Ain't No Mom Jeans

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.

Momiform Style Translation: Cozy Up Your Summer Maxi Dresses For Fall and Winter

This past summer was my maxi dress summer.  For some reason, despite the long run of popularity, I had yet to invest in a maxi dress.  So last June I took the plunge.  And I'm so happy I did.  Not only were they surprisingly mom-friendly (I could chase! Carry! Bend-down! Sit in the grass and sand! Go to the playground!) but they were incredibly flattering...and ended up being the only comfortable option for this pregnant gal. (I literally wore the dress pictured at left 4-5 times a week).

I. Am. Sold.

So yeah...I'd like to keep wearing them.  Especially considering that a few of my empire-waist options (perfect for pregnancy) will also be perfect for post-partum use.

However, I'm finding that the proportion is a bit tricky.  Some of my shoes are too high for my dresses, some of my sweaters are too short or too dumpy when layered...the ease of the summer maxi dress doesn't necessarily translate into Fall.  It requires a bit of thought.

Stuck On This Paring: Cozy Wrap Sweaters With Dresses (For Day or Date Night)

Um...yes.  I am obsessed with this pairing of cozy wrap sweaters and little dresses, ever since coming across the pic at left while working on our last Mom Street Style article featuring the adorable Alexis.

Hmmm...let's see...short mini dress, bare legs, red lipstick...but wait!  Short furry boots!  Ahhh...totally mom-friendly, right??

Yeah, yeah.  We can do better.

With the concept of cozy wrap-sweaters and dresses in mind...there are two ways I'd translate this look into something more mom-friendly: 

1.  A subtly sexy date-night look that can be used for either a fairly casual date night or a serious night on the town

2.  An everyday look that converts those slightly boring cotton dresses (you know - the ones we ALL buy at Old Navy or Target for like $10) into something Fall-worthy and stylish.

Ready??

Pairing Boots with Denim, Leggings and Tights - Which Colors Work?

Since posting Part 3 of our Style Rules for Moms, where we discussed the importance of tall boots, we've been fielding both emails and comments from readers wondering which color of leggings/tights/etc to pair with the new pair of <InsertAnyBootColorHere> tall boots they just bought.

It's a good question.

Part of the answer, however, lies in the fact that our very last style rule was this:  mix it up.  Clear your head of the notion that shoes, bag and belt must always match.  Think of black and brown as being new BFFs.  And those harder-to-describe shades?  Tan-ish, caramel-y, taupe?  Even gray? Your new go-with everything neutrals.

Take a look at the picture above, from Shopbop's fabulous Shoptalk blog. This is one of my favorite inspirational outfits for Fall.  Notice that she's wearing black tights, taupe-y shoes, army green shorts, a gray sweater, and a cognac bag.  Yet it all works.  Why?  Because, in this pic, she's really just wearing a bunch of neutral colored clothing.  Consider black, taupe, tan, gray, army green, and shades of cream to all be neutrals. Mix with wild abandon. 

So how to translate this answer into your everyday boot outfit?

New Style Rules For Moms, Part 3

This article is the third in a multi-part series based on "rules" I've applied again and again when doing style consultations / closet clean-outs with moms....if you are just joining us now, check out our New Style Rules For Moms, Part 1 and Part 2.

Lest we take ourselves and our "rules" too seriously here at Ain't No Mom Jeans...please direct your attention to the picture at left.  This picture is of my little sister Scotti (aka the makeup maven who wrote 5 Easy Tips To Look Your Best in Photos)...who is showing how well interesting sweaters, skinny jeans (and now tall, flat boots) can make you look amazing whether you are going out for lunch, to the playground, or, in her case, catching the Hogwarts Express.

(Oh-oh...she's totally going to Wingardium Leviosa me once she sees this pic...)

Which brings us to our last two "rules" for moms:

Mom Street Style - October 2009 Mom

Setting the scene:  My dear friend Amber, who is not yet a mom, has just finished reading my article, The Uninspired, The Unflattering, The Trends of Fall 2009.

Amber: Seriously?  You said no to over-the-knee boots?

Me: Well, I said they weren't PRACTICAL.

Amber:  Whatever.  They are fabulous.  FABULOUS.  And I know you want them.

Me:  [sigh]  Ok, mayb-

Amber: Seriously?  Like moms can't be HOT?  Moms can TOTALLY be hot.  I know lots of hot moms.  You're hot - you could wear them!

Me: Ummmm...thanks? But you are right, moms CAN be hot, but I just said they weren't practi--

Amber: Let your moms be hot!  Tell your moms they have a RIGHT to be hot!

Me: Ok, Ok, Ok.  I know. I KNOW. [weakly] I just said they weren't practical....for all moms...some moms may not like them....

Amber:  [silence]

Amber:  I'm wearing mine tonight.  You will LOVE them and be jealous.

And she did.  And I was.  They are fabulous.  AND...to make matters worse, a few weeks after this conversation I ran into hot-mom Amy, pictured above, wearing......[drumroll].....over-the-knee boots.  And a rather practical pair, actually.