Ain't No Mom Jeans

Reader Q | How To Style A Basic Nursing Dress For A Wedding (And Stay Warm)

 Reader Question:

LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog - you have helped me a TON! Now, I have a big favor to ask. I'm headed to a wedding in Duluth, in April....which means there could be a blizzard or it could be balmy. I'm going to be chasing a three year old and carrying around (and nursing) a ginormous 9 month old. Thanks to your suggestions on other nursing/maternity items, I picked up this Isabella Oliver nursing dress in French Navy.  It does a good job (with Spanx) of holding in my about 4 months pregnant looking pooch....I feel comfortable in it, but I need shoe and accessory suggestions.

 

Did I mention I am standing in this wedding, and there are NO suggestions in terms of color, etc.? The bride likes my dress.....where do I go from here!? All I have figured out is dangly earrings are out, cause I have a grabber, and maybe wedges would be better for toddler wrangling...Thank you thank you!

 

I've even attached a photo of myself in said dress, so you can see what we are working with ;)

 

Holly

 

Answer:

Holly, you look seriously fabulous.  4 Months Post-partum?  WOW.  

So you need a few options to work with crazy Duluth weather, while toddler wrangling and standing up for the bride?  Gotcha.

The most important one, I think, is the standing up for the bride part.  While there may be no suggestions from the bride in terms of color, I think we should be careful.  While your dress may look great with, say, a hot red pump for date night, I think that's the wrong choice for wedding photos - you don't want your bright pumps competing with the bride in pics.  Know what I mean?

Holly, I came up with a couple of possible looks for you.  They include some subtle accessories, and a way to stay warm(ish) if you find yourself in the middle of a blizzard (which seems likely....Marquette, MI just had a snowday last week).  Warning:  I said warm-ish, not warm.  But you'll look amazing, and won't totally freeze.  Which is the best you can hope for as a bridesmaid, I think. :)

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

 

 

The New Spring Basics 101

A few weeks ago I was driving Raines to pre-school (he's 5).  He was sitting in his carseat, a grumpy look on his face.  "What's wrong, buddy?" I asked.  He sighed.  It was one of those dramatic, drawn-out sighs of the long-suffering.  "I jus' don't understand what is happening in this world, Mom" he said.  

Whoa.  I'm not...how to even...begin with that?   I waited, concerned, for him to continue.

"I mean...what the heck is going on with the Sun?  Where is it?  Will I always have to wear this jacket?"  [pause]   I'M NOT COMFORTABLE IN THIS JACKET MOM!!"

Exactly, kid. Sing it.

 

Ready to talk Spring, Mamas?  Us too.  Most of these picks (if not all) can be worn while chasing kiddos around a park, and some can be dressed up for date-night (or the office).  All can be paired with pieces you already own for a fresh, easy update.  These are the new Spring Basics...101.

 

 

Fall Trend: Leather (For Mamas!!)

Have ya heard, Mamas?  Leather is huge this season.  Whether you rock it in small doses, or go hardcore-hot-Mama in leather jackets/pants...without a doubt, leather makes an impact.  Leather can make even the meekest Mama look like a badass.  

Think of leather as our version of a superhero cape. DA DAH DAHN!

Scared?  Don't be.  I'm the world's biggest wardrobe wimp (if it's uncomfortable in the slightest, I'm not interested) and have a couple of leather styling tricks up my sleeve.  

Fall Trend: Ankle Booties (And How To Wear Them)

Mamas!  The easiest way to give your old standbys a modern spin?  Yup - the ankle bootie.  These guys aren't new...in fact, two years ago, a very pregnant me wrote an article called The Short Boot Dilemma...where I tried to figure out how the heck to wear the various short boots that were popping up.

Well.  Two years later, I'm happy to say that I've figured it out.  Feel free to applaud.  Two years in the making, baby.  TWO.

Ok.  Here's what's working for me:

Reader Q | How To Style A Gingham Shirt?

Reader Question:

Hi ANMJ!

First off, I have to tell you that if it wasn't for you, I'm not sure I would have left the house after baby #2. It wasn't so much the baby weight as it was the overall body changes and new shape. Plus it's so hard to feel sexy after giving birth! Empowered and in love, yes. But sexy? Not until I found your blog. I would read you hourly if you chose to post that often. And my husband has been loving my style lately--major plus!

My dilemma now is that I randomly bought this shirt from j. crew and now that I'm home, I can't for the life of me figure out what I was thinking!

Is there any way to wear this without looking like a prudish Daisy Duke??? You are tops when it comes to wearable, stylish mom clothes and I'm hopeful you can help. Thank you so much--for everything!

With love and gratitude,
Stephanie

 

Answer:

Stephanie - Thanks so much for your kind words!  And I'm loving your purchase.  Gingham shirts are a pretty safe bet.  They'll add a pop of color and pattern to just about any outfit.  The trick (for me, at least) is to prevent a preppy-overload, and, for you, to keep the look far, far away from those crazy Duke brothers.   Gotcha.  Here's what I found:

Mom Street Style | Naomi's Indie Mom Style

How’s an artsy mom supposed to translate the “indie” style of her twenties into a mom-uniform functional enough to keep up with the kiddos and worthy of her creative sensibilities?  Naomi got it spot on with mixed prints, a layered look and fab boots.  She writes:

Dear Molly and Shana, 

I've been wanting to thank you ladies for some time now. As a former theatre teacher and current stay-at-home mom of two boys, I've had a hard time switching up my "indie" 20-something style into a 30-something mom style (without looking like a bag lady or fashion victim!). Fashion magazines just confuse me and don't seem mom-friendly, so I googled "mom fashion blog" about a year and a half ago and found aintnomomjeans. I love your down-to-earth instructions and I've learned so much. I still shop at thrift stores and second-hand stores, but I do it more wisely and pair my findings with investment jeans (J-brand!) and great boots.  I wish you guys were around in my 20's. It feels great to leave the house looking good and it's a handy way to channel my creativity. I also find that I don't need to shop as much now that I've found my "mom uniform". 

I've shared your blog with so many women! You're providing a wonderful service to women. 

-Naomi 

We’re loving Naomi’s casual day look and her adorable mix of polka dots and stripe prints on top with her fab J Brand skinnies and flats.  This is a perfect day mom-uniform—by incorporating funky mixed prints in black and white, what otherwise would have been a traditional t-shirt and jeans outfit stands out and looks polished while staying comfortable and functional for a day at the pumpkin patch with her sweet baby boy.

Her rocker-chic date night ensemble hits the mark with a pop of color and pattern from a mustard knit scarf and super-current tribal print dress.  Again, the look is functional (Ms. Naomi definitely won’t freeze in her moto jacket, tights and rockin’ boots) put together, and reflects her indie vibe while staying on-trend and age appropriate.  LOVE.

Naomi, thanks for the kind words and for sending these fab pics.  Keep ‘em comin’, Mamas!  We adore featuring real moms, but we (ok, I) do so loathe stopping you on the street : )!

- M.

Mom Street Style - Hannah's Bright Take on Post-Partum Winter Style

 

 

 

We love hip mama bloggers here at Ain't No Mom Jeans (um, obviously)...so were thrilled to hear from Hannah!  She started her mom fashion blog, For Scarlet, just 2 months ago - when baby Scarlet was just 2 months old!

Taking pics of yourself at 2 months post-partum and posting them to the internet?  Brave.  Very brave.  (S applauding wildly)

But seriously, at 4 months pp, how amazing does Hannah look?  Hannah writes:

Fitting into post-baby wear has been a struggle, so I've decided any purchases from here on out include at least 2 percent spandex material:) Thank goodness for bright stretchy jeans, forgiving scarves and big sunnies, all the right ingredients to keep up with motherhood and Montana winters. 

Sing it sister.  You look ah-mazing!

And how festive and totally holiday-perfect are the bright pops of red?

 

Pretty. Darn. Perfect.  But dang, girl - earrings?  At 4 months pp?  Now I'm seriously impressed.  4 months pp I was lucky to shower.  

Hannah, thanks so much for writing in!!  LOVE this look.  I may have to copy it exactly.

xo,

S

Librarian Style For Moms

Gang, remember Amy of BiblioMOMia?  Last time she wrote for us, she schooled us in Southern Gal Style.  But she's also an academic working on her PhD in literature.  (SO freakin' cool!!)  So when we recieved Shannon's Mom Street Style submission and read that Shannon defined her style as "punk librarian"...well.  I knew BiblioMOMia would get a kick out of it.  And, if we were lucky, be inspired.

And she was.  And we are.  So here's Amy....

********** 

I might have spit out my coffee when I read “punk librarian.”  So cool!  And, I must say, Shannon totally rocked the edgy nerd vibe in her mix of floral and leather, especially with those amazing purple tights.  The floral dress is definitely something a librarian might wear, but she makes the whole outfit more interesting with the moto jacket and tough boots - yet keeps a quirky feel with the bright tights.  But her email made me start thinking - what is librarian style?  Why do I love it so much?  And how can it work not just in my professional life but in my life as a mom too? 

Like “secretary” with its pumps and pencil skirts, “librarian” has definitely evolved into a style inspiration.  Somehow, even adding one or two of these elements makes the whole outfit feel just a bit more bookish - a bit buttoned-up, a bit feminine, a lot intellectual.   Try adding one of these things to your style arsenal!  A little goes a long way, so don’t wear too many of these at once - you’ll look like you’re wearing a costume instead of a cool outfit.  

Librarian Style Elements

• Floral prints.  Sweet and old-fashioned and feminine, floral prints always remind me of dusty books (in a good way).
• Textured fabrics (lace, tweed, leather, velvet).  Very Victorian, and very librarian.  And, most of the time, very soft!
• Librarian shoes (t-straps, oxfords, loafers, granny boots).  If it looks like a teacher might have worn it in 1915, it’s a librarian shoe.  Luckily, there are tons of these styles out right now, to fit every taste and budget.
• High bun.  Have you ever tossed your hair high on your head (and maybe used a pencil to keep it there)?  I dare you to do it and not feel like a librarian!  It’s an easy and flattering hair style for pretty much every face shape, too.
• Glasses.  Ummmm...obviously.  Any kind of glasses, from tiny wire rims to chunky black frames.  Even better if you put them on the tip of your nose and peer over them.
• Structured jackets.  Wool blazer.  Velvet jacket.  Tweed vest.  All of those jackets are definitely librarian-ish.  A flattering and structured jacket is totally feminine, too.
• Funky legwear.  I don’t know why I associate patterned tights and great leggings with librarians - maybe because all of my library science friends in school had great tights?  Either way, they’re often a great way to add some funky and whimsical style to an otherwise classic outfit.

There are a million ways to incorporate librarian style into outfits you’re probably already wearing, and things you probably already own.  A little goes a long way!  Shannon mentioned “punk librarian” as her style aesthetic - it’s amazing what happens when you add floral and leather to the same outfit.  However, it’s just as easy to add some bookish flair to jeans and tees. Here are my favorite options, with some outfit ideas.

 

Mom Street Style - Shannon's Budget Friendly Date Night Look

Mamas, I love a success story.  And helping moms feel hot?  Our definition of success!  Shannon was nice enough to send in this rockin' pic of herself after doing a bunch of Ain't No Mom Jeans reading.  Shannon wrote:

Hi there,
I absolutely LOVE Ain't No Mom Jeans! I Googled "cool mom style blog" about a month ago because I needed help getting out of my style rut with my extremely limited budget. I put together this outfit when my husband and I went out for a date night. I thought it was cute when I put it on, but when I saw the picture he took of me, I said, "Dang! I look hot!" And almost all of it was bought for 75% off at Target. I would've never identified my personal style as "punk librarian" if not for you guys. Thank you!

Shannon in Charlotte, NC

Dress - Target
Pleather jacket - Target
Tights - Target
Boots - Marshalls, from a few years ago
Earrings - Aldo 

I LOVE that Shannon went through our personal style exercise and came up with Punk Librarian.

Coolest. Style. Assessment. Ever.

Shannon, thank you SO much for writing in!!  You look totally hot.  And I love seeing what can be done on a budget - 75% off at Target?  Whoa - nice work!

xo,

S