Ain't No Mom Jeans

Fisherman Cable Sweater - So Cute, So Classic, So....Unflattering?

I have been stalking these for over a year now.  This Fall, THIS Fall, was the time I was going to Make. My. Move.  Fisherman sweater....you will be mine.  

Specifically, I've been drooling over both Haute Hippie's and Michael Kors' versions:

(photo credit: Saks.com)

I love the styling here.  Cozy sweater + gorgeous flowy maxi....or cozy sweater + skinny pants and lace ups? Oooo...so fun.  And these sweaters are classics, right?

But then....I tried them on. Correction:  I tried on eight.  Eight.  EIGHT, people!! Eight flippin' fisherman sweaters.  And YES - they were bulky enough to hide the pooch (mostly).  But that was kinda the problem....the bulk.

These sweaters gave me bulky shoulders, bulky arms, a large, bulky bosom (I hate this word, but really?  It fits the situation.)  Actually, that last statement summarizes the problem quite nicely:  Fisherman sweaters turned my hot-mama boobs into a bosom.  A large, mature, bosom.  

Gack.

So then I thought...would a turtleneck help?

5 Fall Basics That "Work" for Work and Play?

Readers, we've been receiving more and more emails from moms about to go back to work.  While we've been meaning to do a back-to-work article for quite some time, we've been putting it off.  However, we received this lovely email from reader Cathy a few weeks ago:

Hi ladies!

First of all, I absolutely love your blog!  A friend passed it along, and I’ve gotten so many other mom-friends hooked!  And as a mainline mom, I often wonder if I might bump into Shana at the playground or other fun spots around town.  I live in Wayne with my 2 year old little girl, husband, and westie dog.  Hopefully some day our paths will cross – would love to meet you!

 

Anyhow, I’m writing in with a wardrobe question as I’m thinking ahead to fall.  I have been working from home for the last five years, and a new job includes a little more office time (2-3 office meetings per month).  I’ve been really enjoying getting out of the house a little more, but I haven’t had to think about a work wardrobe in such a long time.  I have lots of summer skirts and dresses that I’ve been able to wear to work this summer, but I need to do some serious updating for fall.  I’d like to invest in some good cross-over pieces ... things I can wear at the office, during the week when I’m working from home, or on date nights with my husband.  When in doubt, I tend to buy black work clothes (black suits, black wrap dresses, sheath dresses etc.) so I’m looking to add a little more color.  My office is business casual so it’s pretty flexible in terms of dress code.

 

Ooooo....what a challenge!!  What could one buy to spruce up their work wardrobe, add some spice to date night AND still run around with the kiddos?

Well.  After thinkin' and thinkin'...I have 5 ideas.

Southern Gal Style For Modern Mamas: Madras!

Readers - Do you know BiblioMOMia?  She is a fabulously fashionable mom blogger (and academic) who always leaves honest and thoughtful comments for us at Ain't No Mom Jeans.

We love her.  So when Amy took us to task last year for hating on Southern gal inspired critter flip-flops...we listened. And boy-oh-boy, are we glad we did.  Keep reading for a Southern Mama's perspective on fashion.  Love it.  Thanks, Amy!!!!

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

Are you hot yet?  Yeah, me too.  I was raised in the cradle of the American South, which often felt more like an armpit by August.  I now live in DC, and it’s absolutely disgusting by the end of the summer.  Heat and humidity like you wouldn’t believe (like S is discovering over in Philly!).  Time to put the hair up and the sunscreen on, here below the Mason-Dixon line.

There are lots of things about Southern Girl Style that are hard to understand:  Ribbon belts and monograms.  Vera Bradley.  Pearls with polo shirts.  Maybe one day I’ll try to explain some of those, too.  But if there’s one thing that a southern gal knows how to do, it’s dress for the heat.  In the South, women don’t sweat – we glisten.  And my mama would be horrified if I “glistened” too much in public!  But, she’s never walked a toddler to the Metro in the blazing sun, or walked all over the city pushing a stroller in this god-forsaken humidity.  When the end of the summer rolls around, and you’ve sweat through everything else in your closet, I have a simple answer for you:

 Madras.

Mom Street Style: Yvette's Perfect Proportions

Friday mornings at the Cherry Creek mall play area are the best times/place to find great mom style.  The last time I was there, I ran into Yvette.

Yvette's oufit caught my eye for the following reasons:

1.  The Cropped Pant - This is the perfect cropped pant.  It's cropped at the most flattering length, and is nice and slim.  The overall effect is very Audrey Hepburn, not scary mom-jean wearer in her "summer outfit".

2.  I love the long, drapy top with the cropped pant.  This short - long combo always looks spot-on.

3.  This style of top was made for nursing, post-partum moms.  Hi.  That's me.

Yvette is wearing Kenneth Cole legging/pants, her top is Splendid's Fleece Button Cardigan (and currently on sale) and her flats are from Naturalizer (and, says Yvette, crazy-comfortable).

Now remember...get your mom style pics ready!  It's one more week until link-up time and our fabulous giveaway....

xo,

S