Ain't No Mom Jeans

Neon, For Grown Ups

I carry a little man around on my back.  I am responsible for both providing food and wiping butts at regular intervals.  I am - heavily - relied on by two tiny people who yammer at me all day. "Mum! Mum! Mum! Mumumumum!!!" until I hear myself echoing the empty threat of my mother:  "No more 'MUM'!  I'm going to change my name!"

They give me the same strange look that I used to give her.  For all of these reasons (and more...so much more)...I am, officially, grown up.

Here's how this grown-up (who also happens to be ever-so-slightly color adverse) wears neon:

Holiday Style: Try A Monochrome Palette (Especially in White...)

There's something about white that just feels so...fancy.  And it's totally unexpected during the holiday season.  I've been feeling all chic snow-princess in my all-white ensembles against a a vast sea of little black dresses, sleek black coats, and dark denim.  It's fun.  

Reader Question | How to Style Frye Moto Boots - Prettily

Reader Question:

Ladies,

Last fall I fell under the spell of one of your posts and ordered myself a (second...ahem!) pair of Frye boots - these boots, as a matter of fact. I love them. But I didn't and don't know how to wear them. In order to justify the percentage of my nearly non-existent clothing budget that they took, I need to wear them every day of winter and fall for the next approximately twenty-five years. I am plumpish and 5'4. I like to wear dresses and tights and leggings, and find that they look good with the shorter lengths. But I need more outfits! How do I wear them with different styles of jeans? How do I not look too masculine/punk in them? How do I make them look like the everyday shoe I need them to be for me?

Help? Thanks!

Axon

P.S. Love you guys! 

Answer:

Axon, I feel you Mama.  Boots like these really stand up to the babies in all weather, all kid-gunk situations, and they truly are classics.  But you're right, the vibe can be kind of tough, and a bit masculine, or too punk if you don't think out your styling before hand.

Pardon Me, But Do YOU Chino? *

The ANMJ Mamas Take on the Land's End Chino Challenge

Do you chino?  That is, um, wear chinos?  I have some plain, flat front khaki pants.  Sometimes I put them on.  They're soft.  They're comfortable.  They allow range of motion and look more polished than jeans.  But something about them is just so blaaaaaaaaAHaaaaaAHaaaah that I promptly take them off.  I'd probably wear them as a stop-gap on crazy mornings rushing out the door to the office with three babes in tow.  If I worked in an office, but I don't, and I've been happier with my fancy pant/denim rotation, so back to the very back of my closet my chinos go.

But I do now.  Chino, that is.

Mom Street Style | Miss Cassandra's Chic Head Wrap and Non-Maternity Wear

Do you know one of those mamas who somehow, no matter what, always has a huge smile on her face, never raises her voice and always looks good?  Like, even though she works with 15-20 little kids ages 2-1/2- to 5-years-old, five days a week, then goes home to her own family of five (soon to be six!), and takes care of them, too?  No?  Yeah, they're kind of few and far between. 

Meet Miss Cassandra.  H's fabulous preschool assistant teacher.  She is kind.  She is patient.  She is invariably (but not gratingly!) cheerful, and she always looks amazing, but ready to play.  Even at 32 weeks pregnant in non-maternity wear at the end of a loooong day.

2012 Spring / Summer Trends For Moms

Mamas, we've been getting requests from our readers to update last year's article on the 11 Mom-Drobe Fashion Essentials for Spring/Summer 2011.   In it, we advised our readers to get a great maxi dress, find one perfectly chic Spring jacket, figure out how to rock shorts, and to embrace flare denim, stripes, printed tops, TOMS, cool, flat sandals and scarves.  

A year later, that article continues to be the best place to start for mamas rebuilding their wardrobes. Trends really haven't changed much.  You can still count on a maxi dress, a chic jacket will always save an outfit, flares are hard-rocking, and I wear my TOMS daily.  Also?  A shout-out to printed tops.  Still going strong.

So what has changed for 2012?  

In a word, color.  

(photo credit: Gap.com)

This Spring brings new, colorful, approaches to getting dressed that even the most color-adverse can love.  And there are a couple of new silhouettes whose mom-drobe possibilities have me excited.  

Shop Your Closet: Try The Monochromatic Trend....Mom-Style

Mamas, did you see this pic?  It's currently on the front of jcrew.com...

 

Monochromatic dressing at it's best.  The model is rocking shades of the same color, as well as different textures.  Awesome.  

But man...this look is a pretty big commitment to tangerine.   I'm willing to bet that most of us don't own five (five!!) pieces of clothing in matching-ish hues (black and gray do not count...nor does white or navy).

Madewell has a slightly-toned-down version:

"Start with our Garment-Dyed Midi Shorts, then pile on pieces in the same color family.  Voila!"  says Madewell.

So I surveyed my closet.  My momdrobe consists of a whole lotta cotton, cotton and more cotton (throwing "varying textures" out the window)...in mostly navy, white and gray.

