Ain't No Mom Jeans

Shopping: My Favorite Everyday Summer Dresses

Mamas!  I obviously have summer shopping on the brain.  First sandals, now dresses.  But in my defense, some dresses are 20% off this weekend at Piperlime (use promo code DRESS), so it's a good time to be looking.  Here are thirteen of my favs (and most are either nursing friendly, pooch-hiding, or both.)

1. Free People Striped Uniearthen Dress, $128

Well.  If ever there was an earth-mother dress, it would be called the "Uniearthen".  GOOD GOD.  So drink, eat, dance around the fire....your pooch will be well-hidden.  The back is really low, so if the earth mother (aka you) must nourish her children, she may just shimmy-shimmy one strap down.  (You'll want a cute nursing bra, though - it'll show in the back.)

2. Ella Moss Striped Maxi Dress, $198

So often maxi dresses verge on being empire-waisted, and that silhouette is death for pooch-hiding.  BUT!  See the extra panel of fabric running down the front of this dress?  Genius.

3. VIva Vena Tie-Front Maxi Dress, $88

This bad-boy has two ties to ensure a good fit.  And all of that stuff (ties, pattern, etc.) is perfect for pooch-hiding...even on a curvy mama.

4. Viva Vena Strappy Trapeze Dress, $98

Yup.  Perfect.

Friday Fun and Weekend Inspiration

Any big plans for the weekend, Mamas?  I'm already craving Tired Hands Brewery's house-made pickles and candied bacon.  Yup - you heard correctly:  bacon candied, served with maple syrup for dipping.  Also?  Everything is locally sourced.  It's our go-to spot for Happy Hour, and low-key enough to bring the kids.  Yesssssss.

Earth Day is coming up, and John Master's Organics giving 25% off of everything with code earth13.  They have the best shampoo and conditioner, and offer it in bulk sizes...which become much more affordable at and additional 25% off.  I'm stocking up.  I've been using them for years, and did a full review of their products a while back. 

Shopbop is also having a sale - 20% off of everything with code WEAREFAMILY13 - but the last day is Friday.  So many things to love...but I'm totally blown away by this t-shirt dress, think that this swimsuit cover-up is insanely sexy (in the most subtle way), and that this chic maxi would be perfect for pooch-hiding.  I also have my eye on this simple maxi and would wear it exactly as reader Desiree described earlier this week: 

My favorite combo is a black maxi dress, brown leather sandals, wooden jewelry and a nice canvas bag - so easy.

Perfect, no?

I was inspired by this Dad's article about spending one-on-one time with his kids.  He terms it "Parenting a Boy, Not the Herd."  He writes:

I realized I’d not only slowly reduced parenting to herding, but I’d turned conversation with my kids into not much more than relaying information: giving orders, teaching lessons, reinforcing the positive, correcting the negative. But, away from the herd, alone with Gresham, I found myself cracking jokes, retelling stories from my own childhood, asking better questions.

Yes.  That. I hate when I fall into 'boring old parent mode' and just drone on at my boys about wiping their spills, getting their shoes on, not licking the furniture, etc.  Sigh.  Not only do they not get the best of me when I'm in this mode...but they get someone who doesn't feel like ME at all.  You know?

On an uplifting note, my dear friend Megan sent me the gorgeous video below.  It speaks volumes about how we see ourselves, and how ridiculously hard we are on ourselves.  Get out the tissues, Mamas. 

 

 

xoxo,

S

 

Friday Shopping: Final Week For TMRDNL

Mamas!  Tamar is closing her shop in one week, and everything has been marked down one final time.  If there was something you wanted (previously featured here, here or here) now's the time to shop.  I also wanted to show you a few warm-weather pieces from TMRDNL that I've been WAITING to wear.  So happy that the sun is finally starting to show it's face....

Friday Fun (And Reader Finds!!)

WOOT WOOT Weekend, Mamas!  The last two weeks have been very, very long.  I have been inexplicably sick (with a cold!  It's just a cold!) for over two solid weeks.  This nasty virus has robbed me of motivation, sucked me of enthusiasm, and taken my patience out for a looong vacation.  Grrrrrrr.

Even my kids have been attempting to cheer me up.  "Mom, it's OK!" Raines said to me yesterday.  "You're the best mom EVER EVER...even if you're always grumpy!"

Awesome.  Let's put that on a mug for Mother's Day, shall we?  "World's Greatest Always-Grumpy Mom!"

(NOTE:  Mike, you had better freaking NOT.  Just so we're clear.)

So.  For this issue of Friday Fun, I have exactly ONE find.  Happily you, lovely Mamas, have been doing a little shopping while I've been sniffling, and have been emailing me all sorts of fun finds.  

