Ain't No Mom Jeans

Reader Q: What to Wear to a Super Bowl Party - Super Bowl XLVI Style

Few things confound me more than dressing for sporting events/parties.  I like designer denim, tall boots, drapey tops, interesting sweaters. . . but these items somehow just don't seem to fit with queso dip and beer (much as I do love those Super Bowl standbys), so I welcomed ANMJ reader Tamar's question as a challenge and spent pretty much all week culling Super Bowl party-worthy ensembles.  See What you think!  Tamar writes: 

I recently got my body back down to its original size and I am looking forward strutting my stuff at our friends Superbowl party. Problem being I have no idea what to wear. I was thinking a cute outfit in team colors? Colored blue denim with a cute top? 

- Tamar

I love the idea of going in team colors, Tamar, particularly if you or hubs are big sports fans, and this year we're in luck, because the New York Giants and the New England Patriots have nearly identical color schemes of blue, red, white and gray.  (Or if you're a Patriots fan, Nautical Blue, New Century Silver--of course.  Totally different.  I'm sure that's complete sacrilege.  Sorry.) 

But pulling off team colors without going the distance of face painting can be tough.  I've put five looks together, including two traditional team-wear outfits and three other more-every-day looks, from edgy to preppy, that incorporate pieces you probably already have.

Super Bowl XLVI (Giants vs Patriots) 2012 Outfits by dynamama featuring tailored shirts

Have fun and congrats on getting your pre-baby bod back!

- M.

Reader Question: What to Wear With Bespoke Olive Flats

Having been an English lit girl and lover of period piece cinema, I'll just confess now that I've oft dreamed of hand selecting a bespoke wardrobe (in it, I sit atop a tufted setee, surrounded by bolts of lustrous fabric <sigh. . . >) , so when ANMJ reader Valerie L. wrote in with the uncommon dilemma of styling her custom made olive green ballet flats (pictured at left), my ears perked right up.  She writes:

I'm an Air Force wife stationed in South Korea right now so I had a pair of shoes custom-made for me - olive green ballet flats.  I like them (olive green is one of my most favorite colors), but they didn't turn out ~exactly~ like I had in my mind. I'm at a loss.  What can I wear them with? I don't want to be too match-y match-y. I feel like it might be a delicate balance and with my luck, I'd go the wrong way.

Please help!  What would you recommend?

No She Didn't!! Leather Pants (...aaaand an alternative for the rest of us)

Mamas:  Have you ever tried leather pants?  I have - years ago (long before Raines came around).  It didn't end well.  The knees stretched out, I couldn't bend (Somebody help!  I dropped a pencil!), and I found my thighs either sweaty (which previously had only happened in Bikram Yoga class) or freezing.  I also walked funny - ramrod straight and uncomfortable.  The soundtrack to my leather-pant-walking would've sounded something like  ernh-ee-ernh-ee-ernh-ee.  I'm sure some girls can carry them off with aplomb....but these are probably also the girls who look cool smoking.  Me?  Not only am I leather-pant-challenged, but I'm afraid of the fire at the lit end of the cig.  Sigh.  Hopeless, I know.

But I LOVE the look (of both leather pants and smoking - yeah, yeah, bad for you, yeah).  But I LOVE it.  Such an awesome rocker/cool-french-girl kind of look.  And while I'm totally over the smoking thing, I'm still craving leather pants. Luckily, faux leather options are everywhere.  From J Brand's waxed skinny jeans (cute, but not that comfy) to faux-leather leggings that do, surprise!!, feel a lot like leggings. 

BTW?  I ran across a pic of one the French Vogue editors rocking her leather leggings at 6 months pregnant. 

(photo credit: Jak and Jill)

Mamas, that's some serious dedication to leather leggings.  Yay, Geraldine.

Encouraged by Geraldine's pic...I bought some faux-leather leggings.  Just, you know, to see.  Strictly for research, Mamas.  We do serious research here at Ain't No Mom Jeans.  But my expectations were very low, so I bought the cheapest pair I could find.  Then rounded up a couple of pics for leather-legging mom-drobe inspiration (which sounds like an oxymoron, I know, but indulge me for a sec).  Anyway, here's my inspiration board for mom-friendly leather leggings:

Mom Street Style - Grace's White Maternity Denim Before and After Baby

Ooooo....Mamas, I love this:

 

This is Grace, from Camp Patton.  Grace writes:

My name is Grace and I'm here to tell you that it's okay to wear your last pair of ill-fitting (albeit still fitting!) maternity pants for the last several and consecutive joyful days of your pregnancy. I'm also here to tell you that it's okay to wear your last pair of ill-fitting (albeit still fitting) maternity pants home from the hospital and for those first several and consecutive joyful days of your new baby's life. 

I did...(and maybe still am). And...it's okay. 

Ummmm....it's more than OK!  Personally, I think that if the maternity denim still fits (and mine did for a loooong time)...then wear it.  (I actually wore a pair of maternity trousers to work..uh...two days ago.)

Also, can we talk about white denim in December?  As most of you know, I find rules in general annoying, especially so if they are "fashion rules".  Snore.  So obviously, I support wearing white...whenever you feel like it.  But what I hadn't realized (until seeing Grace's photos) is how amazingly festive white is - so perfect for the holiday season, no?  Grace could easily wear either look to a holiday get-together.  Or throw on a sparkly sweater and wear white pants to a cocktail party?  It would be so unexpected and such a fresh change from black.

Grace is wearing:  (Pregnant photo - Gap Maternity shirt via the Goodwill, Gap maternity pants, Banana Republic belt, Target shoes....Postpartum  photo - Gap Maternity pants, Target shirt, Michael Kors sweater via Goodwill, Target shoes....on baby Sebastian - pumpkin hat knit by a very talented friend and an outfit from Goodwill.)