So I expanded my search to include night-out pieces.  And I came up with this little outfit....which would be perfect for a moms night out:

(wearing: old Gap cowlneck top, J Brand waxed purple denim, purple heels by Kimel - similar here) 

How To Inject a Dose of Spring Into a Basic Work Wardrobe

 Reader Question:

I'm headed back to work full-time now that my kids are older, and I work in a pretty conservative field.  I've bought a few basics, but am at a loss now that it's (slightly) warmer and I'll have to pack away my black boots, tights and sweater dresses!

I'm a size 4 (which I've worked hard for post-babies!) but so many of my old clothes look frumpy.  While I'm over 40, I don't look it and don't want to!  Could you give me some tips to use what I've got to be stylin' in the office and budget-friendly?

I went out and bought a black skirt suit with a pencil skirt, some stretchy black belts for the pencil skirt and sweater dresses, two camis - white & black, and a no-wrinkle crisp fitted white shirt.  I have a few cardigans (a bit dated and baggy) but one classic charcoal cashmere sweater set that still works, kind of.  I also have three pairs of dress khakis and a pair of dressy washable black slacks.  And I have one cute silky scarf in neutrals.

A lot of my friends are in the same boat - starting over with a closet full of jeans, t-necks & tees, and no idea where to start.  Can you show us a few looks that could build on the basics for spring but would work for .... well, work?  

Thanks!  I love your blog and read it daily.  I love when you feature other blogs too - I'm starting to follow a few more but yours is the most fun (and fashion-forward).  

Julia

 

Answer:

Julia, thanks for writing in!  What a fun question - and I love that you gave us an idea of what you already have in your closet.  Your basics are very relatable...I'm willing to bet that most mamas have some version of what you described.  So how to perk up a fairly dark and and basic wardrobe for Spring?

Here's a sample of the types of items Julia has in her closet:

Tahari jacket | Tahari skirt | Tahari pants | Gucci Button-down shirt | Jackie Cardigan | Jackie Shell  | Gap Classic Khakis | Neutral Scarf

 

To perk these pieces up....we need to inject a little color, and some patterns.  My recommended shopping list is actually pretty short.  Ready?  

Color Combo I'm Loving: Camel + Black + Tangerine

Have you ever noticed that black pants, while a staple, actually look good with very little?  Black pants are often the default bottom layer in a rather tired work uniform.  Or what we throw on when we want to look dressier, but don't really want to try.  

"I don't know...I guess I could just throw on my black pants."

Right?

So I'm kinda excited about this color combo.  If you haven't heard, the Pantone 2012 Color Of The Year (Which Is A Very Big Deal Hence The Capitol Letters) is Tangerine Tango.  Aka this:

Pretty, no?   I love how it's a softer version of a bright orange, but still retains all of the impact of the bright, bright orange.  Surprisingly flattering, also.

Anyway, this color has been making it's way down the runways for...well, actually, for a couple of years now.  But lately it has been paired up by retailers with camel and black.  The camel adds a richness to the palette, the black grounds it, and the tangerine is fresh and fun.  When paired with black pants, the look is cohesive...intentional.  Not like you just threw on black pants because you weren't sure what else would go.  You can wear black and camel and orange like you mean it.  

Voila...

(photo credits: J.Crew, mytheresa.com)

 

Of course, if you are really lazy (and yes. yes I am), you can just use a pop of orange lipstick to perk up the ol' black & tan.

 (wearing: J.Brand cropped denim, J.Crew sweater, happy socks)

It's amazing what a little Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur can do. 

 

The color is "Le Orange", people.  Not orange, but Le Orange.  Not gonna lie, I kinda love that.  Being, you know, so fancy and all (in my striped socks).

xo,

S

 

ps.  We have a new winner for the Ashley Ann Snapshop course...Courtney L?  Shoot us an email!!

 

 

 

7 Style Resolutions for Moms in 2012

Ok Mamas, whether or not you are a resolution person (and I am...in a big, obnoxious way)...I've put together a list of my top 7 mom-style resolutions for 2012.  

So repeat after me:  I, Mama... 

(See? I warned you about my obnoxious thing)

1.  ...will buy one pair of fabulous everyday shoes (or boots).  

And wear them - everyday.  Because shoes matter.  Shoes make the outfit.  But these will not be sensible shoes, oh, no.  These will not be shoes that "match" everything in my closet.  They will not be black because I already have a black bag.  They will not be brown simply because I already have black.

They will be whatever color makes my heart beat fast (and that might be black or brown, but I vow to think outside the shoebox).  They will have gorgeous details.  They will make me happy.  And I won't even think about bringing them home unless they are also comfortable.  I will be incredibly picky, and wait (all year if I have to) until I find the perfect pair.

Mamas, to illustrate, look how even Garnet Hill figured out that gorgeous footwear is the chic-outfit cornerstone.  Both outfits are cute on their own, but the footwear makes them amazing.

 

(photo credits: garnet hill)