Ain't No Mom Jeans

How We Wear It: Capris & Cropped Pants

This is our monthly series called How We Wear It, where *we* show all of the different ways to rock a wardrobe basic.  And by "we" I mean...all y'all.   If there was One. Thing. our readers have communicated again and again, it's this:  You want to see a wide range of body types represented here on ANMJ.  

So.  I'll show you how I've been styling my old standbys, and so will Cam.  And then, dear readers, we want to hear from YOU.  You can play along via our Linky party at the bottom (you can sign up at the bottom of this article or on Cam's page), you can send us an email (send it to either Cam or me), upload a pic to ANMJ's Facebook page, or use Instagram with the hashtag: #howwewearit.  As reader pics come in, I'll be keeping this page up-to-date.

Ready?  

 

 

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. 

 

Pardon Me, But Do YOU Chino? *

The ANMJ Mamas Take on the Land's End Chino Challenge

Do you chino?  That is, um, wear chinos?  I have some plain, flat front khaki pants.  Sometimes I put them on.  They're soft.  They're comfortable.  They allow range of motion and look more polished than jeans.  But something about them is just so blaaaaaaaaAHaaaaaAHaaaah that I promptly take them off.  I'd probably wear them as a stop-gap on crazy mornings rushing out the door to the office with three babes in tow.  If I worked in an office, but I don't, and I've been happier with my fancy pant/denim rotation, so back to the very back of my closet my chinos go.

But I do now.  Chino, that is.

Crops, Capris, Pedal Pushers (And the Scary Stuff In-Between)

Ok Mamas.  We promised.  We promised to give explicit detail on the whole cropped pant thing.  Ever since we made this bold (obnoxious) statement in our 2012 Style Resolutions for Moms article:

 

 

 So yes, to summarize:  Dowdy capris that hit at mid-calf:  Bad.  Slim cropped J.Crew pants:  Good.

Right?  Right.

But that's not really all there is to it.  Not all of us (myself included) have gone running out to J.Crew for their adorable cropped pant.  Most of us (me again)....already have some sort of cropped pant/capri/pedal pusher hybrid in our closet.  So what to do?

I pulled my one-and-only pair out of storage for this little exercise.  Here's mine:

Oh good.  It hits at the widest part of my calf.  

 

I....don't....know.  I don't know about these, Mamas. 

But here's the deal:  I really, really really want capris to work.  As Mamas, we often have to fight varicose vein issues, or crazy-pale legs from lack of sunbathing time, and one really can't dispute the practicality of cropped pants for just about any summer activity:  short enough to be cool, long enough to climb, run, jump and cartwheel.

So I went right to the cropped pant source:  My mother.  My mother could outfit a cropped-pant army.  She has been buying cropped pants and capris since....well.  One can never reveal a lady's age.  Let's just say it ends in "ixty-something".  But Mom didn't disappoint:  She has a capri-pant motherlode.  And none of these straight-forward, sophisticated, Jackie-O style pants*.  We're talking capris in suspicious lengths.  Odd colors.  Strange cargo pocket placement.  Cropped pants from Old Navy.  Target.  And even....Younkers.  With brands like Plugg.  That's Plugg with two G's!  Two!  Wanna bet those came from a Juniors section somewhere?

*To be fair, my mother keeps all of her suspicious capris at the lake house.  To be used only for gardening, etc.  She does have her fair share of sophisticated, Jackie-O style pants too.  But it's waaay more fun to make fun of her for those Plugggggs. 

Anyway, I chose three of my Mom's...challenging cropped pant/capri/pedal pushers to try and style (and you can bet I grabbed those Pluggs). But first?  Definition time!  What the heck is the difference between cropped pants, capris, pedal pushers, etc?  

(HUGE thanks to reader Sonja in Portland for this awesome graphic/diagram idea!!)

Reader Question | How To Hide Varicose Veins and Still Look Summery

We know it’s time to peel some layers, Mamas, because suddenly, right around March 21, we were inundated with reader questions about what to wear to hide veiny legs during the dog days. Here are a few excerpts to give you an idea of the sense of panic ANMJ mamas are feeling as the weather warms up:

I have pants on all.the.time.  Of course, pants lend themselves to cooler-weather tops, and I look ridiculous.  When it's 90 degrees and humid, I still have on jeans or khakis. I'd love to wear skirts and dresses, but my legs make me so uncomfortable. . .

- Laura

I'm 33 weeks along with my fourth baby, and lucky me, this pregnancy I got varicose veins. UGH! And now I have the joy of wearing ugly compression stockings or old man athletic socks.  At least this has been a winter pregnancy and they are easy to cover with pants so far.  I am told that the veins will recede after I give birth (in April), but I don't know how soon, or how much longer I have to wear the ugly socks.  And I'll be nursing again. And I'll have the lovely postpartum body to deal with.  Sigh. 

- Jodi

I work in the public schools. So summers for me are all about running around with kids in hot, dry Denver, sitting by the pool, or "hiking" in the moutains (as much as one can hike with a 1-year-old and a four-year-old). In the past, for me, all of those activities have been done in a short skirt or shorts. But, this summer I cannot bring myself to bare my awful veins to the world. Please help!

- Talia

Well mamas, there are TONS of fab options for staying cool, playing with the kiddos and looking summery, all while keeping your gams covered.  Read on for our vein-hiding picks.

Palazzo Pants Are Back?  Seriously?
Yes.  One of my favorite ways to stay cool and covered last summer whilst prego with number three was by wearing wide-legged palazzo pants with skimpy tanks and sliver wedges or flops.  They let me lounge on the grass with my boys after eating too many strawberries, climb on the jungle gym and look reasonably put together running around town. 

 

Palazzo Pants by dynamama featuring tie dye tank tops

Reader Question | Spring Getaway With the Girls

Ahhhh. . . the sun. . . the surf. . . the sleeping in past 7:30 AM.  There's nothing like a spring getaway, Mamas, especially when you haven't been anywhere with your BFFs in 5+ years and you've spent much of that time being pregnant, recovering from pregnancy and coping with sleepless nights and the near-total dependence that defines early child-rearing.  We all need a vacay, chicks, so let's take a moment to live vicariously through ANMJ reader Susan, who wrote in with the following dilemma (which I'm sure we're all too familiar with):

Hi Mommas,
I love reading your blog and I was struck by your recent post about quality over quantity. I have a girls' getaway to Florida coming up and it's the first time I'm flying somewhere fun in over 5 years (and leaving my 4 and almost 2 year old for more than one night). I had just loaded up my Old Navy shopping cart with lots of cheapy items figuring I could pull some looks together, but luckily I read your post before hitting the order button. So can you help me? I'm going for two and a half days which will probably include pool time, kayaking, drinks, dinner, and who knows what. I would love to travel light and use this as an opportunity to start rebuilding my spring and summer wardrobe. I'm almost back to my pre-baby weight, but things sure don't look the way they used to! A swimsuit is of special concern, since my one piece and baggy tankinis seem matronly, but I don't know if I'm all out ready to sport a bikini yet.
Many thanks!

Susan, you so clearly deserve a spring break!  I've put together a capsule vacation wardrobe of items that are highly interchangeable, giving you tons of looks, but letting you pack light, which will go the distance both on vacay and when you come home.

 

Get Away Help by dynamama featuring a polka dot hat

 

Please first excuse me for including a $500 canvas bag as an accessory.  Handbags are my kryptonite.  I seriously cannot help myself.  Please ignore this specific bag and shop around a bit for something like it--something roomy, neutral, textured, and summery.  A bag like this (or maybe this very one, when it goes on sale) would be perfect with absolutely everything, spring through summer and probably into the early months of fall.  And I cannot imagine a time or place (maybe a zombie apocalypse a la "Walking Dead"?) when a bag like this would not be appropriate or in style.  It's perfect.  Except the price point.  I drool even as I digress.

Anywho, on to the quality.  Many women never go back to bikinis after babes, what with loose skin, stretch marks, mummy tummys and the like, and that's always been a symbolic (and kinda sad) turning point in many a mama's life.  But in yet another stroke of fabulous luck for the mommy set (first it's flats, then drapey tops, flippin' high rise jeans for tucking in muffin tops for Pete's sake, and now. . . drum roll, please. . . ), one-piece suits are back in style with a vengeance.  Meaning, not only will you be in fine company with one-piece-wearing college coeds on the beach, you will also have a lot more flattering, youthful suits to choose from.  I've chosen just two.  First, the Vince Camuto snakeskin, to show you how ca-razy hot a one-piece can be these days--throw the Athleta Ad Hoc skirt on over it and you're off to cocktails by the pool.  And second, a fab J.Crew suit with heavy ruching (to disguise a potential pooch and other such mom torso quandaries) provides nice coverage and support for kayaking with the chicks and playing at the pool with the kiddos this summer.

Next up is a fab boy shirt that has the potential to become your favorite go-to basic.  On vacation--and at home this spring!--wear it over a white tank to pop a neutral printed jean like these yummy 7 For All Mankind cropped skinnies.  With flat sandals and the shirt half-tucked or thrown over your shoulders, this ensemble is ready for travel day to and from cooler climes, or for a day of shopping/errands/casual Friday.  Throw it on over your suit as a preppy cover up on the beach, give your denim cutoffs a more polished feel, or wear it belted over the J.Crew engineer striped maxi with a straw fedora if you run into a hazy day--you'll still look resort-ready.

The 7 For All Mankind Ikat print crop jeans may look a little crazy, but the printed denim trend is so fun that I can't see it going anywhere soon.  Treat this pair like khakis, but also play with them.  Nordies has them styled with a French dot peasant blouse, or I'm thinking this gorgeous J.Crew Natasha in crinkled silk chiffon would be perfect for a more creative work environment, lunch with the girls, Mothers Day brunch and the like.  I love how they look with coral, tangerine, electric blue and neon yellow, too.

If you want to invest in a few fabulous, comfortable tees, Splendid is your best bet.  Splendidly soft, they wear well and keep their shape and color.  I usually don't pay full price for more basic Splendid items like tanks and basic tees, however--there's often a good stock of it at Nordstrom Rack (am I a Nordstrom fanatic?  Yes.  Yes, I think I am) and I never regret picking up a few pieces when I see it--but items like this Beach Blanket top usually do sell out.  You can easily dress this top down with cutoffs as shown, or up with white skinnies or a sherberty pencil skirt and wedges.

I am in love with the J.Crew column maxi.  I love the preppy navy stripe, which still somehow manages to be sophisticated and sexy, the blouson top is highly mom-friendly (perfect for nursing mamas!), a classic style like this will look current for at least a few years to come, and the length makes it perfect for chasing kiddos without flashing undies.  It will look equally fabulous in the cooler months of spring with a white oxford or the Indian voile boy shirt belted over it as it will stripped down to the minimum during the dog days of summer.

Perhaps you are shocked that I am writing up something from Athleta.  I am too.  It sure doesn't look like much on the hangar, but this Ad Hoc skirt is definitely going to be a summer staple for me.  And if I ever get to take a vacation, it will be wadded up and scrunched into a tiny corner of my bag.  The Tencel/Lyocell blend means it's super-duper soft and comfortable, breathable, fast-drying and won't wrinkle or smell.  The "ad hoc" part is this--it can be worn in a number of ways: as a long skirt, as a high-low skirt (turn the drawstring ruching to the front and pull), a short skirt (fold the ruched top band over) as a strapless dress and as a halter dress (super-sexy).  I'm sure there are other configurations I haven't thought of, but this is a seriously versatile and travel-friendly wardrobe item.  It looks just as good as a pool cover up as it does as a cocktail dress (add strappy sandals, some fab accessories and pull your beachy hair into a messy bun). At home, I bet you could even pull it out from under that pile of laundry that's been sitting there since last week and it would still look pretty hot.

To wrap it all up and keep your bag from busting, pack light on the shoes.  I love these braided "Friendship" Corso Como sandals and they'll pop with everything here.  I'd add a pair of TOMS or some lightweight sneaks and Havaianas or Reef flops for versatility since they pack flat, or a fab pair of sling back wedges would be great too, if you're planning to spend time off the resort in an actual city.

Susan, I truly hope this helps.  A capsule wardrobe like this can get you through not just two-and-a-half days, but with a few minor additions, a whole spring and summer.  Have a great time on your spring getaway with the girls!

- M.

 

 

 

 

7 Style Resolutions for Moms in 2012

Ok Mamas, whether or not you are a resolution person (and I am...in a big, obnoxious way)...I've put together a list of my top 7 mom-style resolutions for 2012.  

So repeat after me:  I, Mama... 

(See? I warned you about my obnoxious thing)

1.  ...will buy one pair of fabulous everyday shoes (or boots).  

And wear them - everyday.  Because shoes matter.  Shoes make the outfit.  But these will not be sensible shoes, oh, no.  These will not be shoes that "match" everything in my closet.  They will not be black because I already have a black bag.  They will not be brown simply because I already have black.

They will be whatever color makes my heart beat fast (and that might be black or brown, but I vow to think outside the shoebox).  They will have gorgeous details.  They will make me happy.  And I won't even think about bringing them home unless they are also comfortable.  I will be incredibly picky, and wait (all year if I have to) until I find the perfect pair.

