Ain't No Mom Jeans

Pajamas For Mamas That Are Both Chic AND Warm

Ok Mamas.  You asked for it...here are my fav pajama finds for staying warm and cozy...without going the sexless and dowdy route.

Fall Trend: The Denim Jacket (And 3 New Ways Mamas Can Rock It)

Mamas, the denim jacket (which is, arguably, a classic and therefore always cool)...is having a moment so big, it feels like a new trend.  I'm sure you've seen it paired with statement pants (red skinnies or printed denim, perhaps?), and we've covered to death the denim-jacket-over-casual-dress-and-boots combo (here and here and here - and it's still good, BTW)...but I'd like to highlight the three new ways I'm loving my denim jacket.

Reader Question: Should Busty, Poochy Mamas Turn To Mature Brands? (Eileen Fisher in Particular)

Reader Question:

HI Shana and Molly, 
I have been thinking ALOT about your quality over quantity post; and I am scared I am not quite sure where to start.  I love the idea of spending more money on the basics i.e. great tees, knits, jeans, and boots to wear over and over.  The only problem is...the quality stuff  (J brand, Splendid, James Perse, J Crew etc) seem to be made for normal bodies. Where do we turn for the crazy big breasted, poochy, petite mommy bodies?  I am lost.  I was browsing Nordstrom's website and some of Eileen Fisher things look cute with good reviews.  Have you tried her brand?  I would LOVE more quality suggestions for the odd shapes of this world. 

Hugs and Kisses

xoxo

Leslie

Answer:

Leslie, this is a great question.  The short answer is YES:  Stylish, flattering pieces can be found virtually anywhere.  But some brands make it harder to find that hot-young-mom vibe we're all craving.

Now, for Eileen Fisher in particular....after your inquiry came in, I've spent a good amount of time perusing her line and reading reviews.  Her clothing is pricey, but what you are essentially paying for is a great cut and fabulous fabric.  Eileen Fisher clothing drapes and moves in a flattering, pretty way.  

This You Tube video shows four members of the Eileen Fisher staff getting dressed and swapping pieces.  You'll get a good idea of how well this clothing drapes:

 

 

My only concern with this line is the color palette.  The line is truly a classic one, so you are pretty limited to whites, creams, grays and black.  Since we're only talking about investment basics...I'm OK with it.  However, if you are interested in this season's trends (color and patterns), these pieces probably aren't going to get you through Spring/Summer 2012 all by their lonesome.  But augmenting these very gorgeous pieces with cheap & cheerful trends is easy.  

So....what would I recommend?  Here are three Eileen Fisher pieces that I think would be fabulous, classic investment pieces for moms with a softer figure...but styled in a young, hip-mom kinda way (I hope):

Want To Win A Whole Workout Outfit? With Pooch-Control Shaping Panels? Of course you do. (Sponsored Post)

Things are lookin' up, people.  I mean YEAH - it's been raining virtually non-stop for the last few weeks.  And YEAH - I'm still livin' over here in Philadelphia where I have no friends or family and YEAH - over half of our stuff is still in boxes in the basement which flooded two days ago....but UP.  UP is where I'm looking.

It must be this runner's high of mine.  

If one, can, in fact, get a runner's high from 8 minutes of running.  Which is all I managed the last time I ran.  I'm just so. darn. tired.  But still - it was 8 minutes of running.  So I'm going to call myself a runner, eat an extra brownie (I've grown fond of my pooch anyway), and keep on keepin' on.  And looking up.

Wanna join me?  'Cause I think winning a pair of shaper pants with a shaper tank and this cute little jacket would easily qualify as a runner's high and earn you a nice big brownie, too.  

We talked about Champion's fabulous shaper workout pant and tank here.  And I styled up this little jacket here.  Now all you have to do, if you'd like this entire outfit in your size, compliments of our friends at Champion, is the following:

Share or like this article on Facebook, then leave a comment telling us about your favorite brownie recipe (feel free to leave links).

psssst - to share, look for this icon at the bottom:

Winners will be chosen at random on Thursday night, September 29th.

 

What?  M is pregnant and I'm....well, I'm not.  But still.  It's been a tough few weeks people.  I needs my chocolate.

My fav brownie recipe is here, with a little of this cocoa powder mixed in (black onyx).  Only for the serious chocoholic. (Thanks, J!!)

xo,

S

*******THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***********

Congrats to TheRingChronicles!!

Thanks to all who participated....and left the drool-worthy brownie recipes....YUM!

 

Mom Street Style - Christie Shows Us How Sporty Is Done

Mamas, I must confess.  One of my outfits in our Wearing Workout Gear Beyond the Gym article (sponsored by Champion) was blatant copy of the outfit that this little cutie is wearing.

Meet Christie.  She was my awesome neighbor back in Denver.  And while technically she isn't a mom, she is posing next to her baby, Choco.

I'd run into Christie a couple of times a day when she'd head out for walks with Choco.  (R would literally run to the door when he heard Choco bounding out of Christie's apartment, so our meetings were not as 'chance' as they may have seemed.)  

In any case, day-after-day, Christie looked like this.  Totally comfortable, totally chic.  The girl knows how to rock some workout gear.  Cool scarf, cool shoes...voila!  Instant cute.

But my very favorite look of hers?  I like to call it "When Crazy Pants Comes To Town...."