Ok - but here's the fun part:  Grace submitted these pics to us...but what she doesn't know is that we were already planning to feature her on Mom Street Style!  A few months ago, reader Jenny alerted us to Grace's fabulous blog, and had these kind words to say:

I wanted to direct your attention to a fab mom blogger named Grace who blogs at Camp Patton and does these a-mazing little 'Before and After' series on her Goodwill transformations.  I think she uses magic or something but her 'after' shots are glam enough to make you weak in the knees.  Also, she is currently 8 months preggo and still a heck of a lot more pulled together than I can manage for weddings, corporate events, etc.  

So go check out Grace's blog.  I think you'll love it.  (I know we do!!)

Thanks to both Grace and Jenny!!

xo,

S

 

Reader Question - How to Add Flare to Basics and Still Pack Light

Reader Question:

My husband and I are going to Italy in October for a week (my 40th bday) and I'd like some thoughts on how to give my uniform/basics/classics a slightly more sophisticated flare (and still pack pretty lightly). Any ideas (um, I'm always open to making a few good purchases)? 

- Jodi

Mom Street Style - Christie Shows Us How Sporty Is Done

Mamas, I must confess.  One of my outfits in our Wearing Workout Gear Beyond the Gym article (sponsored by Champion) was blatant copy of the outfit that this little cutie is wearing.

Meet Christie.  She was my awesome neighbor back in Denver.  And while technically she isn't a mom, she is posing next to her baby, Choco.

I'd run into Christie a couple of times a day when she'd head out for walks with Choco.  (R would literally run to the door when he heard Choco bounding out of Christie's apartment, so our meetings were not as 'chance' as they may have seemed.)  

In any case, day-after-day, Christie looked like this.  Totally comfortable, totally chic.  The girl knows how to rock some workout gear.  Cool scarf, cool shoes...voila!  Instant cute.

But my very favorite look of hers?  I like to call it "When Crazy Pants Comes To Town...."

Yeah, baby.  Now that's how it's done.  Love it.  The crazy pants, the cute jacket, the flats - love it all.

xo,

S

Wearing Workout Gear Beyond the Gym (Sponsored Post)

We're all for stretching our wardrobes, here at Ain't No Mom Jeans, and we're all about mixing things up.  So it seems only natural then, that we should also bring sportswear into the mix.  I mean, aren't yoga pants a tired new mom's best friend?  In this department, moms seem to be ahead of the curve.  FabSugar (via Lucky Mag) is reporting sportswear to be a major trend on the Spring 2012 runway.  As part of our partnership with Champion, I'm stylin' up a few key sportswear items for everyday wear. 

Yoga Pants For Running Errands

I do this trick more often than I'd like to admit.  Throw on your basic black yoga pants with cute, non-sneaker-y shoes, a sweater and add a cute scarf.  

(wearing:  Champion shaper yoga pant c/o Champion - we covered this pant here, J.Crew shawl collar sweater, Me Too ballet flats, Echo scarf)

 

Oooo...Fall Mom-Drobe Essentials in Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale (Hello, Frye Boots)

Nordstroms, one of my favorite retailers due to their ah-mazing customer service policy and vast shoe department, has one doozy of sale about to start.  For those of you in the dark, Nordstrom's biggest sale, their anniversary sale, starts this Friday (although, if you are a cardmember, you can buy now).  I love this sale.  Unlike other sales, this one discounts merchandise for the upcoming season (aka Fall), as well as several items that don't often go on sale, like Frye boots!!  And in this case, fabulous Frye boots. For over $100 off.  Oh, baby.  

Here are my favorite picks for moms from this year's anniversary sale.

Boots!!!

Wearing Flares With Flats

   Flares are incredibly flattering.  Worn with a pair of sky-high wedges, your legs go for days.  Legs for days.  What's not to like?

But flares with flats can be tricky - especially for the petite.  (Hi. That's me.)  Even M has admitted to feeling a tad on the dumpy side when wearing flares with flats.  (NOTE - I've never seen M looking remotely dumpy.  Not ever.  It's just a feeling she mentioned.  Got it? Not looking....but feeling.  The last thing I want is to inadvertently call my newly-pregnant BFF dumpy.  OMG.  Stop.  Talking. Now.)  Anywho.

So what is the problem, exactly?  Part of it is just getting used to a new silhouette (we're all pretty entrenched in skinnies) but part of it is just the sad truth:  Flares look best with heels.

But I refuse to be discouraged.   I'm a pretty firm flat-wearer these days, and also am in love with my flares.  So I was determined to make it work.

Now, after much trial & error involving several pairs of flares, duct-taped hems, and many, many types of flat shoes, here's what's workin' for me:

Mom Style Translation: Khakis Paired With Pops of Neon (and Animal Print)

I love this pic that Streetstyle Aesthetic snapped during London Fashion Week.

While I would love to lounge around in my high heels and silk ruffled top carrying everything I need in a bright clutch (sigh)...it's sooo not gonna happen.

However, this girl is rockin' it.  And her color choices are nothing but totally inspired. 

I love the loose definition of a suit here - khaki pants and army green jacket, paired with the bright pops of color.  And animal print shoes?  They are just off enough (yet match enough) to work.  Perfectly imperfect.

To make this outfit mom-friendly...well, it's easy:  Swap the heels out for flats, the clutch out for a larger bag, and throw on a washable yellow top.

Per usual, I have a little collage (below) to translate this into a mom-friendly look.  However, I thought it would also be fun to try and see if M and I could use this pic as inspiration for our own outfits, using what we already have in our closet. 

Here's what we came up with: