt.

xo,

S

Happy Happy Happy Weekend

 

Big-headed Mamas, I found us a hat!!  It's J.Crew's Panama hat, and it comes in small-medium, medium-large and large-extra large (which is what I'm wearing. cringe).  I was looking for a new fedora after mine died a terrible death (#deathbyteething, thank your Mr. Pax) and so...yeah.  I ended up with a Panama hat.  I simply couldn't find a fedora large enough for, uh, my over-sized noggin...all of my hair.  But in the spirit of full disclosure, Mike doesn't love it.  "Babe, I love that you love it!"  Uh...wha????  But he was over-ruled.  Of course, since then, I've noticed that this darn hat is everywhere (here, here, here and here to name just a few).  That's what I get for hitting-up the world-beloved J.Crew. (psst - they now ship internationally).

We've been having all sorts 'o fun over here.  We visited dear friends in NY, then headed on over to MI for our annual summer trip.  (Meredith, so nice meeting you at the Botanic Gardens!!)  

And as much fun as we've been having in Grand Rapids....

 

....we've been melting in this heat.  But next week?  The BEACH.

What I'll be reading.

What I definetely won't be wearing.

A genius DIY for making your own denim cut-offs, which I will be wearing Every. Day. (I randomly hack at mine, but her method results in a very cool looking short with a bit more modesty.) 

The tee I can't stop giggling about. 

The most gorgeous updo for summer (can someone DIY that headband??  And then...uh...sell it to me?)

The hands-down most hysterical, raddest knit baby hat EVER.  Yay for boobs!

 And finally...a fun, yet easy pre-schooler activity for a rainy day...and one for a toddler.

 Mamas, I hope you had a wonderful 4th!  Stay cool!

xo,

S

ps.  M and I are kinda loving these easy little Friday posts.  It always takes a while to find your unique voice...and right now, mine is SO inspired by A Cup of Jo's weekend posts that I had to give credit where credit is due.  So yeah.  Imitation is the highest form of flattery?

Fourth of July Style

If there's ever a time to dress thematically, it's the Fourth of July, Mamas.  Christmas sweaters--and I know this from experience--can be a slippery slope: it starts out when you pick one up for an ironic ugly Christmas sweater party. 

As the season progresses, even when you don't have an ugly Christmas sweater party to attend, and overwhelmed with the spirit of the season, you may find yourself reaching for said ugly Christmas sweater.  Ironically.  Of course.  But when you venture out of your holiday bubble into the real world, you will notice people snickering at you--not quite behind your back. 

Not so for this Fourth of July wear.  With the Americana trend still pretty well in full swing, you'll be able to proudly, and patriotically, wear any of these pieces separately.

 

 

Fourth of July Style by dynamama featuring cotton short shorts

Here's to fireworks, barbecues and the Fourth of July, Mamas--have a great holiday!

- M.

Summer Style Rules For Moms - Part 2

 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 on toes)

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):

Reader Question | A Review of Saltwater Sandals For Moms

Reader Question:

Hi!

Maybe you've covered this before but do you or any of the good readers have Saltwater sandal experience? I think they look like the perfect "mom sandal" without looking too "mommy" -- if you catch my drift. I'm just now sure how to style them without looking terribly Birkenstocky?

I'm itching to order some ...

Thanks!

Grace

Answer:

Grace, do you mean these little babies?

I've been hearing all sorts of buzz about Saltwater sandals...so when I received your email, I figured that it was time to give them a closer look.  And seriously - $42?  

But online reviews are all over the place.  Some love them (and claim total comfort), and some complain that they are wide and unflattering.  So I ordered a pair to try and clear up the confusion.  In red. (funfunfun!!)

(wearing: Clu dress - similar here, Target fedora, Mike's Tissot watch, Saltwater sandals in red)

They are wider than most of my sandals.  But with that (tiny) extra width comes some serious comfort.  I was actually shocked (shocked!!) at how. seriously. comfortable. these sandals are.

I mean, don't get me wrong - these aren't running shoes or anything - but they feel like the sturdy, well-made yet soft leather sandals that we all wore as kids.  

Wait a minute - these are the sturdy-yet-soft sandals we all wore as kids.   And I could feel the leather softening up more as I walked.  Nice. 

In terms of styling...pretty much anything goes, I think.  I loved mine with dresses, shorts...and YES.  My Spring momiform that you all know and are sick of love:

(wearing: Levi's 535 leggings in diver dark wash , Saltwater sandals, James Perse scoop neck tee in size 3, bracelets from Macy's, Salt Hathaway sunnies)

Grace, I think you'd be hard pressed to give off a birkenstocky vibe. If anything, these can look...young.  When paired with my black twirly dress, I felt better balanced with a fedora and serious watch, as opposed to accessorizing with, say, a charm necklace or something.  So, you know...stay away from hair scrunchies when rocking your Saltwaters.  

Saltwater sandals can be found at Zappos, but if you are looking for some in a gorgeous tan or brown color, Hoy's full range can be found here.  $42 for an insanely cute, surprisingly comfy sandal.  Wow.  I guess 50 years of experience really does make a difference.  

These might just be my top mom-friendly sandal pick for the summer.

Thanks for writing in, Grace!!

xo,
S

ps.  Mamas, I know some of you are probably rocking your Saltwater sandals right now!  (Amy, I'm talking to you...) feel free to leave us a comment with a link to a pic of you in your Saltwaters..... 

Shop Your Closet / Reader Q: Baseball Hats! (And Other Hat Baby-Steps)

Reader Question:

Hi Ain't No Mom Jeans --

I love reading your blog, and I have a burning fashion question. In recent years my eyes have become super sensitive, and I find myself wearing a baseball hat with sunglasses almost every time I have to stand outside for a long time. I'm thinking there has to be a cuter way to shield my eyes, but I'm a little bit afraid of a fashion statement hat. Any hat suggestions to stand in for my sloppy baseball hats?

thanks!!

- ali. (bay area, CA)

 

 

Answer:

Ali - Thanks for writing in!  Baseball hats are so crazy-relevant right now that I say, keep wearing 'em!  Seriously!  Want some inspiration?  Try this...

 

(photo credits, clockwise from top left:  J.Crew | Style Activist | Sartorialist for Style.com | Philly Weekly Style Blog)

 

Personally, I'm kinda loving the look of keeping your hair down with the cap (like that cutie in the glasses), or in a low, messy pony (like the J.Crew image above).   I'll bet a romantic half-up/half-down do' would work also. 

Here's my take:

 (wearing: Levi's denim leggings, Frye Carmen 3 strap boots, J.Crew factory chambray shirt, J.Crew sweatshirt, Anthropologie poncho)

See that "C"?  It's for the Coopertown Padres, Mamas.