Ain't No Mom Jeans

Reader Question: Striped Tops For the Busty, Broad-Shouldered Mom?

Reader Question:

Hi,
 
I love your blog!  I am a seriously fashion challenged mom of two boys!
 
I really like the striped top trend, but I am broad shouldered, short waisted, and big busted.  Is there any way for me to pull it off or should I avoid this trend all together?
 
Thanks!

Answer:

Striped tops are tough for the busty.  They also can be tough for the broad-shouldered.  Putting both of those together....tricky.  Here are my thoughts:

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

Affordable Basics that Oooooze European Cool...For Both Moms and Tots at Zara.com

Zara just opened online shopping for US customers last week.  Oh happy day!!  For those of you that don't know Zara, this European-based retailer is a go-to source for updated basics that are on-trend, good quality, and mostly priced under $100.  Zara helps to fill the gaping hole between the rock-bottom prices (and quality) at Forever 21/Target vs. the high prices one typically pays for interesting basics.  Even better?  They have clothes for both you and the little ones!  (Oh, and, uh...hubs too.)

In addition to on-trend basics, they have some crazy-fun pieces as well.  Because every little girl needs a pair of these:

Fabulous and ridiculous in equal measure, I think.  But I do love them.

Want to see some play-friendly, mom & me looks from Zara.com?  Voila....

Mom Street Style: New-Mom Lindsay's Gorgeous White Dress

How amazing does Lindsay look?  Pretty. Darn. Amazing.  Especially considering that little baby Freedom (LOVE the name) is only a few weeks old.  Weeks, people!!  Lindsay is wearing a stunning Nicole Miller dress that was a gift from her mother.

[S stands up, applauds loudly]

I am going to remember this.  Forget diaper bags, forget strollers.  When my boys have kids, I'm going to take their wives shopping for one fabulous dress.  One dress that makes you forget all about the post-partum pooch.  One dress that is show-stoppingly gorgeous...yet comfy, nursing-friendly and looks good with flats. 

We should all own one of these dresses.

Lindsay's jelly flats are by Melissa & Compagne, and she's carrying Skip Hop's Bento Bag.

xo,

S

What To Wear To Meet An Ex-Boyfriend for Lunch

Reader Question:

I am a work-from-home mom with 2 small kids (2.5 years and 10 months).  Like everyone else, my bod ain’t what it used to be, especially my tummy.  And I did multiple rounds of IVF before getting pregnant and gained weight from that too.  Ah well – small price to pay for great kids and I am working at getting it back slowly.  Anyway, I have to be in New York in July and I am meeting a former boyfriend, who I have not seen for 6 years, for lunch.  He’s since married and has 2 kids of his own so it’s 100% platonic, but I really want to look great-but-not-trying-too-hard.

Any Ideas?

D

Answer:

Oh, D.  Such a tricky styling situation.  You don't want to go to extremes here (extremes being a prom dress or - god forbid - white) yet...it's your Ex.  You hardly want him walking away thinking, "Whew!  I dodged a bullet!"   Sooo...you need something that looks easy, effortless....but crazy-hot.  

Gotcha.

In these situations, I swear by the following formula:

Styling a Summer Dress Three Ways (Causal Daytime, Date Night and Office)

Reader Daina wrote in with a hysterical two-part question (more on part two later).  She asked:

"I would love to put together one great day/lunch outfit that I can then leverage for work or even a casual date night with my husband.  I am at a loss for what to choose since: (1) I have to shop online; with a baby and toddler there is no way I am going to get to a mall; (2) I can’t figure out what will look appropriate for both work/lunch/date night; and (3) whatever I choose has to be able to travel (e.g., no linen!) since I’ll take the train to NYC and, if I use the outfit for work, that usually involves travel too."

When looking for maximum flexibility, it's really hard to beat a dress.  As long as you stick to something simple but well constructed in a non-fussy fabric, a dress can easily be worn while running errands, out to lunch, at the office, or sexed up for date night.  The key to keeping the look effortless (and appropriate) is in the accessories. 

Here is one of my very favorite summer dresses, styled three different ways for three different situations. (The dress is J.Crew's Blakly dress.  It is unbelievably flattering - this dress does all kinds of good things to "the girls" while somehow disguising a poochy stomach.)

Mom-Drobe Inspiration: Long, Linen Pants (For Hiding Veins and Stretch Marks While Staying Cool)

Now you know I love my shorts.  Especially my denim cut-offs (and here's how I styled them last summer).  However, I realize that not all of you are shorts devotees.  And from time-to-time we receive comments or emails asking for warm-weather options that cover up post-baby stretch marks or varicose veins.  Maxi skirts are one good option, but another?  Super comfy linen pants. 

Linen pants often feel like sweatpants (and get softer after each washing - use the delicate cycle, lay flat to dry), but unlike sweatpants they have great drape and are very breathable.

And drape is good for your bum. (I'll just leave the "breathable" comment alone...)

Even better, I found a couple great pics from Shopbop and Calypso to use as inspiration...

Linen Pants + Cropped Top

I'm loving this look from Shopbop.  The model is wearing Juicy Couture linen pants and a Vince sweater (now sold out).

I love the cropped, boxy sweater layered over the soft linen pant - so comfy chic.  Perfect for a cooler summer night, strolling the beach.

Ok - using this pic as inspiration, we can re-create this look (linen pant + cropped top) a couple of different ways.  Cropped oversized sweaters work (short or long sleeve), as do cropped swingy tanks for hot weather.  Just layer your cropped tops over another tank.  Please.

Here's what I came up with:

Mom Street Style: Unknown Mom With Preppy Khaki Shorts and Tough-Girl Sandals

Ok, so I missed her.  I missed the pic.  But I was busy nursing on one of the few shady benches left.  And Mike and Raines were having a Father's Day round of putt-putt golf, so I couldn't even recruit Mike to take the pic.  (Usually, he's a good sport about that.)  And I didn't want to resort to shrieking, "Hey You!  Mom with the cute shoes...and uhh...shorts??  You in the khaki??  Yes, YOU!  Can you, uh...come over here?  I need to take a one-handed picture of you with my phone while I finish nursing!  Oops!  There's a nipple!"

Cause that's not crazy.  Or creepy.  Or weird.

Right.

So I let her go by, memorizing what she was wearing.  And let me tell you:  it was good.

She was in Franklin Square, on Father's Day.  Wearing the Mainline standard of khaki chino shorts.  However, instead of pairing them with usual preppy staples (brightly patterned top and starfish sandals) she toughened them up with a drapy black racerback tank, and cuffed sandals. Like this:

Whoa....Skorts?

How do you feel about skorts?  I haven't tried them myself yet, but I get why they would be practical for moms.  And I was tempted, last year, in our article on Denim Minis for Moms, but never succumbed.  So when reader N sent in a guest post on skorts...I was skeptical at first.  But she managed to find such cute ones, I'm now drooling over several.

Here's reader N's take on skorts....

****************

As a kid I remember wearing bike shorts under my dresses to church on Sundays because there was an awesome tree outside the church office and if my mom got busy talking to people (like she always did) my brothers and I could climb it for a few minutes before we had to go home…but I didn’t want to either

a.) not wear a dress/skirt or

b.) have my undies showing!

And now as a mom, I find myself doing lots of running, jumping, and climbing again as I play with and chase my toddler, but I still like skirts and still don’t like my undies revealed to the general public. So what’s the solution?

Skorts!

Yup, you read that right - skorts. A lovely made-up combo word (like spork or tangelo), “skort” means a combination of a skirt and shorts. The ones I recommend for stylin’ young moms on hot summer days are basically a super simple pair of shorts with a skirt over it so that the shorts aren't showing.  At all. 

I personally feel like the ones that only have skirt on the front side are well, pretty lame. (NOTE FROM S: Is this like party in the back and business in the front?  snort)

And there are actually some cute skorts out there.  Like these....

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: