Ain't No Mom Jeans

Mom Street Style: Abby Rocks Cobalt Blue Denim (Plus Three More Ways To Style)

Mamas, Abby sent in this adorable picture of herself on her way to a baby shower.  She writes: 

 

I have been a huge fan of yours since discovering your blog after the birth of my Daughter. She is my second child and was born C-Section due to her being breach. I was so discouraged and frustrated with my body changes and in tears over the lack of selection in my wardrobe. Until I found your blog. You helped me feel "normal". I could relate to you because you do not tout perfection. You help us all breath easier and enjoy a sense of comfort in candidness. Your transparency freed me from the pressure to look a certain way within a certain time frame. (Nano-seconds after child birth? No thanks, Hollywood!)

I remember being in tears from laughing so hard at your recounting of trying on shaper-camis only to get stuck! I was laughing harder than I had laughed in a long time and thought "Finally, someone has the courage to write what we are all feeling, thinking, struggling with!"

You had me at "Jelly Belly"!

You have inspired me to try looks I never would have been brave enough to dare..to think differently about my wardrobe.

WOW.  Thank you, Abby.  Your words made my day.  And I'm sharing your words here not to throw a parade in my honor (yay me! yay me! yay-SHUT UP)...but because I know so many other mamas out there are probably reading and nodding (and me too).   We feel ya, Abby.  YES. DOWN WITH PERFECTION!!

But Mamas...Abby also had a question:

So here is my take on the Cobalt Skinny jeans..I'm still not sure I got it "right" and am still wanting ways to work this bold color (hello, shoes..what shoes does one wear with these for a more casual look?) without looking like a Crayon explosion. I happened to be going to a Baby Shower, hence the heels. You do not find me in these normally! 

Abby, here's how I'd wear them:

TMRDNL: A High-End Designer For Moms? (And At Crazy-Affordable Prices)

Ok Mamas - it's my last shopping enabling post of the year.  But I must warn you:  This one will be especially hard to resist. 

Have you heard of TMRDNL?  It's the line designed by Tamar Daniel, an Israeli- British-American fashion designer who happens to live not far from me.  I had the opportunity to meet with her and see her line...and oh, my.  We're talking ah-mazing stuff.  Like...machine washable, scrunch down into a suitcase and still look amazing stuff. 

 

Tamar's design philosophy is one that us Mamas will relate to.  A mom herself, Tamar describes her collection as a "call to arms for dynamic real women, whose days are full of many facets, and whose outfits need to transition from boardroom to playgroup to date night and back again as seamlessly as they do. A versatile mix of easy, thoughtful pieces, the collection is truly a wardrobe for living."

Sing it, Sister.

 

But here's the bad news:  Tamar is moving on.  It turns out that designing an entire line is a ton of work (no kidding). And Tamar has something new and exciting in mind.  Personally, I'm heartbroken.  With gorgeousness like this...

...TMRDNL will be missed.   

But here's the silver lining, Mamas.  Tamar still has a few pieces in stock.  And they are taking up precious room in her storeroom.  You know where I'm going with this, right?  She'd like some help cleaning things away for the new year.  So pieces that typically retail for...oh...let's just say that they typically retail for prices that I cannot afford...are currently available in the $25 - $125 range.

Seriously.

Even better, Tamar is generously offering Ain't No Mom Jeans readers an additional 20% off with the code ANMJ.

Now...what to buy?

Well.  My most-worn piece to-date is the Intrigue Jacket, pictured above. It's machine-washable, nursing-friendly, and insanely comfortable.  The sleeves are made of a soft knit, so you have full range of motion for picking up the little ones - it feels like a comfy sweater.  Mine is a size larger than I typically go for, so it can be easily layered (even over another sweater, like above).  But when I wear it alone, the drapiness is such that it never looks too big!  This piece is seriously amazing.  It is currently retailing on Tamar's website for $99, and also comes in a longer (trench) version for $125.  The trench makes a gorgeous dress, especially for work.  (Easy to pump in, I'll bet.)  

Ready to see more? Ok...

Holiday Style: Wear Red and Green(ish)

My recently purchased red heels are opening up whole new worlds for me, Mamas.  They are just so bright, so festive.  And I've been especially loving them with green...I mean, uh, greenish.

(wearing:  Levis 535 denim leggings $35, J.Crew Cashmere sweater bought on eBay for $40, Aerosoles Tapestry Pump on sale for $50, red sunnies from Madewell or similar here for $48)

Even when my hair isn't cooperating.

I mean, OK.  Donning red heels and lips is hardly the Fashion Surprise of the Century.  And you could, in all honesty, swap out my greenish sweater for virtually any other color and it would be fine.  But because I'm invoking a hint of red&green...this outfit felt so much more Holiday Fun! 

The key, I think, is to change up the shade of green. Go with turquoise-green, olive green, moss green, army green, deep pine green...anything but a true, bright Christmas green.

And since no idea is truly original...I was able to find some amazing examples of other fashiony types doing the red + greenish thing:

Holiday Style: Glam Up Your Momiform (AKA Your Daily Mom Uniform)

Mamas, this is so similar to Sex Up A Day Dress.  Basically, just grab a bunch of glitzy-glam accessories, and pile 'em on!  Add high heels and a clutch, of course.  

The thing about this styling tip that I really, really like is this:  It forces you out of an accessory rut.

Since I really found my own personal style during the minimalist 90's...I tend to be accessory adverse.  If I adorn, it's usually with one statement piece.  Add a belt too?  Crazytown.  I tend to live by that old advice, "look in the mirror and remove one accessory".  It's Coco Chanel, for crying out loud.  How can that be bad?

  The thing is...whenever you start any fashion rule with "always"...you're eventually going to get yourself in trouble.  At some point, somewhere, your own rule will hold you back.  At best, it'll hold you back from experimentation, at worst...15 years later you'll realize that no one else wears hair scrunchies anymore.  Know what I mean?

So experiment.  Especially during the holiday season.  The holidays are filled with so much stuff:  lights, tinsel, glitter, shiny objects, bows, ribbons, BAM BAM POW....you really can't overdo it.  You'll just look...festive.  

So here's how I used a little BAM BAM POW to transform my typical daily momiform into something ready to party...

(wearing Playground:J.Crew Perfect Shirt in Black Watch $68, Levi's 535 skinnies on sale for $35, old boots but found similar on sale for $119)

(wearing Party: shirt above, Stylemint Lola black skinnies $60, Aerosoles Tapestry Pumps in red suede on sale for $49, vintage bag - similar at Target $15, headband is ancient but am loving this one for $38, old Chan Luu necklace but think this would be MUCH better)

A few notes:

• See my statement necklace?  It's hard to see, isn't it?  Like I mentioned the other day, I really need a new one.  The ideal situation is when there's enough contrast between your shirt and your necklace to really make the jewels pop. Dark-on-dark lacks oomph.  
• I love how clean a button-down + necklace looks when buttoned all the way up to the top.  HOWEVER...it's important to show some skin.  So roll up the sleeves.
• Because this outfit is so casual, you can get away with a fancy updo, and still not look stuffy.  (If that's your thing.  I am hair-styling challenged, so I wore mine down.)  It would be fun to see a fancy french twist with a sparkly comb sticking out.  

 

I also asked Cam how she'd take her daily momiform out on the town.  She came back with "how about a graphic tee?"

Yesssssss.  

 (wearing Day: A+ro sweater or similar on sale, Forever 21 tee or similar $15, Jbrand jeggings $118, Steve Madden Troopa boots $99, Timi & Leslie Diaper Bag $155)

(wearing Night:  Forever 21 tee or similar $15, Jbrand jeggings$118, Forever 21 blazer - S loves this one, Express clutch or similar $25, earrings DIY, bracelets Old Navy, Target wedges $30) 

 

There's lots to love about Cam's outfit...here's what jumps out:

• A blazer adds instant sophistication.  Even with a graphic tee, she looks ready to go Out (with a capitol "O").
• Because she's so covered up, I love that she shows a little wrist and ankle.  In fact, her skinnies are so perfectly hemmed (sheistall*cough*amodel*cough)...that I want to run right out to the tailor.
• Again, check out the glitz:  big-girl earrings, shiny bag, glam cuff
• See her shoes? They are colorful, without "matching".  The lesson?  Don't over-think it. 

 

And MAN...that girl can rock a sexy look.  I need to take notes.  After Wednesday's sex-kitten-gone-wrong pose, I attempted to redeem myself.  "Mike, does this look sexy?" I asked:

"Sure, Babe" he responds, shrugging his shoulders.  And then seeing the look on my face he quickly corrects, "I mean YEAH!  Sexy!  Yeah!"

Sigh.  Clearly, I need to practice Cam's glare.  So. Awesome.

xo,

S

Mom Street Style: Mary Makes Workwear "Work" At Home

Mamas, reader Mary sent us the following adorable pictures:

She wrote:  

Hello! My name is Mary, and I am the mother of three - 8 months, 2 years, and an almost 4 year old. I found your blog a few weeks ago via Camp Patton, and I have really enjoyed cruising around it since. I happened upon your Mom Street Style feature and thought, what the heck, I will save Molly from having to approach a random stranger : ) My oldest took these pics (and another million, in an attempt to get one or two that wasn't blurry) - I'm wearing Target super skinny black jeans, New York and Co white button down, 5 /48 charcoal grey boyfriend blazer (or similar), black embellished Franco Sarto flats (they have a tiny wedge - similar here)  and Citizen Eco Drive watch. Super comfy, nursing friendly, yet polished for running errands or what have you. 

Nice work, Mary!!  You've put old work basics to good use running around with the kiddos.  And is it just me, or are black jeans having a moment?  I've been LOVING mine...and they suddenly seem to be popping up everywhere. Amazing that they can look so sleek...yet still give off a rocker vibe. Here, Mary uses them to balance the preppy blazer & white shirt combo.  And the popped collars are so chic.  Nice. 

Mary, BTW, is a blogger herself.  She writes the blog, With My Sisters, as a way of keeping in touch.  "My sisters and I are close but geographically distant. I hope to use this space to share what I would if I were with my sisters - books, movies, fashion, makeup, recipes, random facts, life and love advice - you know, girl talk."  

Having a sister, I do know.  What fun.  And I love her seven quick style tips.

Also, in a totally unrelated note, I received an email a while back from a reader asking how to wear black/brown together.  Which I love.  But I'm betting other mamas out there are also rocking the black/brown.  Anyone want to add their two cents?  Send me a pic (and I'll give credit of course) and we'll see if we can pull together a whopper of a black/brown inspiration board.  

Mary, you fabulous Mama, thank you so much for writing in!!

xo,

S

Shop Your Closet: Pile on the Plaids (Even if they don't match)

Trying too hard almost always backfires for me.  Like when I try to match.  In any way.   I end up looking too matchy-matchy or just...off.  And feeling horribly uncomfortable.  My best outfits are often the ones I just threw together.  So when I came across the following Gap ad...well. 

Unknown Gap Stylist, thank you for saving me from myself.

I love this idea.  And really, with all of the mixed prints lately...why not?  Especially when you can anchor the look with rockin' black denim.

 (wearing: Stylemint Waverly Shades, $30, and Lola skinnies in black,$60, J.Crew flannel - similar style, J.Crew men's wool plaid scarf - similar, MIA Buckaroo boots, now sold out, but here are ones with a similar fold-over for only $109)

 

Throwing a plaid scarf over a flannel is obviously taking the easy way out.  So this past weekend, when shopping with my mama (yay!) I doubled up on plaid flannels:

Skinny denim haters, this outfit is for you

(wearing:  J.Crew flannel - similar style, Cropped plaid from Vintage Havana - similar here by LNA, Mother Denim "The Drama' High Waist Flares, $220, Dansko Rhianna boots, a few sizes are available here for $107, or try the Nakita boot, $195 for a similar heel and studded toe, my fringe bag is old...here's a similar one from Threadsense.)

So in summary, when it comes to super-soft cozy flannel...more is more?  Yeah, baby.  Color me plaid.

xo,

S

Reader Q | How To Wear Clark's Desert Booties (For WOMEN)

Mamas, in the last few months, I've received several emails/comments about Clark's classic desert booties.  Readers want to know how to wear them, if they are versatile, and most importantly, if they are comfortable.  Reader Amanda wrote:

I was just wondering if you've ever reconsidered getting a pair of Clarks Desert Boots (I just read your post where your husband got them and you decided against them for that reason).  For some reason I'm really drawn to them but I'm not sure how I would wear them.  My first instinct would be to wear them with rolled boyfriend or skinny jeans...but then I wonder if that would look too masculine.  I tried to search for styling ideas and I'm not coming up with much of anything...maybe that means I should nix the idea and buy another style of bootie or ankle boot? 

This email was quickly followed by one from reader Dana:

I've been coveting these for awhile, but I'm not finding much style inspiration on the web. I'm mostly seeing pictures of men wearing Clarks, which of course makes me think that maybe I should just return them and look for a different style of ankle boot.

Amanda and Dana are so right.  If you try to google "desert boot" or even "desert boot women"...hardly anything shows up.  Like...no women.  No women at all.  So.  Challenged accepted!!  (Happily, Clarks was willing to send me a pair, gratis.  Thank you Clarks!!)

But here's the thing:  My plan was to receive the boots, then spend countless hours in front of my mirror, perfecting three/four outfits that best showed off the boot.  If all went well, I'd write some slick article about how best to wear Clark's Desert Booties.  Instead...they arrived.  I tried them on.  I fell in love and wore them everywhere.  End of story.

So.  Instead of some "best of" article...here's the (roughly one billion) ways I've been wearing my Clark's.

Shop Your Closet: Wear Black and Navy...Deliberately

(wearing: Stylemint Lola Jeans in black, an old Theory button-down - similar, cropped navy sweater from Ann Taylor - similar, Mia Buckaroo Boots - can be found on eBay...or I'd wear these in a heart-beat)

Mamas, we just spent the most ah-mazing week in Baltimore.  Have you been?

Mike was there all week on business, staying at some fancy-schmancy hotel we'd never normally afford (*cough $300 a night *cough)...so my choices were thus:

1.  Stay at home for a week - alone with the boys -  while they whined for Dad

2.  Go and play all day long in the kid-wonderland that is Baltimore

Easy decision.  But I was on strict orders from Mike:  "Babe - you can only come if you ask me for nothing all week.  I'm serious - NOTHING."

Um...OK.  Geez.  Like I'm high-maintenance or something. (Says the girl who routinely wakes her husband up at 3AM for a glass of water.)

But anyway. We all went, I asked Mike for nothing, and we all had a blast.  After Mr. Important was done  with his week-long meeting, he joined us for playtime.  And boy, that aquarium sure is somethin'.

Of course, you are more interested in the outfit. Black and navy.  Together.  Like you mean it. 

I kinda loved it.  It felt....sophisticated?  No, that's not quite the word I want.  It felt cool, but in a French-girl kinda way.  Gamine!  That's it.  I felt positively gamine.  Hence the attempt at fancy eyeliner.

And Mamas, I'm wearing Stylemint's new skinny jeans.  They came out a while ago, but didn't look like much online.  The online pics make them look almost baggy at the ankles.  So I ignored them.  HOWEVER...they are only $60, so in the interest of "research" I caved.  And am so glad I did.  I've barely taken them off since.  

Anyway, I've been warming up to the whole navy-and-black thing since last fall when Emerson Frye styled their fab navy peacoat with black skinnies (see it here on Pinterest).  I think the key is to go all-in.  I like the pop of white to make the black/navy color distinction clear.  (Gray, I think, would also work.)

I wore this outfit several times last week, including on our playdate with Mike.  It's one of the few outfits that went from day-to-night effortlessly, without high heels.  Bonus.  

(I'm also patting myself on the back because the navy sweater was an Ann Taylor sale rack steal for $4!!  And the white shirt is a old work standby that hasn't been touched in a looong time.  Love making use of old clothes.)

What do you think, Mamas?  Is navy and black in your future?  And who else LOOOOVES Baltimore??  We're planning a trip back in December to see the Polar Express in 4D (you feel wind, rain, etc.)  Wanna join?

xo,

S

Mom Street Style: Erin's Ankle Boots and Skinnies

Mamas, reader Erin sent in this shot of herself rockin' the ankle boots. Erin wrote:

Thank you for your post on skinny jeans and ankle boots! I have been trying to figure out how to make this combo work for awhile and it never seemed to work right. But Yes! cuffing the jeans totally works! Just sharing my fall momiform: skinnies, ankle boots, dolman-sleeve sweater, and scarf (photo courtesy of my 5-year-old). Thanks for the awesome blog!

Erin, thanks for the awesome pic.  You nailed it.  

Mamas, if you are crushing over her denim as badly as I am (I've been on the hunt for the a pair of not too light, perfectly worn blue skinnies...and WOW.  Search is over.)...the are J.Brand's 910 skinnies in songbird.  Her boots are the BP Trolley boots in black ($99 and almost sold out at Nordstrom's), her sweater is Trouve's Oversized sweater, $68 and her gorgeous blue scarf is also from Nordstroms, although Erin couldn't quite remember which one it was (Halogen, maybe?).  Here's a pretty turquoise scarf ($28) that is similar. 

Erin, thanks so much for sending this gorgeous pic!!  I love all of your picks...don't be surprised if I blatantly copy this outfit.  

xo,

S

 

ps.  Mamas, I'm not sure what the rest of our week will look like.  At this point, we're right in the path of Frankenstorm.  Most predictions for the Philly area are not when we'll lose power, but for how long.  Crazy!  So we're all stocked up on water, flashlights, batteries, and organic junk food (if we have to eat popcorn and chips for three days, it might as well be, uh, sort of healthy?)  Although, I don't trust us to stay out of our Halloween candy stash.  At this point we're not expecting many trick-or-treaters....

Stay safe, Mamas!!  I'll update you when I can...

pps.  Happy Birthday, Mom!!  I love you!

Reader Q | How to Style a Long, Knit Vest?

Reader Q:

Hello! I look forward to your posts everyday and have gotten some great ideas from you site. I am having an issue with a new piece in my wardrobe - can you tell me how to style a long sleeveless sweater vest/cardigan for work and play? Thanks!  

FYI - like this one... 

 

Answer:

Mamas, this question had me stumped.  I couldn't come up with anything inspired, or fresh, or even all that good.  Even worse, I don't own a vest like this (though I do own a few cozy vests), so I couldn't even play around, waiting for inspiration to strike. Granted, my head has been elsewhere (Fall trends last month, leggings and  Clark desert booties this month)...but regardless, on the vest front I was totally, completely lost.

But do you remember, a month or so back, when I was featured on Life in Mod?  Well.  The blogger behind it, Camille, is a gorgeous Mama, and one of those incredibly creative, DIY sorts.  I emailed her, asking for her take on this reader question.  Thankfully, she came up three fabulous options.