Stephanie is pregnant and is wondering if this pair of silky, printed, elastic-waist pants from Anthropologie would be rad, or bad?  Call me crazy....but I kinda love them.  Add a white tee and flat, metallic sandals, and WOW.  Summer perfection.  Either color is gorgeous, but I'm leaning to...pink?   

Helen writes:

After moving to New Jersey from LA in January I was looking for a long sleeved dress that is relatively warm, nursing friendly and pretty enough for a date night.   I stumbled upon your post about affordable dresses on Zappos, and that's how I discovered the Patagonia brand dresses. I ended up buying two of them!

Helen ended up with Patagonia's Bay Laural Wrap Dress in black (currently on sale for $36!!), and the sleeveless Margot dress (also on sale for $36).  They are both nursing friendly, and Helen reports that they can also help disguise a small pooch, as well.

Belinda's been on the hunt for the perfect boyfriend jean, and thinks she found them.  I agree!

Heidi makes a pretty convincing CPW (cost-per-wear) argument for this gorgeous maxi dress:

I really, really loved your style resolutions for 2013 article a few months back, and thanks to you I have the beginnings of a decent wardrobe that's not full of things that sort-of-but-not-quite-fit for the first time in five years!

I love, love, loved the gray maxidress you featured two years ago, but couldn't find it anywhere when I started looking for something to wear this summer. I live in Jordan right now, and it's already 80 here most days so summer starts a bit earlier for me. A few years ago I would have bought a couple of dresses that I sort of liked from Old Navy and never have felt good about them...but I remembered your point about cost-per-wear and held out until I found something I loved. And I did! This maxi dress from Shopbop is exactly what I was looking for: beautiful drape, pooch-hiding blouson top, modest enough that I can get away with wearing it here in the Middle East, but still sexy thanks to the V-neck and the drape of the skirt.

Instead of a half dozen crappy dresses, I have one that I truly love and that makes me feel beautiful.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for encouraging women like me to find what makes us feel good about ourselves and giving us pointers as to how to get there!

Yay, Heidi!  Love this!

Jenny found a fleece moto jacket in taupe.  Yessssssss!  Only smalls are left, but they're on sale for $40!

Patricia has me dying for this scarf....so Lem-Lem-ish, yet roughly half the cost...

And lastly...my one lone contribution:

I love this shirt.  Pooch-hiding, nursing-friendly perfection.  Sadly, I did not buy it.  Yup - too grumpy.

 

Here's to a weekend without tissues, red noses or phelgm!  

Wow.  And here's to never having to hear the word 'phelgm' on this blog ever, ever again.

Now I'm off to find my Kindle.  My sister got me hooked on Game of Thrones during my long two-week lie-in....and I'm totally hooked.  (Although, I may never sleep peacefully again.)

What are you doing this weekend?  Something fun, I hope?

xoxo,

S

 

 

Fresh Ways To Wear Tall Boots

All last week, Superman, Raines and I were relaxing oceanside in Gulf Shores.  We had gone down to visit my parents, who, since turning sixty-something have become devoted snowbirds.  

My parents didn’t want to move to Florida, but they turned sixty, and that’s the law. - Jerry Seinfeld

Also?  Weather channel. To say I returned home well informed about the snowstorms swirling about the country would be an understatement.

Anyway, fearing the worst, I had tall boots on the brain, expecting that we'd all be tromping around in snow up to our eyeballs.  Nope.  None, nada, nuttin'.  

But still.  I haven't worn tall boots all season, and I was (shockingly) in the mood.  So here are a few tall boot outfits for early Spring/Late Winter:

A Maternity Workwear Capsule Wardrobe For Spring (and an ASOS Giveaway)

Maternity workwear.  Isn't that phrase just so...depressing?  Ugh.  It conjures up images of schlumpy, black, ill-fitting suits and those awful maternity button-down shirts.  (shudder)

We can do better, Mamas.  

I threw together a small Spring capsule wardrobe for working mamas-to-be.  And it's almost completely post-partum friendly, and much of it is pumping-friendly.  But best of all?  Maternity workwear (blaaaah) has come such a long way that not only would I happily(!!) wear any of these pieces NOT pregnant, but most are pretty. darn. affordable. 

 

Mom Street Style: Yay for Puffer Vests in Pregnancy and Post-Partum!

Goodness.  Could Grace get any cuter?

 

After our recent article on puffer vests, Grace wrote:

I was SO excited to see your post on puffers following your post on maternity coats because vests have been a wardrobe staple/workhorse for me all winter. I had my third baby on December 30th and didn't want to buy a maternity coat (so I didn't) but lived in a slew of vests (some puffy and some faux furry) that I found on eBay (all for less than $10!). Hopefully I'm not the only pregnant lady that looks pregnant around the lovely handles (which is why I was so convinced I was having a GIRL .... not the case!) but a vest really helps that situation out so very nicely.

Um.  Wow.  Pregnancy induced love-handles?  Yeah.  I knew them well.  You make a really, really good point, Grace.  

