Ain't No Mom Jeans

Shop Your Closet: Pair Bootcut Denim With Off-The-Shoulder Tops

Readers Lauren, Ginny, Maggie and Kendra called me out recently (in the comments section of this article) for always showing so much leg.  Lauren started the chain with this comment:

So many of the looks and trends you feature and recommend are leg-centric. Which look great on lots of ladies, just not me. And, I suspect, on lots of other moms. Any shorts with a less than 10" inseam, booties of any kind... so not working on me. Nothing, and I mean nothing, turns perfectly fine legs into shorty tree stumps like booties.

So...what can you recommend for a little excitement this fall that is NOT shorts or booties?

 

 It's true.  Sigh. I love me some short-shorts...and some ankle booties.  It's totally where my head has been lately.  But I get that this look is not for everyone - especially Mamas with shorter legs.  

So.  If you are looking for a leg-lengthening style...look no further than bootcut denim.  IknowIknowIknow!  Bootcut denim, one could argue, is the new mom jean.   But don't freak out!  Pretty much anything goes these days (and if you're interested, here is are my full thoughts on the topic of skinny vs flare vs bootcut).

I suspect many of us have a pair of bootcut denim lurking in the back of our closets.  To make them feel fresh again, try pairing them with something a bit trendier on top.  Something that mixes in a decade other than the 90's or early 2000's.   Something like...an 80's off-the-shoulder top, perhaps?? 

(wearing: Rich and Skinny Bootcut denim, Dansko Rhianna boots - almost sold out...these are similar, and an old top from Anthro.  Here's a similar one...or this!  For less!)

I actually pulled this top out of my Send To Goodwill pile.  I was going to donate the thing because every time I put it on (previously only with skinny jeans) I always felt too Flashdance-fabulous.  Like I was one sweatband away from dancin' fo-or my life.  

Take your pass-ssion (spin-spin) and make it happen (big leap then crouch-and-pose!)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life.....

<<inset S's dance solo here>>

For the record:  I do have a whole dance routine for that song.  Choreographed by moi, age 7.  If you are interested, I would be willing recreate on YouTube. (no, you crazy people, NOT really) 

But here's the thing:  The bootcut denim saves the top.  Instead of skinny jeans and legwarmers, bootcut denim actually makes the top feel modern and fresh again.  At least for those of us old enough to remember wearing off-the-shoulder tops the first time around.

Anyone recognize this pose?

All I need to do is lose the pants, add some heels and then...I AM. MUSIC NOW.  My 7-year old self is in ecstasy.  

MWAH!!

S

 

 

 

Our Readers Weigh-In! The Comfiest (and Most Stylish) Shoes For All-Day Exploring

Back in February, we posted this Facebook question to our readers:  

What are the shoes you reach for when you know you'll be walking around all day long? These would be the shoes you bring to explore a new city, or when you're out exploring your own city. Any thoughts?

And Mamas, you didn't let us down.  Since the summer travel season is almost upon us (and a looong weekend just around the corner) we thought this would be the perfect time to reveal your picks for the most stylish and comfortable shoes for all-day toolin' around (in any climate).  Each pair of shoes in this article has been rigorously tested -- by you.  

Here's the list (starting with warm-weather picks and getting cooler....)

Reader Question | Can This Boot-Obsessed Mama Wear Her Boots All Summer? (Without looking ridiculous)

Reader Question:

I am writing in with a little style quandary that was inspired by your recent Style Rules for Moms part 1 – “if your bag is big and dark and leather, rethink the bag”.

It got my wheels turning, and made me realize I may be breaking a similar carnal sin - Wearing too wintery of a boot once the ice cream trucks are in full swing and the Hydrangea's start a-blooming.   While I always pack away the non-negotiably winter boot (black, over-the-knee, etc) I have one pair I just can’t seem to let go of for a whole season.  I invested in a pair of Fryes a few years ago, (specifically, the Carmen Harness Tall, in Brown), and ever since,  I think I may be guilty of wearing these bad boys a little TOO often.  I seldom put them away, even in the summer, and have been known to pair them with little sundresses  (even though I suspect the “boots + sundress” look might be slightly too Lilith fair 1994 for me to pull off at nearly 35 years of age..) 

Anywho,  I LIVE for these boots.   I wear them with EVERYTHING.  In the attached pics, you will see them worn last April (when I was 8 months pregnant):  

You will see the Frye Boots on the BEACH, in the sand,  in MAY.   Gasp!  I KNOW. 

See? I think I have a boot problem.

I have had my eye on ANOTHER version of the SAME boots, the Carmen Harness short, in a sand or buff color, in the hopes that maybe that would be a little more acceptable in the warmer months to come?   

Is this terribly misguided?  Am I boot blinded?   Save me.  Can I wear this kind of boot with a summery dress?  I love the way the slouchy distressed boot adds balance to my 5’10, size ten footed, size 12-14 bod.  And while I love the look of the shoes you posted last week, I fear the look might not work on my frame.  I tried the Madewells Whistlestop sandal you featured, they don’t work for me.  Not enough heel maybe, and I felt like they made my legs look stubby.  I need a little more of a heel, or else I feel like I walk like Shrek.     

- Sarah

 

Answer:

10 Tips For Keeping Your Mom-Drobe Looking New...ish

After our article on quality vs. quantity in a mom-drobe....many of you asked us to do an article on the proper care of our clothes.  If we're going to invest in quality basics, how do we best take care of them, given the general grime/dirt/food/paint/snot/spit-up that moms face every day?

 

Uhhh...good question.  Here's my far-from-perfect method that's been working OK so far:

1.  Get Good Boots (or shoes)...and Take Good Care of Them

Boots (or even great flats) can seriously make the outfit. This is one area I recommend spending money on.  Get 'em, then wear the heck out of 'em. Boots can tromp through mud.  Boots can play at the park.  Boots can get dirty.  (Ummmm...one caveat:  Don't get light-colored suede.  These boots will not tromp through mud or play at the park.  These boots are just for shopping and ogling at parties.  These are not everyday mom boots.)

Every summer, however, it's time to give your boots some R&R.  Bring them to a cobbler.  Have him fix the heel, re-cover the sole if necessary (he'll be able to advise), and do a full clean and polish.  If your boots are really in tough condition, let him do a whole re-conditioning treatment. This service will cost you anywhere from $20 - $70, depending on the condition of your boots.  NOTE:  the only time I spent close to $70 was when an ancient vintage pair needed cracks repaired, etc.

Getting good boots and taking good care of them is SO worth it.  High quality boots, when well taken care of, will last you decades. You'll be measuring your price-per-wear in pennies.

Mom Street Style | Juliana's Pegged/Boyfriend Maternity Jeans

Are you old enough to remember tightening and rolling jeans?  When I read today’s Mom Street Style submission, it occurred to me that tighten and rolling was probably the brainchild of some frugal genius 80’s mom who was convinced the skinny jeans trend would soon be on its way out and right she was (for the 80’s at least!).  That mom was making it work, and so is ANMJ reader Juliana, who during those super-tricky postpartum weeks, repurposed her bootcut Motherhood Maternity jeans by pegging them to give a boyfriend jean effect.  She writes: 

I know you were still looking for mom style submissions last time I checked, so here's one of mine (MAMAS!  We are always looking for mom street style—please send your pics! – M).  (I'm the one behind the stroller; my sister is carrying my newborn daughter in the ERGO).  The jeans are bootcut maternity jeans from motherhood that I pegged (remember that from the late 1980s??) and rolled up to make into boyfriend jeans.  I bought them when pregnant in 2010.  The shirt is from Eddie Bauer, and the nursing cami is the full sling Gillian O'Malley from Target.  Mustard shoes are the Meghan Ruffled flats from Merona (Target).  They aren't available in that color any more, but are available in pewter, which I also have and like a lot.  

I've learned a lot of great styling tips from your blog since I discovered it earlier this spring, and I'm so thankful for the confidence I have to try new things, and tweak my style a bit!  I felt more confident during this last pregnancy than all my others, and I'm having an easier time styling myself postpartum too!  

- Juliana 

Well-played, Juliana!  Thank you for submitting your mom street style photo.

- M.

Mom Street Style | Minor Details from Everyday Mom Style

Mom Street Style comes today from Meagan (aka "the  headless housewife" LOL--more on that later) at Everyday Mom Style.  Everyday Mom Style is a recent addition to the mom style blogging world and a great one at that.  In her endearing, plainspoken "About Me" section, Meagan writes:

"My wardrobe must be reasonably priced, comfortable and age appropriate. . . I’m just a 40 year old mother of two kids who wants to look and feel great. . .  I live in a suburb of Seattle, where style is pretty laid back. My clothes are not expensive, they come from Nordstroms, Anthropologie, J Crew, Target, TJ Maxx, Kohls, H & M."

Shop Your Closet: Wear Your Guy's Tie

A huge trend lately has been menswear on women.  Not just trouser pants and button-down shirts, but serious menswear - think three-piece suits, oxford shoes, fedoras.  It's surprisingly sexy on women.  So when I came across this shot, I fell in love:

(photo credit:  Justin Chung for GQ's Like The Boys with Georgia Fowler)

But...the bow-tie.  Mike is totally NOT a bow-tie kinda guy.  And I have doubts that a bow-tie simply draped over my shoulders would last long with the two little nutcases I run around with everyday.  But the vibe is great.  Really relaxed and sexy.  So then I thought...why not a actual tie?

So I stole one of Mike's.  And I kinda love it.

Mom Street Style - Catherine's Parisian Chic

 

Catherine had me at "Our family recently relocated to Paris...."

Green.  With.  Envy.   

Catherine writes:

Our family recently relocated to Paris from Austin and I was really sweating the style shift from laid-back to Parisian chic - especially as a mother of an active 18 month old. My friend (and mother of two) shared your blog with me and I think I put together a pretty good Mom uniform for the park and errands. The raincoat has a full silhouette (Joe's Jeans, very useful while I was pregnant) and skinny jeans with a high waist so I am covered bending over (Paige Premium Hidden Hills).  I paired them with some printed converse high tops and a pair of wayfarers.  My friend snapped the photo at a picnic on the Champs de Mars.
Love your blog. The information is really useful. One of my favorite posts is what to wear to meet an ex-boyfriend.
Thanks for the inspiration!

Catherine, you look ah-mazing.  What a spot-on, perfectly Parisian-chic mom-uniform. C'est la perfection, no?   And printed converse high tops?  Lovelovelovelove.  Funny....converse sneaks, trench coats and scarves where my uniform of choice the last time I was in Paris.  Nice to know that I'd still fit in. 

Catherine, thank you so much for taking the time to send in this pic and your charming note.  Pas mal, chérie, pas mal. ;)

xo,

S

ps.  My favorite french phrase is still "mon petit chou".....or "my little cabbage".  Such a charming thing to call a baby or little one.  

DIY Maternity Denim Fix - or - Do It Yourself Maternity Jeans

It's shocking, I know, but these Seven for All Mankind maternity jeans have lasted me through three pregnancies PLUS loan outs, but not solely on their own steam.  In their original form, these babies were the brain child of some fabulously well-intentioned designer who had clearly never been pregnant, and were purchased by someone who had never been pregnant.  They started out in 2007 with one of those kooky, ill-conceived half panels, made out of dark blue cotton jersey that clung to everything, with a thick elastic band that cut into my bulging belly, creating a bizarre new type of waistline in the third trimester of my first pregnancy.

I was tempted to toss them whilst knocked up with numero dos, but they're the perfect kick-around, well-worn classic that's always a comfortable Sunday go-to, so I decided to work with them instead.  While I do have a sewing machine and am pretty handy, I didn't want to work with a combination of thick fabric like denim plus a super-stretchy panel fabric--seemed too tricky and too tedious--so I took them to my fav tailor and told him my plan.

  First, I purchased a belly band in my size from A Pea in the Pod in nude (I was only able to find black and  white in more budget-conscious versions, like Target's BeBand).  Err on the side of a tighter fit to make sure it's really going to hold up your pants!  The benefit of using a belly band instead of sewing up a piece of stretchy fabric is that a belly band is a tube made out of one contiguous piece of fabric, so no extra seams to irritate prego skin or interfere with otherwise smooth lines, and it's already about the right length to cover your tummy all nine months.  Then, I measured the front and back rises of some well-fitting full panel maternity jeans and let my guy run with it.  The result, $45 later ($25 for the band and $20 for alterations), is one of the best-fitting, most comfortable pairs of maternity jeans--or any jeans, really--that I own.  Voila!

For a truly adventurous and capable DIY-er, I'd go the distance and buy a pair of deep-discounted premium jeans in a size or two up from your normal someplace like Nordstrom Rack, hack off the waistband and stitch it on up--at $200 a pop, premium maternity denim hurts, Mamas, as we all know!

- M.

Oh, and hey!  Please don't forget to take a sec to vote for Ain't No Mom Jeans for Parents.com's Best Mom Fashion Blog award--we'd love it!  Just click the pic : ) xoxox

What Moms Wear: Amy's Fabulous, Flattering Poncho

Amy and I did a closet consultation together last Fall.  In preparation, she had pulled most of her clothes out of her closet.  As we went through the consultation, I noticed this striped poncho hanging in the back.  "Aim, what's this?" I asked.

"Oh, that's just some thing my mom picked up for a couple of bucks at a garage sale.  I don't think I've ever worn it.  It's cashmere, maybe?  Mom always makes it a policy to buy any cashmere pieces she finds at garage sales."

Um.  Good policy.  Not only is this baby cashmere...but it's a Vince cashmere striped poncho that retails for about $300.  Holy Moly.

This poncho can be worn a multitude of ways, but in this case, we paired it with an easy black and gray striped long-sleeve tee, jeans, vintage heels and some of her fun Stella & Dot jewelry (she's a Stella & Dot stylist).  But Amy has also thrown this outfit on with her more comfortable Danskos and still looked adorable.

Whenever we feature poncho-type items, we tend to get comments from moms saying that they like ponchos, but that they are a bit out of their comfort range.  But seriously....just throw 'em on.  With virtually anything.  These things look cute with skinnies, flares, bootcut, etc.  And they are crazy-flattering. Post-partum or pregnant?  Perfection.  Nursing?  You can even go without the nursing cover.

Ponchos are also a perfect transition piece for when you want to ditch the winter coat, but it's still a bit chilly.

xo,

S