Ain't No Mom Jeans

Mom Street Style: Susannah Glammed Up Her Momiform

Readers, meet Susannah.  She wrote:

Hi Shana - Just wanted to say thank you for the Glam Up Your Momiform post.  I am due to move from Sydney Australia to Hong Kong in about 4 days with my husband and two children… and so almost all of my clothes are on a big boat in the middle of the ocean.  But a last minute surprise farewell at a moderately hip japanese restaurant necessitated that I find something to wear (that wasn't a t-shirt and shorts).  I had read your blog that morning and managed to find jeans, shirt, necklace and pumps.  It wasn't colourful and festive like your outfit - but it did the trick!  

Thanks so much - your blog is really incredibly helpful for those of us who have ZERO interest in clothes shopping but like looking somewhat up-to-date.  I have told countless friends and they have all gleaned something from reading your articles: better jeans, how to wear ankle boots and nursing friendly fashion.

Susannah 

Whoa, girl.  You look seriously amazing.  And the nuetral pallette really, really works.  I'm starting a round of the slow clap right now.  Mamas, feel free to join in:  clap.....clap....CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

Susannah, thank you so much for taking the time to snap a pic and sending it on.  I love seeing how our styling tips get translated...and serve as a fresh dose of inspiration for all of us.

Mwah!

S

Currently Loving: Dark, Straight-Leg Denim (WHA???)

Mamas, I have some new favorite pants.

 

Yup.  They're a clean, dark wash.  And nope:  they're not coated or patterned, embellished or embroidered.  They are just....plain 'ol denim.  And not skinny!  (Shocking, I know.)  They have a straight leg and a mid-rise.  They practically scream WE ARE NOT EXCITING!

And I realize that dark, clean denim seems like an odd choice, given that brights and patterns are now an everyday basic.  But I think the simplicity is exactly why I was drawn to this pair.  With all of the colors and patterns out there, these almost feel...fresh?

 

Reader Q | How To Style A Camo Vest

Reader Question:

 

Hi Shana and Molly,

 

I discovered your blog a month or so ago and have worked my way through most of your archives. I've recently lost about 50 pounds (after having two children) and am starting to become more interested in making myself look nice.

 

Anyway, I may or may not have bought this camouflage vest from Target recently. 

 

I don't know what I was thinking. I had Shana's camo pants in my head and was thinking of the military trend and... it just happened. Now the question is what do I do with it? Return it? Wear it over a neutral tee? Under a jean jacket? Both?

 

Thank you so much for writing such insightful, entertaining posts. I will be more careful when considering trendy pieces next time!

 

 - Jill

 

Answer:

Hunh.  Jill, this camo vest has been on my mind lately.  Initially, when I first read your email, I didn't love it...but...well...it's growing on me.  The vest is growing on me!  And I always like a challenge.  So: I thought I'd try styling it up for a final verdict.  And you know what?  I think this vest could work!

 

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.

Happy Friday, Mamas...

Popsicle time!!  Have you tried these silicon ice pop molds ?  LOVE.  They slide right off once frozen, and the base keeps little hands from getting too sticky.  I've been filling mine with juice and fruit blends...or this vegan pudding.  OMGCRAZYAMAZINGFROZEN.  

I've also been meaning to mention...I just bought these straight-leg jeans from Abercrombie.  They are shockingly fabulous.  A perfect color, a perfect amount of distressing. 

In other mom-style news, Refinery 29 did a piece on cool running shoes.  Totally worth a look.  And I found a bit of inspiration in WhoWhatWear's recent accessory report on bikes.  Some very chic, yet mom-friendly looks - I'll pin a couple.  And hat's off to Tori Spelling.  She rocked the sexiest pregnant-at-the-pool look I've ever seen.  Yowza.  That takes balls.  Or...uh...lack thereof.

I wanted to thank you again for all of your kind words about my cah-razy flight last week.  You guys.  Perked me right back up.  And on the same topic...this?  Made me laugh so hard.  Sing it, Sister.

xo,

S

 

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):

Easy Styling Tip: Throw on a Comfy Blazer (Not a Real One...a Soft One)

I read somewhere recently that a good blazer should be one of the cornerstone pieces in every woman's wardrobe.

My original thought?  Eh.  Underwhelmed.

I mean, I love a good blazer, but I chose to pass on my longtime favorite: the gorgeous navy J.Crew schoolboy blazer.  Why?  Well, because it was constricting.  The second I had it on, I wanted to rip it right off again.  And considering that the vast majority of my days include picking up an injured toddler (seriously - every. day. he scrapes or bruises something) and carrying around a bowling-ball heavy baby...no thanks.  

Blazers, I decided, were not for me.  And probably not for most moms while engaged in the baby/toddler boggle.

But then I found this little number, the Habit Jacket by Gentle Fawn.  It's really just a little polyester blazer, but is done in a herringbone fabric with a faux-suede trim...and  manages to pull together even the most thoughtless of outfits.  And it's stretchy.  Which means that rolling the sleeves is easy and comfortable, and that I can pick up babies, kiss booboos, and be an impromptu climbing gym while looking put-together. 

I'm in love.

Duck Boot Styling

   While 2010 Fall runways were awash in high-heeled duck boots...even the regular, good 'ol LL Bean-style duck boots are having a moment.  (Ummm...or the cheaper iterations, like my Land's End duck boots).  And since the snow just keeps on comin', these boots have certainly come in handy.  And it doesn't hurt that I kinda love 'em.  They have a rugged feel without being too mannish. Tomboyish, perhaps?  (And you know I'm a sucker for anything that gives me yet another way to wear my favorite, cover-everything-bad, post-partum sweater).

Whatever it is, I'm in.

I've been styling these babies with dresses, khakis, skinnies, straight legs....AND I found some really great inspiration pics from around the web.  Read on, mamas!  I think you'll wanna get on board...

(wearing: Theory ruffle tunic, sweater leggings bought several years ago, Lands' End Canvas socks, Lands' End Duck Boots)

How To Wear Belts (Fall and Winter Edition)

We have been promising, for quite some time, to do an article about belts.  We've received numerous questions and comments about types of belts, belts and body types, and what to wear with belts. So it's time.  Time for some belt-love.

While I'd love to give you a few simple rules for rocking the belt...it's just not that easy.  Even different body types (curvy, pear, boyish) can have so many variations on a theme that coming up with a set of rules for belts is almost impossible.  Whether or not a belt looks good often has more to do with the distance between your ribs and your hip bones and what else you are wearing, than a rule that says, "short moms shouldn't wear belts" (because many of you can).

Instead, I offer up a belt exercise, a selection of cute belts, and loads of inspiration.  So if you want to rock the belt (and you should - it's a great way to make an outfit instantly stylish), here's how to get started:

How To Wear Plaid Part 5 - Inspiration From Around the Web

 

Ummmm...yeah.  We love plaid.  For the last month, we've done a weekly feature on the various ways to rock a plaid shirt.  If you missed it, check out these articles:

How To Wear Plaid Part 1 - Holiday Style

How To Wear Plaid Part 2 - Girly Details Plus a Jacket

How To Wear Plaid Part 3 - Date Night

How To Wear Plaid Part 4 - With High-Waisted Denim

But we're not the only ones loving the plaid.  To finish up this series, I found some great sources of inspiration from a few very talented fashion bloggers.  Not only are their looks totally fresh and fun, but they are all mom-friendly.