Mamas, to illustrate, look how even Garnet Hill figured out that gorgeous footwear is the chic-outfit cornerstone.  Both outfits are cute on their own, but the footwear makes them amazing.

 

(photo credits: garnet hill) 

A Tiny Capsule Wardrobe For Post-Partum, Nursing Moms Going Back To Work

Mamas, I received an email from reader Vera.  She was thrilled with our advice during her maternity leave, writing, "I bought a pair of skinny jeans, some leggings, and then shirt dresses/dolman sleeve sweaters, the Dria cover, some awesome slimming nursing tanks and that pumpkin peel...and actually felt NICE immediately after having baby #4.  THAT is awesome - thank you!"

But now she's back at work.

Vera says:

My belly is out of control and I need help figuring out what to wear.  I actually lay awake at night and dread the next morning, mostly because I can't think of what to wear.  I have some suits to wear for meetings 2-3 times a month, but the rest of the time my office is business casual.  I want to be comfortable.  I'm pumping, so I need either tops I can take off or dresses that are nursing/pumping friendly.  I am working REALLY hard on losing the baby weight, and I don't want to spend a ton of money on clothes that fit me now.  I am probably a size 10 on the bottom (my legs are actually smaller than that but my belly...) and a 12/Large on top thanks to the porn star boobs (filled with milk) right now.  Even though I sit most of the day, I want things that are comfy and easy to move in.  So, can you help me find

*Work appropriate

*Cheap

*Comfortable

*Pooch-hiding, porn-star-boob-accommodating

*Nursing/pumping friendly?

 

Vera, there are two ways to approach this problem:

1. Buy a ton of cheap stuff

2. Select, very carefully, a few quality items that look amazing and that you can wear over & over & over again.

My issue with buying lots of cheap stuff is that you often sacrifice fit.  And when your body is going through so many crazy changes....you'll look and feel better in well-fitting clothes. 

However.  By choosing carefully, it's possible that you can invest in a few items that will still work once the weight comes off...AND make the most of what you already own.  

But I do recommend buying pants that fit.  That alone will do wonders for your morning closet conundrum.

So.  Here are five items that every new working-and-pumping mom should consider adding to her closet (and they all work together, too!):

5 Very Cool Ways to Wear a Puffer Vest (And Hide A Poochy Stomach!!)

Try saying this three times fast:  Perfect Post-Partum Paunchy-Pooch Puffers!  Perfect Post-Partum Paunchy-Pooch Puffers!  Perfect-

I'll stop now.

(wearing: On S - J.Crew puffer, Madewell boiler shirt, Levis denim leggings, Mia Bukaroo boots, H&M hat, LOFT skinny belt.....On R - Joe's Jeans, Puma sneaks, Crewcuts v-neck tee, Splendid hoodie, Oakley flannel, 77kids hat....On Little P - Gap flannel-lined jeans and camel jacket, Old Navy hat, Robeez fur boots)

Anywho.  The point is that puffer vests provide some major pooch control.  If you can find a puffer that you can juuuust barely zip up - that's the perfect fit for pooch-taming.  The side view, if you are truly post-partum, will be slightly thicker.  My pooch is almost gone (unless I eat, then Hello, food baby), and so the side view is still not the best:

Mom Street Style - Amber's Perfect Outfit For Bi-Polar Weather

Amber sent in this pic of herself trick-or-treating in the very "bi-polar" Texas weather they're having: 

Amber wrote: 

Have you been to Texas? It's the bipolar state. Seriously, this is the weather pattern for the last week: Monday, record breaking high of 82. Thursday, we woke up to 3 inches of snow. Today, it was back up in the high 60's, but as the sun went down and we hit the streets, the temperatures began to drop again. This makes trick or treat wear difficult. Walking shoes are a must and there's an 8 month old in the stroller who will end up being carried. Still, as odd as my ankle pants and coat combination can seem, looking at this picture my sister snapped, I think I rocked it. Maybe it's  because I'm holding hands with the most adorable Minnie Mouse this state has ever seen.

Amber, you totally rocked it.  Am loving the cropped pants and longer coat.  It's a perfect example of spot-on proportion play.  Nice, Chick.  I'm totally going to copy this look!  (And Minnie Mouse?  Adorbs!)

Amber's wearing a coat by Kenneth Cole Reaction, Gap cropped pants, Sperrys, and cat ears 'cause it makes her daughter happy.  

LOVE this, Amber!!  Thanks so much for writing in!!!

xo,

S