Yeah, baby.  Now that's how it's done.  Love it.  The crazy pants, the cute jacket, the flats - love it all.

xo,

S

Wearing Workout Gear Beyond the Gym (Sponsored Post)

We're all for stretching our wardrobes, here at Ain't No Mom Jeans, and we're all about mixing things up.  So it seems only natural then, that we should also bring sportswear into the mix.  I mean, aren't yoga pants a tired new mom's best friend?  In this department, moms seem to be ahead of the curve.  FabSugar (via Lucky Mag) is reporting sportswear to be a major trend on the Spring 2012 runway.  As part of our partnership with Champion, I'm stylin' up a few key sportswear items for everyday wear. 

Yoga Pants For Running Errands

I do this trick more often than I'd like to admit.  Throw on your basic black yoga pants with cute, non-sneaker-y shoes, a sweater and add a cute scarf.  

(wearing:  Champion shaper yoga pant c/o Champion - we covered this pant here, J.Crew shawl collar sweater, Me Too ballet flats, Echo scarf)

 

Yoga Pants with a Belly Control Panel? Ummm...Yes, Please. (Sponsored Post)

Champion recently contacted us to see if we wanted to partner for a series of sponsored posts about their new shaping line.  After reading through the description, it took me all of .2 seconds to agree that YES.  YES I would like to demo a perfectly cute pair yoga pants  that contain special panels to "streamline your hips, thighs, and tummy."

In addition to yoga style pants, Champion's shaper line also has a capri running tight and a tank - both with the built-in shaping panels.

So.  How well do the shaping panels work?  Let's take a look, shall we?  And because I know you never tire of gazing at my post-partum pooch....

Lululemon, I love you (And Your Hot Mom Yoga Pants).

I had one of those days recently.  Raines was on an all-morning whining spree ("But where's my blue car??? My bluuuuuueee car???  Bluuuuueeeee car!  NO! NO!  OTHER BLUE CAR!! NOT THAT BLUE CAR!! NEVER EVER THAT BLUUUUUUUEEEEEE CAAAAAARRRRRR") and Pax was inexplicably crying and I was tired and my legs and butt hurt. 

They hurt.  Not from working out, oooooh no....but from inactivity.  My muscles were starting to atrophy.  Despite my best efforts to figure out a way to get myself back to ballet class...it hasn't happened.  In four years. And I don't have enough zen power to deal with two unhappy babes while I pop in a workout DVD.  So I decided, right then and there, that it was time to run.  I had been a cross-country runner in high school...but haven't run much since then.   *snort*  Almost 15 years ago.

Reader Question: Comfy, Cute, No-Denim Outfits For a Reader Going Through IVF

Reader Question:

I have a confession to make… I’m not a mom, I’m not even pregnant but I am completely obsessed with your blog.
 
I stumbled across your site about a year and a half ago when my husband and I first decided we were going to have a baby. Being a self-proclaimed jean snob and fashionista – and proud of it - the thought of dressing a new, round, body had me completely stressed out. (I know, “I’m creating life” blah blah blah) Needless to say your blog saved me and helped me to see that I don’t have to wear some of the atrocious maternity wear some of my pregnant friends are donning.
 
Anyway, the real reason I’m writing is to ask you a favor, and I’ll warn you up front it’s not something you would normally write about. As I said in my confession, I’m not a mom nor am I pregnant – despite two years of trying and thousands of dollars spent. My husband and I have decided to do IVF and even though we no longer have to do the inner-muscular injections or mix our own meds, I’m pretty nervous. Our IVF nurse said the two weeks towards the end of the procedure will leave me with heavy ovaries (no working out), messy panties (in lieu of the injections they now use suppositories and pads – yay, she said sarcastically), out of control hormones, a sensitive tummy and probably no denim for a couple of weeks which…about put me over the edge.
 
I woke up in the middle of the night with a flash back to an article you posted awhile ago about post-delivery attire, specifically Aerie, pad friendly panties but when I went back into the archives I couldn’t track it down. Would you please post something regarding clothing/panties that would be comfortable on a bloated, cranky, sensitive tummy?
 
I soon hope to be joining your every-growing cult of fabulous fashionista mommies but right now I have to get past two weeks of hormonal hell.
 
xoxo
Julia

Answer:

Julia, you will certainly be in our thoughts.  IVF is such a long road...and on top of everything else, no denim???  While this is arguably the least of your worries, it's also the part we can easily help with.  And we are so delighted to help. 

First things first:  the post-partum panties you are looking for can be found here.  And if you missed yesterday's article on loungewear, be sure to check it out.

Since you are self-proclaimed jean snob and fashionista (hello, we should be friends)...I've found a couple of drool-worthy looks that will allow for granny-panties, disguise a poochy stomach, and no denim required!!

A Must-Have For Moms: Cute Loungewear

New baby.  Sick baby.  Sick Mom.  New Mom.  Blizzard.  Freezing temps. Crazy morning. No sleep last night.  Whatever the reason...there are days we never venture outside.  And in the winter, these days can start to pile-up.  Contending with cabin fever is bad enough, but too many days spent in pajamas and no-makeup?  Horror.

In all seriousness, nothing plummets my self-esteem like the combination of poochy post-partum stomach + saggy sweatpant bum + no makeup.

UGH.

Obviously, slicking on a little blush can do wonders, but I've found that I'm a happier trapped-in-the-house-mum when I'm wearing cute loungewear.  To me, cute loungewear must be insanely comfortable (for me, leggings are out..too much tightness bugs me after a while), warm, and most importantly, make our bums look cute. (Ability to nurse is also one of my current requirements...so I included a few options below).

Here we go....