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...

Shopping: Sweatshirt Dresses

Ok Mamas!  Our shopping week continues with sweatshirt dresses!! (I want you to be well prepared for the after-Christmas sales, Mamas.  WELL PREPARED.)  And psst:  One of my fav sweatshirt dresses is perfect for nursing.  Seriously.

 

Sweatshirt Dresses

I can't say enough about my James Perse sweatshirt dress (you first saw it here).  And those of you following me on instagram (@shanachristine) will know how often I've been wearing it.  So.  If you happen to be in the market for a versatile sweatshirt dress, choices abound!  You have your pick from sporty to uber glam, and many are fabulous pooch-hiders.  

Basic Sweatshirt Dresses

A. Gap Terry Sweatshirt Dress, $54

This is very similar to my James Perse sweatshirt dress, but half the cost.  The main difference is that the James Perse dress has a banded bottom, which helps keep the dress looking a bit dressier.  However, the slight A-line of this dress might be better for pear-shaped figures.

B. Hatch Collection Sweatshirt Dress, $208

I am recommending this dress with one major reservation:  It's not for small mamas.  I had the opportunity to try this dress on recently, and it was horrible.  I was crushed.  It fell below my knees (I'm almost 5'3") and there was just so much fabric...  If you are fairly tall (I'd say 5'7" or above), pregnant, and don't mind a mountain of fabric...this dress might work.  But I wouldn't bet on wearing it forever.  

C. James Perse Funnel Neck Dress, $195

I love everything about this dress:  the color, the sporty collar, the banded bottom.  Adorbs.

D. ASOS Knitted Dress With Sweatshirt Details, $70

This dress is actually a sweater dress, with embellishments to make it look like a sweatshirt.  Whatever.  It works.  (And probably drapes a bit better than a true sweatshirt dress.)

 

Interesting Sweatshirt Dresses

A. Diesel Gertrude Dress, on sale for $132

Nursing Mamas!!  Celebrate!!  It zips! It hides a pooch!  I feel like I should buy this just in case we have a third.  I mean SERIOUSLY.  I have never, in all of my internet travels, found such a cute nursing and pooch hiding dress.  

Thank you, Diesel.  I realize that the sleep-deprived, leaky boobed, jelly-bellied Mama *may* not be your key demographic...but thank you anyway.

B. French Connection Amazon Sweatshirt Dress, $80

It's a printed sweatshirt, made into a dress.  Looks crazy-fierce on the model with black tights, heels and an oversized scarf.  Would look just as cute with some flat boots.  This one goes easily from playdate to real date.

C.  C&C California Faux-Leather and Knit Dress, $148

Holy. Crap.  See that faux-leather panel?  OMGLOVE.

D. COMEFORBREAKFAST Short Dress, on sale for $80 at Yoox.com

This unique twist on a sweatshirt dress is only available in sizes XS and S...but it's so...swingy, I'll bet there's a bit of wiggle room in the sizing.

E. C&C California Faux-Leather Fleece Dress, $108

OMG SERIOUSLY I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING.  YOU GUYS.  It looks like leather...yet it's fleece.  And not crazy expensive.  Yessssssss.

F. Brown Winter Sweatshirt Dress, $145 from Etsy seller Lirola

For those of you who prefer a vintage, girly vibe to all of that faux-leather, I'm loving Lirola's take on the sweatshirt dress.  Puff sleeves and a ruched bottom?  Nice.

 

Now I'm off to pop popcorn.  It's Christmas movie night and I'm over the moon because I FINALLY found my favorite, Twas The Night Before Christmas.  The one with the mouse?  And the clockmaker?  Yes??  LOVELOVELOVE

(iTunes also has it for immediate purchase.  Yay.)

xoxo

S

 

 

 

 

 

Mom Street Style: Lisa Dresses Up Her Day Dress!

Gang!  I love getting emails from readers who successfully used one of our styling techniques.  And Lisa was kind enough to include a pic!

Lisa had emailed me a few weeks ago, asking if I thought the Gap shift dress (originally mentioned here) was fancy enough for a work party.  We both thought that with a bit of glitz and fabulous shoes...it would be.  

Yeah, baby.

(wearing:  Gap Fluid Shirtdress $60 - Lisa's exact pattern is sold out, but Gap has issue new ones...Jessica Simpson pumps $50, Forever 21 earrings - similar $24, Stella and Dot Bracelet - not sure which one, but this is my all-time fav $98)

Lisa said: 

I wore it [the gap shift] to a casual Christmas party last night and here's how it looked.  I was happy with it and it was super comfortable!  Most of the women at the party were in jeans and black or sparkly tops so I'd like to think I was one of the best dressed.  :)  

Lisa, you look gorgeous.  Thank you so much for taking the time to send in a pic!!  (And love the intense look on your little one's face!)

xo,

S